The Outlander Palaces Day Tour from Edinburgh
Description
Step into the world of Outlander with our one-day Outlander tour from Edinburgh. You’ll visit some of the show's most iconic filming locations, including Culross, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Midhope Castle, and even experience a stop at the mystical Tuilyies Standing Stones.
We’ll start our adventure from Edinburgh in the morning, heading north across the Firth of Forth towards the Tuilyies Standing Stones. These ancient stones are much like the ones featured in Outlander, the very markers that hint at time travel in the series. Who knows, you might be tempted to press your hand against one and see what happens.
Next, we’ll make our way to the Royal Burgh of Culross. This beautiful, preserved village is a perfect example of 17th-century Scotland and features heavily in Outlander. You’ll recognise the streets and buildings from Claire's herb garden and the Mercat Cross in the show's fictional Cranesmuir Village.
From there, we journey to the impressive Doune Castle (optional extra), which fans will know as Castle Leoch, the ancestral home of Clan MacKenzie. Beyond Outlander, this medieval fortress has starred in other famous productions too, including Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As we travel, you’ll also spot the mighty Stirling Castle towering above the city on its volcanic rock. While we won’t visit it on this tour, it’s a highlight on our Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle and the Kelpies day tour.
Afterwards, we head south to the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow. Here, you’ll have time to grab lunch and, if you wish, visit the impressive Linlithgow Palace (optional extra), better known to Outlander fans as Wentworth Prison. Set against beautiful scenery, this historic palace was once a peaceful retreat for the Scottish royal family on their travels between Edinburgh and Stirling.
Our next stop is the coastal village of Blackness, home to Blackness Castle (optional extra). Nicknamed "the ship that never sailed" thanks to its striking triangular shape, the castle juts out into the Firth of Forth and served as Fort William, the notorious headquarters of Black Jack Randall in the series. From its ramparts, you’ll be treated to views across the water, including the famous three bridges linking Fife to the Lothians.
To round off our day, our final stop depends on the season. In summer months, we continue to Midhope Castle (optional extra), better known as Lallybroch, the Fraser family home. Here, you can explore, take photos and soak up the atmosphere, and maybe keep an eye out for Jamie himself. If Midhope Castle is closed for filming or during the winter, we’ll instead visit the Forth Bridges, a stunning showcase of Scottish engineering, with three generations of bridges spanning the Firth of Forth, each one representing a different century of innovation.
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Departure & Map
What's included
The Tour Includes:
- Knowledgeable Driver-Guide
- Luxury modern air-conditioned coach
Not Included:
- Food, drink, visitor attraction entry fees and activities such as cruises are not included in the tour price but these are optional and we can advise you of the costs before you book.
All optional extras - attraction entrance fees, loch cruises, food and drinks, etc - are not included in the price of your tour. This is to allow our guests the freedom to choose which optional extras they would like to take part in on the day.
Optional extras for your tour (Prices from August 2024) are as follows:
Tuilyies Standing Stones
Culross (Outlander’s Cranesmuir Village)
Doune Castle (Castle Leoch) — optional extra
Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison) — optional extra
Blackness Castle (Fort William) — optional extra
Midhope Castle (Lallybroch) — optional extra in summer / alternative:
Forth Bridges (if Midhope closed or in winter)
Important Information:
- We recommend you bring warm and/or waterproof clothing for the changeable Scottish weather, and because you will have the opportunities for walks on some of our tours. You should wear comfortable shoes for walking, take a sunblock and/or a hat for sunny days and don't forget your camera!
You can also take cold food and drink on the coach if you wish but you will always have stops for eating and drinking - your driver will inform you of the options on the tour.
We recommend that you organise your own travel insurance. On our 2 and 3 day tours, we ask that you limit your luggage to one medium-sized piece per person.
Getting there
Departure Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Departs: 08:30am /Returns: 06.00pm
Prices Per Person
Click on Calendar for updated prices.
Terms & Conditions
Cancellations
The Company reserves the right to cancel any tour where the minimum number of passengers is not reached. Minimum number of passengers required for tour departure is six. In such cases, the Company's liability to the Customer is either the full return of monies paid for the tour or provision of a suitable alternative tour as agreed with the Customer.
Cancellation Charges
Where the Customer cancels his/her tour reservation, charges will be payable by the Customer as detailed below:
Please note that all Customers cancelling any tour reservation will be charged a standard fee of 10% of the booking price to cover administration costs. The following terms and conditions apply:
1 Day Tours:
- For cancellations made more than 72 hrs before departure, a full refund will be given less an administration fee of 10%
- For cancellations made less than 72 hrs before departure, there will be no refund. Customers will be placed on standby for a period of 12 months.
