St Andrews, Outlander and the Fishing Villages of Fife

Our first stop of the day is the Royal Burgh of Culross, or Cranesmuir, fictional home of Geillis Duncan and her husband Arthur, the procurator fiscal. In Season One, Claire and Geillis are marched through the streets of Cranesmuir when suspected of witchcraft. The dramatic scene featuring a wee boy with his ear pinned to a post after being caught stealing was filmed here at the Mercat Cross. A Heart of Scotland Tours ‘walk and talk’ through the 16th century cobbled streets with views of Culross Palace and Geillis’s herb garden is a lovely way to start the day!

The picturesque village of Falkland features as 1940s Inverness in Outlander and is where Claire and Frank spend their second honeymoon in Mrs Baird’s guesthouse (Jamie’s ghost also mysteriously appears in the rain beside the Bruce Fountain in Season One). Scotland’s first conservation village is perhaps best-known as the location of Falkland Palace, the finest example of Renaissance architecture in the UK. The palace was used as a hunting lodge by Stuart monarchs and was a favourite place of Mary, Queen of Scots.

St Andrews is internationally renowned as the ‘Home of Golf’ and you will have plenty of time to see the famous Old Course – a place of pilgrimage for golfers of all abilities.

St Andrews was one of the most important religious sites in medieval Europe and the ruins of the massive Cathedral are only 5 mins walk from the Castle, perched on cliffs above the North Sea. These two historic buildings played key roles during the Scottish Reformation.

There are three beaches in St Andrews – the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire were filmed on the West Sands.

The oldest University in Scotland (established 1411) is located here and its architectural legacy can be seen all over town. Prince William, Prince of Wales, studied and met his wife Kate Middleton here (they are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland). Mary, Queen of Scots was educated here and was probably one of the first women in the world to play golf.

Our route home takes us via the charming fishing villages of the East Neuk of Fife. We stop at Anstruther and admire its 16th century harbour, one of the most photographed in Scotland.

Once at the heart of Scotland’s 19th century herring industry, Anstruther is now a popular weekend retreat with a very pleasant mixture of boats, historic streets and visitors strolling around the harbour enjoying the famous fish and chips.

Our final stop is only a few minutes outside Edinburgh for photos of the Forth Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage Site) at South Queensferry. There has been a crossing here since the 11th century when Queen Margaret established a ferry service to transport pilgrims from Edinburgh to Dunfermline Abbey and St Andrews.