‘Outlander’ Filming Locations: 6 Castles Jamie And Claire Fans Can Visit In Scotland

“Outlander” does a beautiful job of showing off Scotland, and it isn’t all TV magic. The Starz show, based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels, actually films in Scotland and regularly leaves the studio to shoot at real locations. The drama takes place in the 18th century, so castles are often involved. If you’re heading to the Jamie Fraser’s country, you should check out these historic fortresses.

Doune Castle — You might recognize it as Castle Leoch, the seat of Clan MacKenzie. The outside was used in the series, but the inside will look a bit different. Interior shots were filmed in a studio.

Showrunner Ronald D. Moore chose the castle, located in Doune, because of its size as well as its condition. “It’s one of the best examples of a medieval castle still left in all of Europe, in terms of preservation,” Moore told Condé Nast Traveler. “The structure remains very close to when it was originally built, in the 13th century. The courtyard is great, there’s a rampart you can walk on, and I realized there wasn’t much I had to do to it digitally. It’s also where they shot ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail.’ If you go straight up to the tower, you will often hear tourists at the top shouting out lines.”

Blackness Castle — This castle has a fitting name. It served as the base for Black Jack (Tobias Menzies). Don’t worry, we’re pretty sure there aren’t any sadistic captains there now. This location is particularly easy to visit from Edinburgh.

Aberdour Castles — This castle on the Fife coast served as the monastery where Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) brought Jamie (Sam Heughan) after he was assaulted by Black Jack at the end of Season 1. It’s one of the oldest masonry castles in Scotland.

Dean Castle — Located in Kilmarnock, this is where Jamie and Claire tried to convince Lord Lovat to help Charles Stuart in Season 2. The 14th century castle has more amenities these days with an urban farm, adventure playground, tearoom and more to keep tourists busy.

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Drummond Castle — “Outlander” fans are actually more interested in what’s outside of this historic building in Perthshire. The gardens were used in “Outlander” Season 2 to stand in for the gardens of Versailles. It’s easy to see why. The elaborate greenery makes for a stunning photo op.

Balgonie Castle — This castle in Fife was used as Eldridge Manor. Claire recovers form a wolf attack here in Season 1 and figures out how to save Jamie from Black Jack using cattle.

To see more “Outlander” locations you can tour, check out Visit Scotland.

Fans planning to tour Scotland in the near future probably won’t be running into the cast. Heughan, Balfe and the rest of their co-stars are currently filming in Cape Town. The South African location is standing in for Jamaica in “Outlander” Season 3. Jamie and Claire will journey to the Carribean after they reunite on the show.

Even though there isn’t much chance of running into the stars, visiting Jamie and Claire’s haunts is a perfect way to get through the long hiatus. “Outlander” Season 2 ended in July 2016 and the show won’t come back until September.

“Outlander” Season 3 returns to Starz in September. An exact premiere date has not been announced yet.