For all you fans of ‘Outlander’, the time-travelling TV drama set in Scotland and based on the compelling novels written by Diana Gabaldon, we have a temporary fix just for you with our Outlander adventure! Season 3 and 4 are not set to premiere until September but to tide you by over the next few months why not beat the Droughtlander and join us on our brand new ‘Outlander’ tour. 

Yes. You heard it right. We’re taking you to Outlander itself to live the story yourself. You’ll not only get to visit the battlefield at Culloden but also Clava Cairns, which served as inspiration for Craigh na Dun; a secret Jacobite cave hideout; stunning scenes from the TV opening sequence and the Mackenzie village.

The Mackenzie village in the Highlands of Scotland

Outlander adventure: Jacobite stories

We’ll walk in the footsteps of our Jacobite ancestors. John Roy Stuart is considered one of the most colourful and charismatic characters of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Born just a few miles from Aviemore in 1700, he became one of Strathspey’s best-known and best-loved heroes. He certainly sounds like he could’ve been inspiration for the fictional character, Jamie Fraser.

Outlander adventure – discovering the secret cave hideout of John Roy Stuart

Outlander adventure – travel back in time through the stones

This outlandish, fun filled expedition in the quintessential Scottish Highlands offers…

• an all-inclusive adventure based from Fraoch Lodge in Boat of Garten
• 4 days of ‘Outlander’ packed film locations and Jacobite landmarks
• hiking in the footsteps of our Jacobite ancestors
• 5 nights accommodation at Fraoch Lodge
• all meals throughout your stay
• transport to all the sites/walks/activities
• trips over the months of July, August & October
• pick up from Aviemore station and Inverness airport

Be your own Claire Randall searching for your very own Jamie Fraser, or vice versa! End your Droughtlander now. Come join us on our adventure.

NB – there is some hiking and active days on this tour. You can’t experience the whole tour from a bus.

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During my holiday in Scotland I went to Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms National Park. I decided to do a walking holiday and tour the countryside which provided Outlander inspiration for  Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander saga.  My guide was from Scot Mountain Holidays. I told him of my keen interest in the Jacobite rebellion and what happened to the Highlanders who fought for Bonny Prince Charlie after the Battle of Culloden.

John Roy Stuart memorial

Retracing Jacobite steps

Being a connoisseur of the area he took me on a historic day trek through an 18th century village where I saw layouts of old black houses and kilns while tracing beaten carriage tracks. I was shown various medicinal, poisonous, and culinary plants relevant to the people of the time and Outlander’s heroine who delves into Scottish botany.

Scots pine

Wood Cranesbill

We spotted a tawny owl who flew by not ten feet in front of us. I tasted a juniper berry with the the richness of gin. I sniffed the vibrant yellow broom wafting of coconut, and took in the spicy scent of bog myrtle used at the time to flavour beers.

We saw two majestic golden eagles floating in circles together on a high wind!

Spot the golden eagles!

But the most exciting part of our adventure was John Roy Stuart’s cave, a Jacobite rebel and close ally of the Bonny Prince. Andy described his rise as Jacobite leader to eventual fall as a “rebel”. We crouched inside the cave in which he hid from the Red Coats for years after his exile, and discussed what life would have been like at the time.

Broom – coconut scented, you have to smell it to believe it!

Globeflower

If ever there was a moment I felt close to James Fraser, this was it!

Stuart even had a young boy who ran him supplies (wee Fergus?) and narrowly escaped death many times. Standing in this place brought a sense of the real history, drama, intrigue and very thorough research by Gabaldon to ground her story in places and situations that happened to real people. I was given the gift of seeing first hand the evidence of their lives.

Delving further into Jacobite history

My hosts took me to the Culloden Battlefield and Visitors Centre. We saw a panoramic video re-enactment of the battle which is very impactful, and got an in depth immersion into the history told by eye witnesses and historical accounts. Plaques made reference to John Roy Stewart’s contribution.

Place where “John Roy Stuart’s 200” were stationed in line with the Jacobites before commencing battle at Culloden 16 April 1746

We also saw commemorations to the various clans which had lost members during the battle, including the Frasers.

Clan Fraser memorial, Battle of Culloden 1746

An unbeatable guide

Being able to learn more about Jacobites and the history which informed the Outlander series was truly fascinating. I look forward to seeing more of Scotland’s history through walking its landscapes, and there’s no better guides and base for it than in the Cairngorms with the warm and knowledgeable hosts at Froach Lodge.

