Outlander Day Tour

Begin this Classic day by travelling from Inverness to Clava Cairns, a contender for Craigh na Dun. See the “Split Stone”, through which Claire Randall might have tumbled, into 1743. May 1st (Beltane) and November 1st (Samhain) are the days when the Stones are at their most active. The former is when Claire fell through time in the book, and the latter when it happened in the show!

Next on the agenda is Culloden Battlefield. The award-winning Visitor Centre opened in 2008, providing new insights on the battle. Your guide will also conduct you on a personal tour of the field, including a stop at the Clan Fraser Stone, marking the grave of those clansmen.

Depending on time and daylight we may lunch at Culloden, or we may cross the beautiful Black Isle hearing stories of how the Highlands fared in the aftermath of Culloden. On this option, the next call is a visit to Storehouse of Foulis, a lunchstop dating from the 1740's although their cuisine is the very best of the 21st century!

After lunch the journey continues, past Castle Leod, by Strathpeffer, (the inspiration for Castle Leoch). This castle is indeed a Mackenzie stronghold, and the home of the Earl of Cromartie, Chief of the Clan MacKenzie.

As a specially organised optional extra the Earl will take an hour and a half to welcome you and personally show you some of the Castle’s interior.

After seeing the castle you travel through the spa village of Strathpeffer to Loch Garve, immortalised in Outlander/Cross-stitch as the home of the water kelpie. Hear the legends of the Water-Horse of Loch Garve. If time and weather permit then walk to the impressive Falls of Rogie, or alternatively perhaps look in on a Mackenzie whisky distillery. 

During the summer, tea and cake will be taken in the house in the vicinity that (in your guide’s opinion) most closely resembles Diana’s own descriptions of Lallybroch in her book “The Outlandish Companion”. During this tea you will also see a demonstration of eighteenth century weaponry. In winter this tea is taken in the Lovat Arms Hotel - an establishment with a number of links to Outlander.

The last stop of the day (before returning to Inverness) will be in Beauly, in Clan Fraser lands. There will be a short walk conducted by your guide, around the tranquil ruins of Beauly Priory, another site Claire found herself touched by. There is also brief free time in Beauly to take a quick look at some of the attractive shops, or even to just take a stroll.