Yet another rainy morning in Scotland as we depart the Eden 1 Cottage for the day’s adventure.
Doune Castle (Castle Leoch)
40-minute drive || 1-hour visit
Doune Castle, Castle Hill, Doune FK16 6EA, UK
Doune Castle was built in 1380 by Robert Stewart, the Duke of Albany. Besides the Outlander Series, the castle has been a filming location for Monty Python & the Holy Grail and the unaired original pilot episode for Game of Thrones (Winterfell).
In the Outlander series, Duone Castle is home to the MacKenzie clan. Featured in (Series EP: 102, 103 and 104). With some exterior stills as reference, we moved along to the courtyard and ultimately inside to see Mrs. Fitz’s Kitchen.
We were told that the Outlander studio team measured every detail of the kitchen to recreate it on a soundstage at Wardpark Film & Television Studios.
Deanston Distillery (Jared’s Wine Warehouse)
5-minute drive || 30-minute visit
Deanston Distillery, Teith Rd, Deanston, Doune FK16 6AG, UK
After leaving Doune Castle, we stopped at the Deanston Distillery to pick up our lunch sandwiches.
The barrel cellar here was used to represent Jared’s Wine Warehouse (Series: EP 201). We didn’t get the opportunity to visit the cellar ourselves, but there is a daily tour that will take you through the facility.
Tibbermore Church (Cranesmuir Church)
30-minute drive || 30-minute visit
Tibbermore Church, Perth PH1 1QJ, UK
Tibbermore Church is the setting used for Claire and Geillis’s witch trial (Series EP: 111). Upon arrival we promptly surveyed the property, and adjoining graveyard.
We viewed the pulpit where Claire and Geillis stood trial from the judge’s bench (in the balcony). There was also a great view of the witness and parishioner pews from the back of the pulpit.
A person working in the church told us the story about the inside corner stone. The Outlander film crew made a temporary but permanent fix to the structure.
If you look at the wall in the picture above, you will see a perfectly square area that is slightly darker than the rest. In actuality, it is no longer stones but instead, a foamy rubber substance. Apparently that area was missing and needed to be replaced for shooting.
Lunch
Back in the transport on the road to Crieff everyone dug into their lunch sandwiches.
Abercairny Estates (River Run)
20-minute drive
The Abercairny Estates Ltd, Estate Office, Abercairny, Crieff PH7 3NQ, UK
Shortly before arriving in Crief we passed the entrance to Abercairny Estates, which we are told is the exterior filming location of Aunt Jocasta’s River Run Plantation in (Series EP: 402, 411 and 506).
Crieff Visitor Center
5-minute further drive || 35-minute visit
Crieff Visitor Centre, Muthill Rd, Crieff PH7 4HQ, UK
We arrived at Crieff Visitor Center for some souvenir shopping and to watch artisans in the art of glass blowing.
While stopped at the visitor center, we learned the Outlander production team was using the facilities of an abandoned warehouse just across the street. We were further told the film crew was at Drummond Castle Gardens filming at the rear of the facility.
Drummond Castle Gardens (Gardens of Versailles)
5-minute drive || 1-hour visit
Drummond Castle Gardens, Muthill, Crieff PH7 4HN, UK
After the souvenir shopping, we proceeded to make our way to the Drummond Castle Gardens journeying down an imposing tree lined drive. The magnitude and sheer beauty of the gardens literally blew us away. It was easy to see why the Outlander team chose these gardens as a filming location to represent the French Gardens of Versailles.
We wandered the Gardens for about an hour, where we forgot about Outlander for a few moments and lost ourselves in the garden’s utter vastness and serene beauty.
During our walk, we recognized a few locations where Claire, Jamie, and Jack Randall had stood (Series EP: 205).
Time got away from us and before long we forgot about visiting the back of the gardens to check on filming activity.
Tullibardine Chapel
10-minute drive
Tullibardine Chapel, Auchterarder PH3 1NU, UK
Back on the road we headed to Tullibardine Chapel to see the spot where Rupert had lost an eye (Series EP: 211), but because of road detours for the Solheim Cup (Professional Women’s Golf Tournament) we were unable to complete the journey.
Callendar House (Duke of Sandringham’s Kitchen and Belhurst Manor)
50-minute drive || 35-minute visit
Callendar House, Callendar Rd, Falkirk FK1, UK
We diverted to the Callendar House to take a look at the kitchen and learn about filming at this location.
The staff provided us a great deal of useful information about the shoot where Claire is in the care of the Duke of Sandringham (Series EP 211).
We learned how the kitchens construction was way ahead of its time, to include a very rare and operational vertical rotisserie. The staff provided a working demonstration of this apparatus and then explained every tool, utensil and appliance in the kitchen. This was certainly a ‘modern’ kitchen in its own time.
Williamscraig Holiday Cottages
20-minute drive || 2-hour Q&A
Williamscraig Holiday Cottages, The Horse Mill Williamscraig, Linlithgow EH49 6QF, UK
Having made our way back to the Eden 1 Cottage, and after a bit of rest and dinner, guests were treated to an in-person visit from Gillebride MacMillan or Gwyllyn the Bard (Series EP 103).
Gillebride, an award-winning Gaelic singer and dialect coach, provided some Q&A about the filming and interactions with the cast, as well as a Gaelic version of the The Skye Boat Song. This rousing performance showed off both his Gaelic dialect and his singing abilities. He also produced his original script from the show.
It was a wonderful end to another perfect day in Scotland.
Cruise Port: Edinburgh, Scotland
Tour Name: Outlander Scotland 5 Day Immersion Tour Day 4
Accommodations: Williamscraig Holiday Cottages
Tour Guide: Emma & Anne
Tour Operator: Mary’s Meanders