Ryvoan, the other end of John Stuart’s ridge

Check out Scot Mountain Holiday’s Outlandish Scotland: Off-the-beaten-track and Outlander events summer 2016 for more details!

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Live like the Jacobite Highlanders

Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series is a worldwide sensation highlighting the beauty and intrigue of Scotland and her Highland culture.

Scot Mountain Holidays can immerse you in the historical drama by exploring the real life setting of Gabaldon’s time-travel epic.

Come experience Scotland through an Outlander hiking tour guided by us, your local connoisseurs, and get off the beaten track!

This means rugged scenery, enchanting flora, rich history, and magical stories. With Fraoch Lodge as your base, you and your friends and family will easily access historical sites of Jacobite history, the world of “The Frasers”, and sites where the Starz Outlander series adaptation is filmed & sites which served as inspiration for Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books.

Guided hiking holiday in the Cairngorms

Why choose us

Your hosts will provide routes and in-depth knowledge of choice locations handpicked for an enchanting Outlander Scotland experience. Transportation to and from the lodge to your locations can also be provided as a service.

Don’t miss out on exploring chosen landscapes inspired by the likes of Lallybroch Scotland and Castle Leoch from our Highland home. Come see filming locations such as Tulloch Ghru and The Highland Folk Museum (on our doorstep!). At Fraoch Lodge, you can tour romantic scenery, enjoy a whisky by the hearth with your hosts, and talk all things Outlander.

Relax by the fire (whisky optional)

Contact Scot Mountain Holidays for more information about Outlander tours and getting off the beaten track.

Sláinte!

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The Starz drama based on the historical fiction and time travel series by Diana Gabaldon has been renewed for 2 more seasons, which promises to return to the Highlands.

We can always count on Outlander for intrigue, drama, stunning Scottish landscape and, of course, men in kilts! Which is why we here at Scot Mountain Holidays have accumulated a list of events to compliment your Outlander and Jacobite fever.

This summer, 2016

1. Fort George

Falcon demonstration

Highlanders at the ready

Military re-enactment

Close to the Inverness airport, Fort George would not exist if not for the Jacobite rebellion, which is a major feature of Claire and Jamie’s story. Their re-enactments are unbeatable:

• The Stuarts Struggle (Sat 13 Aug, Sun 14 Aug)
• King George’s Heilan’ Men (Tue 7 Jun – Thur 4 Aug)
• Fortress for the King (Tue 14 Jun – Thur 1 Sept)
• Highland Militia (Tue 12 July – Thur 8 Sept)

2. Highland Folk Museum

The Old Township

Thatch roof cottage

Make your own A-frame croft and grind flour

Just outside our doorstep is Britain’s first open air museum. Check out the old township to get a feel for the Highland way of life. Oh, and did we mention Outlander was filmed here?

• Heritage in Action (Every Tuesday between July 5-26; Tue 2 Aug, Tue 9 Aug)

3. Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre

Stills of the Culloden battlefield panorama re-enactment

A long night’s march

For the Stuart cause

Walk through the fields of the historic battlefield and visit its interactive centre. Learn how 1,200 Jacobites were slaughtered in under an hour bringing an end to a Scottish era:

• An Epic Tale: The facts and fiction of life during the Rising (Fri 1 Jul – Sun 31 Jul)
• Staying True to the Past: Weaving Fiction from Fact (Sat 2 Jul)
• Outlander Herbal with Claire MacKay (Sat 9 July)
• A conversation with Diana Gabaldon (Fri 22 July)–SOLD OUT!
• Charles Edward Stuart and the ’45 (Sat 6 Aug)

4. Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle

Ghosts of Urquhart’s Past

Historical dress-up at Urquhart

Experience Old Scotland and the lead up to the rebellion through the story of Urquhart Castle and its eventual demolition:

• A Loyal Man (Sat 28 May – Sun 24 July)
• Enemy at the Gate (Mon 4 July, Tue 5 July)
• A Sword for my Chief (Fri 19 Aug – Sun 21 Aug)

Don’t miss out…

All of these events are within easy reach of Fraoch Lodge. Contact us for more details and come immerse yourself in the Scottish Highland history which inspired Outlander!

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