Upon arrival at Edinburgh Airport be welcomed by your local chauffeur-guide who will accompany you for the duration of your stay.  He will ensure a safe and comfortable transfer into the city centre and to your accommodation for five nights.

It is a luxury hotel in the true sense of the word.  While many Edinburgh hotels claim to have Edinburgh’s landmarks on their doorstep, few can say their own doorstep is a landmark.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure, resting and relaxing following your international flight.

Your local guide will meet you in the hotel foyer to accompany you as you discover the city’s historic Old Town on foot.

The Royal Mile is peppered with stores selling cashmere goods and hand crafted silver jewellery. However, in centuries gone by it was a different story: delving into the Old Town is like leafing through the pages of a dusty historical novel, as each era unfolds with its own legends and characters.

Head to the Castle, known as the “Jewel in Scotland’s Crown”.  From its volcanic rock, it towers over the city.  Step inside the ancient walls and learn of the royalty who lived and died here and the struggles for control of the nation.

Later, see Carubbers Close before perhaps following in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie by pausing for a drink in the nearest thing to Moubay’s Tavern, where they dined on oyster stew then dashed out into the pouring rain to pick up a drunken Mr Willoughby.  Afterwards, see Canongate Kirk – in the series, this is where Colum Mackenzie met Claire and Jamie for the last time.

Accompanied by a private costumed guide, explore Real Mary King’s Close: a secret warren of hidden streets, deep beneath the Royal Mile, they have remained frozen in time since the 17^th century.  On your tour, see how people of different classes used to live in very close proximity to each other in cramped conditions.  Your guide will regale you with tales of murder and intrigue – from claims of spectres and nameless terrors to the close’s last resident, Mr Chesney, and the ghost of ‘little Annie’.

At the foot of the Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Official Residence of HM, The Queen and the Royal Family in Scotland.  With Arthur’s Seat as its dramatic backdrop, this baroque Palace is perhaps best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots and the setting for many of the dramatic episodes in her turbulent life.  It was also here that Claire and Jamie had an audience with Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Depart Edinburgh with your Private Guide and chauffeur for a visit to one of Scotland’s finest stately homes.  Hopetoun House is a place of beauty, tranquillity and architectural magnificence.  Dating from the 17^th century, it has been home to the Hope Family since the late 1600s; the present Lord Hopetoun and his family still live here.

From the series, this outstanding property represented the Duke of Sandringham’s house.  During your privately guided tour you will see interiors from the late Georgian through to the Edwardian period, with much of the original decoration and a wonderful collection of pictures, furniture and other contents.  These reflect the tastes of a single family over several centuries.  Artworks include works by Scottish portrait painters such as Aikman Ramsay and Raeburn, in addition to works by other well-known artists such as Birley and Gainsborough.

Before leaving, you may wish to venture into the grounds and see the 16^th century tower house which doubled as Lallybroch, also known as Broch Tuarach, the small estate which belonged to Jamie’s family.

Nearby, is another film location; the setting for ‘Black Jack’ Randall’s Fort William headquarters.  Built in the 15^th century by one of Scotland’s most powerful families, the Crichtons, it was never destined as a peaceful, lordly residence.

Discover the city on your own today.

Your guide from the previous couple of days will have ensured you set off in the right direction, with advice for visits that might interest you and helpful hints for off-the-beaten-track experiences.

As you cross the Firth of Forth, look to your right and see the iconic Forth Railway Bridge, built in 1890.  It is a much-celebrated Scottish landmark and a milestone in the development of railway civil engineering; such is its importance that it was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

From the series, visit the town which featured as 1940s Inverness.  The Church became Dalneigh Parish Church, the Covenanter Hotel became Mrs Baird’s Guesthouse and Lomond Pharmacy was transformed into Campbell’s Coffee House.  The coffee shop has retained its new identity and is the ideal location for a morning coffee.

