Outlander filming at Drummond Castle

Drummond Castle Gardens were used as a filming location for Outlander Season 2, Episode 2, “Not in Scotland Anymore.” This spectacular location in Perthshire also stood in for the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in a later scene . In this episode, Jamie Fraser, accompanied by Murtagh, is adapting to life at the French court, and the gardens serve as a key backdrop for scenes showing the opulence and formality of the French aristocracy. Drummond Castle opens for the summer this week on May 1 .

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The specific moment where Jamie is practicing sword fighting with a friend — Murtagh Fitzgibbons — takes place in these formal gardens. This scene shows Jamie regaining his physical strength and confidence after his traumatic experience with Black Jack Randall. The formal, symmetrical layout of Drummond Castle Gardens, with its geometric hedges and statues, creates the perfect setting for a scene meant to reflect the structured, polished world of Versailles. The gardens offer wide, open spaces, perfect for a sword training sequence that needed to look both grand and historically authentic.

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Drummond Castle itself dates back to the 15th century and has long been celebrated for its terraced gardens, which were redesigned in the 19th century. For Outlander, the production team enhanced some parts of the gardens slightly to make them more closely resemble 18th-century France, but the natural beauty and precision of Drummond’s design needed very little alteration.

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The sword practice scene is important because it signals Jamie’s slow physical and emotional recovery. Murtagh, as his loyal companion, trains with him in the open air of the gardens, allowing Jamie to rebuild strength in a private yet prestigious setting. Using the gardens to film this moment helped emphasize the shift in location and lifestyle from the rugged Scottish Highlands to the polished, political world of Paris.

Visually, the gardens at Drummond Castle create a stunning contrast to earlier seasons’ rougher landscapes. They provide not just a beautiful backdrop but also subtly tell the story of how much life has changed for Claire and Jamie. The vast, manicured space is a far cry from the wild beauty of Scotland and reflects the theme of adapting to foreign worlds — both culturally and politically.

Drummond Castle Gardens were used for the garden party at the Palace of Versailles , where Jamie and Claire meet Black Jack Randall . Jamie has an argument with Black Jack and challenges him to a duel.

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In short the scene where Jamie practices sword fighting with Murtagh was filmed at Drummond Castle Gardens, and it plays a significant role in setting the tone for Jamie’s recovery and their new life among the French elite.

Drummond Castle is featured in our Outlander castles tour listing on Visit Scotland