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The Real History of Scotland’s ‘Outlander’ Locations: From Lallybroch to Cranesmuir with Dr. Alan Montgomery
The Real History of Scotland’s ‘Outlander’ Locations: From Lallybroch to Cranesmuir with Dr. Alan Montgomery

The Real History of Scotland’s ‘Outlander’ Locations: From Lallybroch to Cranesmuir with Dr. Alan Montgomery


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A virtual tour of the magical buildings and castles that feature in the hit television series Outlander.
Since its premiere in 2014, the drama Outlander has captured the imagination of viewers across the globe. Based on the best-selling novels by Diana Gabaldon, the popular time-travel fantasy series sees Claire Randall (played by Catriona Balfe) catapulted back to eighteenth-century Scotland, where she meets dashing Highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and gets caught up in a Jacobite uprising.
Arguably the greatest stars of Outlander are its wonderful locations, the historic buildings, and towns in Scotland which stand-in for the fictional places in the series. The success of the show has drawn thousands of visitors to Scotland, many of them hoping to experience its romantic and beautiful settings. This Context Conversation will lead us on a virtual tour around these locations and reveal their true histories.
Outlander fans will instantly recognize the pretty town of Culross (Cranesmuir), its cobbled streets lined with seventeenth-century houses, and the forbidding towers of Doune Castle will be more familiar as Castle Leoch, the fictional seat of Clan MacKenzie. Scenes that take place in Inverness were actually filmed in the picturesque village of Falkland, while the stately ruins of Linlithgow Palace take the role of Wentworth Prison, where Jamie was held and sentenced to death. Along with Midhope Castle (Lallybroch), Aberdour Castle (Sainte Anne de Beaupré), and others, it is these places that provide the magical backdrop for one of the last decade’s most popular television phenomenon.
Led by a Scottish historian, Alan Montgomery, this interactive seminar will provide a perfect introduction for anyone who wants to know more about the real history behind the dramatic Scottish locations of Outlander. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an insight into some of Scotland’s most enchanting historical sites.

Alan Montgomery was born and raised in Scotland but has spent most of his adult life in London. Having achieved an MA in Art History at Glasgow University, he worked for many years in the art world at both an international auction house and an antique dealer. In recent years he has returned to academia, achieving an MA in Classical Civilisation in 2011, and has recently completed a Ph.D. in which he analyzed eighteenth-century attitudes towards the ancient Roman world. In addition to his work for Context Travel, Alan also writes catalog essays on Contemporary Art for a leading auctioneer. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2017, his first book, entitled 'Classical Caledonia', was published by Edinburgh University Press in August 2020.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

70 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Based on 187 reviews
86%
(161)
11%
(21)
2%
(3)
1%
(2)
0%
(0)
K
K.E. (Holzgerlingen, DE)
Exploring "Outlander" Sites

An intriguing look into significant "Outlander" filming sites was provided by Dr. Montgomery. Having neither read the books nor viewed the series, I am now inspired to do both!

D
D.K.P. (Eugene, US)
Great presentation

I have visited Scotland twice, both times for three weeks and have gone to a number of the places that Dr. Montgomery showed and discussed. I was happy to hear the detail which he talked about for each site and it was fun to see it again.
An excellent presentation and I look forward to watching it again. Thank you!

M
M.A. (Cape Girardeau, US)
Excellent Presentation

Because I am planning a trip to England and Scotland in the near future and because I am a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’ series, I eagerly signed up for this presentation. Dr. Alan Montgomery is a knowledgeable, Scottish historian not only about places highlighted in Gabaldon’s books, but about the locations used for filming to represent the books’ narrative. Each of the real places have their own rich history attached to them. This lecture was presented in an easy to access Zoom format, and it provided a wealth of information. I have a better idea now of what I want to see when I travel to Scotland.

S
S.F. (Saratoga Springs, US)
Great historical insight into places if outlander

Appreciate Dr Montgomery’s knowledge of history related to these ‘well known’ sites (to Outlander fans)

A
A.L. (Toronto, CA)
Thoroughly enjoyed

The seminar was very informative. Dr Montgomery knew the topic well, both the historical information and knowledge of the Outlander show. I thought he combined the two topics very well and made it most interesting. Great for anyone thinking of visiting Scotland.

Customer Reviews

Based on 187 reviews
86%
(161)
11%
(21)
2%
(3)
1%
(2)
0%
(0)
K
K.E. (Holzgerlingen, DE)
Exploring "Outlander" Sites

An intriguing look into significant "Outlander" filming sites was provided by Dr. Montgomery. Having neither read the books nor viewed the series, I am now inspired to do both!

D
D.K.P. (Eugene, US)
Great presentation

I have visited Scotland twice, both times for three weeks and have gone to a number of the places that Dr. Montgomery showed and discussed. I was happy to hear the detail which he talked about for each site and it was fun to see it again.
An excellent presentation and I look forward to watching it again. Thank you!

M
M.A. (Cape Girardeau, US)
Excellent Presentation

Because I am planning a trip to England and Scotland in the near future and because I am a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’ series, I eagerly signed up for this presentation. Dr. Alan Montgomery is a knowledgeable, Scottish historian not only about places highlighted in Gabaldon’s books, but about the locations used for filming to represent the books’ narrative. Each of the real places have their own rich history attached to them. This lecture was presented in an easy to access Zoom format, and it provided a wealth of information. I have a better idea now of what I want to see when I travel to Scotland.

S
S.F. (Saratoga Springs, US)
Great historical insight into places if outlander

Appreciate Dr Montgomery’s knowledge of history related to these ‘well known’ sites (to Outlander fans)

A
A.L. (Toronto, CA)
Thoroughly enjoyed

The seminar was very informative. Dr Montgomery knew the topic well, both the historical information and knowledge of the Outlander show. I thought he combined the two topics very well and made it most interesting. Great for anyone thinking of visiting Scotland.