Doune Castle

Doune Castle and the Jacobites

During the Jacobite rising of 1745, Doune Castle was occupied by Charles Edward Stuart, and his Jacobite followers. Thanks to the castle’s apparent impregnable structure it was used as a prison for government troops, a number of whom were imprisoned here by the Jacobites after the battle of Falkirk.

Six broke their parole and escaped by knotting bedsheets and lowering themselves down the walls above the kitchen, a story which has in recent years been re-enacted by Historic Scotland volunteers.

Brief History of Doune Castle

If you are thinking that you might recognise this castle, you are probably right! It was featured in television series’ Outlander, Monty Python, and Game of Thrones. But it’s exciting history started many centuries earlier…

Doune Castle was initially built at the end of the 14th century by Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany, and was a royal retreat and hunting lodge for the Scottish monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots.

In 1570 Sir James Stewart, the first Lord Doune, was granted possession of Doune by James VI. Lord Doune's grandson became the Earl of Moray by marrying the Regent Moray's daughter, and the Earls of Moray (who were strong supporters of the exiled Stuarts during the Jacobite era) have owned it ever since.

The castle gradually fell out of use. In 1883 it was inspected by the Earl of Moray, who found it needed renovating and the roof was replaced. It was leased to the state in 1970 and is now cared for by Historic Scotland, and is open for the public to visit.

Can You Go Inside Doune Castle? 

This iconic location is open for daily tours year-round. You can visit Doune Castle yourself or join one of the organised Outlander tours.

Many of the interior scenes at Castle Leoch were filmed in a film studio. Doune Castle is a historical landmark with strict limitations on how the castle can be used. Nothing may be hung from the walls or ceiling, and even outdoors, structures may not be secured to the ground.

While the castle interior was not used in the filming, there is still plenty to see. Doune is one of the most complete Medieval castles in Scotland. There are many rooms to explore connected by narrow doorways and spiral staircases.

Information boards in the castle are a bit sparse. If you’re interested in the castle’s history you may want to invest in a guidebook. Alternatively, consider booking an Outlander tour of Scotland.

Doune Castle Outlander: Which Filming Locations Can You See?

Castle Leoch appears throughout season 1, and our first glimpse of Doune Castle is in the pilot episode of the Outlander TV series. If you’re interested in Doune Castle, you might enjoy reading up on other castles in Outlander.

On their honeymoon trip to Inverness, Claire and Frank explore the castle ruins in 1946. Computer-generated imagery was used to create the exterior of overgrown ruins fans see in the 1940s and again, the inside shots were taken in a filming studio.

The next time Doune Castle appears on our screens, it is in full working order in the 18th century. This is when Claire finds herself caught up with Jamie Fraser and the Mackenzie clan.

Entrance of Castle Leoch

At the end of the first episode, a group of clan Mackenzie men are led by war chieftain Dougal Mackenzie. They make their way to the castle on horseback with Claire and Jamie riding together. Claire reflects on her visit there with Frank just two days earlier.

With its imposing 30-metre gatehouse, high castle walls, and intact roof structure, 1743 Castle Leoch is almost unrecognisable from the ruin Frank and Claire explored in 1946. It is much closer in appearance to the Doune Castle of Scotland today.

Castle Leoch Main Courtyard

When you visit Castle Doune, you’ll notice that the courtyard is mainly grass. It is still instantly recognisable as the muddy courtyard where Dougal and his men arrive at Castle Leoch. The yard is filled with stables and stalls for the filming, although you won’t find any there now. However, the fountain in the yard in the Outlander series is part of Castle Doune.

The muddy yard sets the scene for Claire’s introduction to Mrs Fitz and the area where Claire sees Dougal playing with Hamish.

Castle Grounds

The grounds directly outside the castle entrance are where Claire and Frank park their car before exploring the ruins. It is also where we see the clan Mackenzie play the traditional Highlander game of Shinty.

Shinty is a much rougher version of hockey. Shinty players may use both sides of the stick. They can block and tackle with their stick, and even hit the ball into the air. The game is still popular in Scotland today.

In the series, it’s a rough and fast game, and we witness some challenging competition between Jamie and his uncle Dougal during the game.

Castle Leoch kitchens

You’ll remember the kitchen for its huge fireplace and arched ceilings. It is the room in which you Mrs Fitz offers Claire a blob of porridge and where cooks pound dough and prepare meta for the evening meal.

Although the kitchen scenes from Castle Leoch were filmed in a studio, the Outlander crew created a replica of the kitchen in their Cumbernauld film studio near Glasgow.

The production team paid fine attention to details when it came to creating an 18th-century kitchen. They hung dead birds from hooks and spilt fake animal blood on the floor. Baskets of herbs and vegetables were spread on the kitchen tables. They even roasted a whole pig!

If you’re interested in learning more about your favourite show, check out these Outlander stats.

Although you can’t visit the actual kitchen used for the filming, when in the original at Doune Castle, you won’t know the difference!

The Castle Leoch Outside Stairs

The external staircase in the courtyard leads up to the Great hall. These are the stairs that Claire and Mrs Fitz rush down to say their goodbyes as Claire prepares to leave Castle Leoch to return to Inverness with the tinker.

Castle Leoch Walls

In the second episode of Outlander, Claire wanders onto the fortification walls on the top floor of Doune Castle. She looks out at the breathtaking views and then down into the yard, where she sees Dougal playing with Hamish.

A view of Castle Leoch from the River Teith

There are many exterior shots of Castle Leoch, but many include computer-generated imagery and are not true to Castle Doune's surroundings. A good example is a scene with Claire and Geillis in the herb garden.

From the herb garden, you can see Castle Leoch in the background. The herb garden is not actually at Doune Castle! It’s located in the village of Culross, which lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. In the Outlander series, Culross features as the fictional village of Cranesmuir, home of Geillis Duncan.

A view of Doune Castle used in Outlander is one over the River Teith. You can catch sight of this view if you visit Deanston Distillery.

Outlander Locations Nearby

If you’re on a day trip to visit Outlander locations in Scotland, you will be pleased to know there are several filming locations close to Doune Castle. A short way up the road, you'll find Deanston Distillery. Outlander fans will know Jamie's cousin Jared’s wine warehouse.

Just thirty-odd minutes from Stirling towards Edinburgh, you can visit Linlithgow Palace. This is known to the Outlander team as Wentworth Prison, where Jamie Fraser was held and tortured by Black Jack Randall. Linlithgow Palace is shown below.

Just beyond Linlithgow towards the coast, you'll discover Blackness Castle, otherwise known as Fort William. This is the set of distressing scenes where Black Jack Randall flogs Jamie.

The Hopetoun Estate in Queensferry is well worth a trip if you’re an Outlander fan. The estate is home to Midhope Castle, better known to fans as Lallybroch! In Outlander, this is the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser. Hopetoun House has over seventeen locations to explore.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an Outlander enthusiast - we hope you’ve loved our guide on Doune Castle. With such a rich history, and much to explore, why not take a tour of one of the best Outlander filming locations?

Guided tours of Doune are available. You can take the quick audio-guided tour of the main Outlander scenes, narrated by Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser.

Doune Castle is a great place to start an Outlander tour of the Jacobite Trail. If you’re looking for something to transport you back to the Jacobean era - this one is for you.

The castle gift shop even has some authentic period robes that you can dress up in to transport you back in time!