Outlander Filming Locations in Scotland Series: “Lallybroch” (Midhope Castle)
- Gail McElroy
- Oct 21, 2022
- 3 min read
Because my husband and I are huge “Outlander” fans, we are on a mission to visit all of the show’s filming locations in Scotland. Jamie Fraser’s beloved Lallybroch was a natural place to start.
The exterior scenes of Lallybroch were filmed at Midhope Castle (located just outside of Edinburgh). The outside of the 15th century castle looks much like it has since it was built in 1478, but the interior is in complete shambles, making it unsafe and off limits for visitors. Consequently, tourists are limited to exploring the courtyard and grounds immediately surrounding the castle. But, trust me, that is enough for any Outlander fan!
Although Midhope Castle is part of the Hopetoun Estate, it is not included in tours of Hopetoun House (where many other scenes from the Outlander series were filmed) nor is it accessible from the Hopetoun House grounds. Although Midhope is a standalone site which operates separately from the estate, visiting the two in the same day is not only doable but also convenient since it’s only a 17-minute drive between the two destinations.
The partially private road leading to Midhope Castle from A904 is about a mile long. The route is not as well marked (or as well traveled) as other points of interest in the area. My daughter, who is also a fan, is driving while I navigate. When we make the final turn (which we almost missed) it looked like we were pulling into one of the private farms lining the road. In fact, Midhope Castle is located on a working farm and is sometimes closed to the public due to farm work or private events.
Near the end of the road, we spot a small sign pointing toward a gated entrance (open during business hours) to a small dirt parking area with a little wooden booth on one end. The person in the booth is there to check our ticket passes (which must be purchased ahead of time online since they do not sell admission passes onsite). The price of admission is cheap since no tours are offered nor are there amenities like food or public toilets. (Definitely something to note before heading to the site.) So, visiting the castle is mostly for a photo opportunity and bragging rights to say you’ve been to Jamie’s beloved Lallybroch.
Once our passes are verified, we are told to proceed up the hill and to stick to the main area immediately surrounding the house. We head toward the path and cross over a small bridge to a paved road. There it is! It looks just like it does on Outlander (with some minor exceptions). The main difference (aside from the electrical pole and wires) is the gate and archway – through which, on the show, we see Jamie coming or going or the redcoats making a surprise visit – stands alone without a connecting wall. Also, the land surrounding the castle is full of other more modern buildings and farm equipment.
We patiently wait for two other fans (the only other people there) to take all their photos, then we have the place to ourselves. Even though the courtyard looks barren except for some overgrown weeds, it’s easy to imagine Claire working in the herb garden, Jenny pinning up laundry and the children playing nearby. The iconic stone steps invite visitors to sit and soak in the setting where so much drama takes place. A peek through the windows reveals the dilapidated insides (mostly rotted timber beams and debris), confirming the “danger” warning posted on the boarded up front door.
We were there for about 45 minutes, enough time to explore the outside area and take our prized pictures to preserve the memory of our visit to the setting of the famed Fraser family home.
As we head back to the car, we turn for one last look at “Lallybroch,” much like Jamie did when leaving his beloved home for the last time in Season 3 before heading to Jamacia with Claire to find Young Ian who is captured and forced on a ship at the end of Episode 8.
For more information on location, operating hours and purchasing passes:
For Midhope Castle History:
For a snack or lunch nearby, visit Mannerstons Café and Farm Shop
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