Extended Tours (more than one day):
- For cancellations made more than 7 days before the tour departure, a full refund will be given less an administration fee of 10%
- For cancellations made less than 7 days before the tour departure, there will be no refund. Customers will be placed on standby for a period of 12 months.
*No refunds are offered on any tours if the passenger is late for a tour/cannot find the pick-up point*
Arriving for your tour
We kindly request that passengers arrive at the departure point 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE PUBLISHED DEPARTURE TIME as the coach must depart on time and cannot wait for late-comers. This is for the benefit of all customers, and allows us to visit all stops for the full amount of time, offering you the most out of your tour. You can find your Published Departure Time on your booking confirmation. Arrival in time for tours departing and finding the departure point are the responsibilities of the customer.
Minimum Numbers
The minimum number of passengers required for tour departure is 6 passengers, which helps to minimise the impact on the environment. The Company reserves the right to cancel any tour where the minimum number is not reached. On the rare occasion that we should be required to cancel a tour, we will inform the Customer in advance and offer an alternative tour subject to availability, upgrade the Customer to a tour at a higher fare at no extra cost, or provide a full refund.
Insurance
We strongly recommend that passengers hold comprehensive and suitable travel, medical and cancellation insurance to cover for eventualities during travel.
Alterations/Alternatives
The Company reserves the right to alter tour itineraries at any time, due to weather conditions, traffic problems, availability of attractions or other such extenuating circumstances beyond our control. In the case of accommodation, we will attempt to obtain a similar standard of accommodation wherever possible. The Company reserves the right to alter the size and type of motor coach employed on any tour.
Other Operators/Carriers/Third Party Suppliers
The Company will not accept or have any liability for any acts or omissions whether negligent or otherwise of any supplier (including accommodation, subcontracted coach services, tourist attractions, and print communications ) or person providing services in connection with any tour unless such a person is employed by or under direct control of the Company. Tickets and vouchers for travel on other carriers are subject to the normal conditions of carriage of the individual carrier.
Package Prices
Accomodation with breakfast is included with the tour if specified on the booking form. The accomodation is based on a minimum of 3 star B&B. Ensuite rooms are only available upon request.
Non-package Prices
Please note accommodation is not included in the tour price if specified on the booking form. Accommodation arrangements for 2 and 3 day tours are provided independently by third party accommodation providers. Such arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by these providers, and as such any contracts undertaken are made between the Customer and the Third Party accommodation provider. All such arrangements are made independently, irrespective of any help and assistance which the Company may provide in securing such arrangements.
Where Customers choose to book their own accommodation, it must be in the town centre or the Driver-Guide will be unable to drop Customers off and collect them.
*Please be advised, most accommodation providers in the Highlands only accept cash payments, and do not accept debit/credit cards as methods of payment. Single supplements will usually apply.
Extended tours departing from Glasgow
For operational reasons and to minimize the impact on the environment, our 2 and 3-Day tours departing from Glasgow pick up in Edinburgh first and on the return journey, the tour terminates in Edinburgh only. Passengers who were collected in Glasgow and wish to return there, are provided with a valid Edinburgh - Glasgow rail ticket and are dropped at Edinburgh Waverley Rail Station for the return journey to Glasgow.
Luggage on extended tours
Luggage is limited to 1 small to medium-sized suitcase or bag per person.
Prices
Tour prices are for transport and Driver-Guide only. All other attraction entrance fees, cruise tickets, food and drink, accommodation etc, are additional optional extras, payable locally by the Customer at their own expense.
The Company’s current published prices on the website and in the current brochures are valid from 24th March 2013 to 31st March 2014.
Concessionary prices are offered to persons over the age of 60, full-time students and children between 5 and 16 years. We regret that children under 5 years cannot be carried.
Low Season - 1 November 2013 to 31 March 2014, except 21 December 2013 to 4 January 2014.
Children
Regretfully we cannot carry children under the age of 5 years on our scheduled tours. Children aged 5-16 years of age will receive a concessionary rate.
Customer Conduct
Smoking is not permitted on any of our vehicles.
The consumption of alcohol is not permitted on any of our vehicles.
The Company reserves the right to refuse to carry any person whose conduct or manner is likely to cause offence or upset to other passengers. In such cases full cancellation charges to the passenger apply, and the Company shall have no further liability to that passenger.
Force Majeure
The Company does not accept any liability for any loss, inconvenience or damage caused by war, threat of war, riot or civil commotion, terrorist or criminal activity, industrial disputes, natural disasters, fires, illness, weather conditions, road traffic conditions, temporary technical, electrical or mechanical breakdown.
Data Protection
Please note that when giving information for the purposes of making your Booking, you will be deemed to consent to us holding and using that information to send you details of other products and services we provide that we think may be of interest to you. If you would prefer your information not to be used in that way, please contact us, giving your name and address: (i) in writing, (ii) by e-mail, or (iii) by telephone.
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