Scotland -- Day 3 - All Things "Outlander"

Today was geared toward those of us who are Outlander fans.  Out of our group of 48 about 1/3 are men.  Seems that most of the men don't have a clue about Outlander...so they are kind of lost in this obsession.  It's funny to watch them try and figure out what is going on now!!

Today we started at Blackness Castle which is the site where Jamie was first whipped by Black Jack Randall.  The castle itself is not occupied but is managed as a Scottish Historical site.  Before Outlander evidentially there was little interest, one man was able to manage the property in its entirety.  Now, however, thanks to Outlander fame, tour busses are making regular stops.  As a result the staff has grown and this year the lavatories were upgraded!!  Thank you Outlander!!!

Blackness Castle is a 15th century fortress, near the village of Blackness, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth (the river that flows from the North Sea 29 miles inland to Scotland's Central belt).   It was built, probably on the site of an earlier fort, by Sr. George Crichton in the 1440s. The castle, together with the Crichton lands, passed to James II of Scotland in 1453 and the castle has been crown property ever since. 

Low tide at Blackness

Inside the castle

Outside grounds

From Blackness we headed to the village of Culross which was a filming site for Clair's herb garden and Geillis's home.  The village itself is very small and charming and again sits with a wonderful view of of the Firth of Forth.  Today was our first day of serious rain and of course it was the day I decided not to wear my rain jacket.  I had an umbrella but the wind was gusty, so that was useless.  Finally, Simone', our tour director, ended the guided part of that visit and I found a friendly cafe for lunch where I had a delicious Spinach and Cheese pie.

A cobbled street in Culross

Geillis Duncan's home

Claire's herb garden, now overgrown

Betsy's very warm and dry Cafe

Our next stop was at Hopetoun House which was featured as many locations in the first three seasons of Outlander.  It has played a wide variety of places including the Duke of Sandringham's residence, some of the Parisian scenes and several scenes from the Helwater and Elsmere estates. 

Hopetoun House was built in the late 1600s for the Hope family who built their wealth from their ownership of lead mines, and the present lord Hopetoun and his family still live in the south wing.  This stately home is considered by many to be one of the finest in Scotland and the interior is filled with stunning collections of paintings, tapestries and furniture that are kept in the rooms that have remained virtually unchanged for over 300 years. 

The back yard!

Front entrance

Dining Room

Formal Palor

A bedroom

The backside

One of the interesting features of this house was its landscaping.  In the photo below you see black sheep grazing in a front field with a wall in the background.  Those walls are called HaHa Walls.  I guess because as you look out over the landscape you cannot see the walls....the grounds appear to be one continuous field.  However, they are not, and they keep the sheep from getting onto the formal gardens.  Very deceptive when you see it in person.

Our final stop of the day was at Midhope House, also on the Hopetoun property but quite a ways from the main house (have no idea how many acres this family owns, but it has to be a ton cause it took us 20+ minutes to get to get to Midhope).  

For us Outlander Crazies this site is better know to us as Lollybrock, Jamie Frazier's ancestral home.  Of course there are many details missing from the actual property, but we quickly recognize the gate, shape of the house and the front entrance!!!!

So tonight I was supposed to go out for dinner with the gang.  Have already paid for it, but just can't!!  Am whiped out.  We leave Edinburgh tomorrow and head north, which means we have to be up and out of the hotel even earlier than the last 2 days.  I need to stay in, get packed and relax.  Think its going to be a fish and chips night for me in the hotel restaurant.