For the past 7 years Emma & Anne, and the growing team at Mary’s Meanders, have been welcoming visitors from all over the World to share in our enthusiasm for our local area and enjoy tales of history and local traditions. We particularly love chatting about our specialist subjects Outlander, Mary, Queen of Scots, filming and Ancestry Tours.
This is a tour based on, and immersed, in the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon. Although the books are set in the Highlands, the filming of the Starz TV series took place in Central Scotland, with a number of the filming sites on the doorstep of our base in Linlithgow.
We will start our journey in the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Linlithgow. You will have the opportunity to see Linlithgow Palace, Birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and Outlander filming site for Wentworth Prison.
During the drive to our next destination, Doune, we will pass the Kelpies, Scotland’s latest tourist attraction. Doune is home of the 14th Century castle used in as the Outlander filming site for Castle Leoch, the home of The MacKenzie Clan.
On to Culross, a perfectly preserved example of a 17th century town, where you can picture Jamie & Claire wandering around the cobbled streets. This is the setting for the fictional town of Cranesmuir. Many of the buildings feature in the show and Claire’s herb garden is the beautiful stepped garden behind Culross Palace.
We continue with a short drive over the river where you will get fabulous views of the iconic Forth Rail Bridge.
If available we will visit Lallybroch also known as Midhope Castle and get a great photo on the house stairs.
Our final stop, Blackness Castle is a formidable fortress sitting on the banks of the River Forth and is the filming site for Fort William, the stronghold of the infamous Black Jack Randall.
There will be an opportunity for you to purchase lunch on this tour.
* An Historic Scotland Explorer Pass is great value if you are planning to travel in Scotland after your tour. As well as giving you access to these properties, you can also visit any of their 70 properties, including Edinburgh and Stirling Castles, for no additional cost.