Continue to the nearest thing to a 17^th century village anywhere in Scotland.  A model period garden has been recreated behind the Palace – which was used as the interior of Geillis Duncan’s home – to show the range of plants available and includes vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, soft fruits and ornamental shrubs.  The garden was designed by Claire Mackay, who advised Diana Gabaldon on all things herbal for her books.

From the series, you may recognise the village’s Mercat area as the setting of Cranesmuir village and the herb garden as that of Castle Leoch’.  See also the façade of Geillis Duncan’s home and the setting of the pillory scene.

Return to Edinburgh for a final evening.

Leave Edinburgh behind and travel north, watching the scenery change as the Lowlands give way to the Highlands.

From the series, pause and visit the location which stood in as Mackenzie Village.  These replicas of 18^th century, turf-roofed Highland crofts made it an ideal choice as the backdrop for the scene where Claire, Jamie and his clansmen sheltered in the first episode and appeared again later on when Dougal collected the rent.  The mile-long site includes everything from 1700s houses through to a working 1930s croft.  Some buildings built were from scratch on site, while others were moved here from previous locations.

Travel onwards to your home for the three evenings.

Once described as “the most beautiful Regency House in Scotland”, your final accommodation is set on 20 acres of well-tended lawns, walled gardens, woodland and streams.

An ornamental lake in the grounds is stocked with brown and rainbow trout and is also home to swans, wild geese, and ducks. A series of well-kept paths connect with the house, enabling guests to explore the gardens and rest and relax in secluded seating areas or on sunny terraces.

The hotel is a winner of many accolades in particular for dining and service. The restaurant has a highly coveted Michelin Star and 4 AA Rosettes – this puts it firmly in the top four restaurants in Scotland and as one of the most notable in Britain.

This morning, enjoy a private guided walk on the moving battlefields at Culloden, site of the infamous 1746 battle where, in less than 60 minutes, the Jacobites of Scotland outnumbered by an estimated 2000 soldiers, lost to the government armies.

In the aftermath, the government ruthlessly set about dismantling Highland culture, depriving clan chiefs of their legal powers and clansmen of their weapons.  Jacobite estates were seized, speaking the native Gaelic became a hanging offence and the kilt and tartan were banned. Mighty Fort George was built nearby as a government army base.

From the series, see where Jamie valiantly fought and visit the Clan Fraser burial stone.

To follow, visit the one of Scotland’s most evocative and sacred prehistoric sites.  In a small wood by a river stand three exceptionally well-preserved burial cairns, each surrounded by stone circles. The site is thought to be an inspiration for Craigh na Dun, and even has a split stone which could lead you back to 1743…

Your chauffeur-guide returns you to your hotel late afternoon.

Travel to the shores of Scotland’s most famous stretch of water, Loch Ness. There can be no better way to see the water than from aboard a luxury motor cruiser which would be reserved exclusively. Sumptuous platters of Scottish delicacies are served as you sit back and admire the spectacular scenery.

In the 18^th century, Claire encountered the fabled Loch Ness Monster as she went to fetch water from the loch, and later reflected that the creature may well have been displaced there by a portal similar to the stones she fell through.

Disembark to visit Castle Urquhart, one of the country’s largest castles.

It has had a lively history to say the least; it was a critical stronghold in the Highlands and was one of the great castles seized when Edward I, ‘Hammer of the Scots’ invaded in 1296, marking the beginning of the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Control for ownership continued as the Lords of the Isles regularly raided both castle and glen up until the 1500s.

Fast forward a century or two.  The last of the government troops garrisoned here during the Jacobite Risings blew up the castle when they left in 1692.  Urquhart’s iconic ruins remain, offering glimpses into medieval times and the lives of its noble residents.

Visiting this key castle in Scotland’s history coupled with private cruising on Scotland’s most famous stretch of water is likely to be the perfect finale to this Outlander inspired journey around Scotland.

Your chauffeur-guide will transfer you to Inverness Airport for your onward journey.

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