Outlander Tour Day 2

 Well, I got waylaid by some things, but am ready now to tell you about my second day of touring Outlander sites with slaintescotland.com

We started off fresh and early to go to Hopetoun House where quite a few rooms were used in various seasons of Outlander.

Driving up to it was just incredible, the place just goes on and on so I knew I was going to enjoy exploring it. We were ushered in to the main entryway and immediately were taken in by the beauty of the place. It was built in the late 1600's by the Hope family and Lord Hopetoun lives there with his family today. I don't even know how they just call this a house - to me it's more like a palace.

The interiors have not changed in three centuries and that boggles the mind! Most all of it shows architecture from the Georgian era. There are painings, tapestries, studies filled with books and beautiful furniture.  The care that is given the house, rooms and grounds is impeccable.

The house of course, was used as the estate of the Duke of Sandringham in Season 1 - the first place I wanted to see was the red drawing room where Claire spoke to the Duke

Such a beautiful room with lovely portraits all around.  The McDonalds ran into Jaimie and Murtagh on the back steps and on the west lawn, the dual and sword fights took place.

 I will admit it kind of tickled my fancy to know I was walking in the same places as the cast. There is a courtyard behind the stables which doubled as the Parisian street where Mary was attacked and as the stables of Helwater. It also was used for Jamie chasing Fergus when he first met him. I specifically remember this bit of railing in one of the Helwater episodes

 

 This back wall was also used in the chase with Fergus, but of course is minus all the accoutrements of a television set. I also recognized the Maison de Elise (brothel) where Jamie and Prince Charles met.

  

After Mary's attack, she stayed in Claire and Jamie's guest room which I found on the second floor 

 The room was so beautiful with intricate tapestries covering the walls. There was another room upstairs which was used for Jamie's meeting with Lord Dunsany at Helwater. 

 

And I also found the room that Mary Hawkins stayed in at her uncle's house

Interestingly, they also used a different area of the house for the Earl of Ellesmere's home when they drive up to help Lady Geneva with the birth of Willie

 

In the back there is a small area that was used for Jamie teaching Willie how to ride, but I didn't get a picture of it. I did however find the area where Jamie sees Willie in his pram 

It was a peaceful and idyllic area. 

After our wonderful tour, we ate at the Stables Kitchen right in the house and had a nice lunch with an amazing dessert - their white chocolate and raspberry dessert is to die for!

Next stop was Callendar House which is in Falkirk and dates back to the 14th century. There is one area with a section of the Antonine Wall which dates back to 142 AD - doesn't get much older than this!

 

It's biggest claim to fame in Outlander land is they filmed the scenes when the Duke of Sandringham is at his home Belhurst Manor and Claire and Mary are there with him. They all end up in the kitchen when Jamie and Murtagh burst in to save Claire and Mary and Murtagh kills the Duke by using a sword to cut off his head to "lay your vengeanceat your feet" for poor Mary's rape.

Callendar House hosted many famous figures over the years including Mary Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie!

Our final visit of the day was to Drummond Castle and gardens. What a treat! 

Got to do some exploring inside

Another castle and the most beautiful gardens I have seen. Of course they were used in Outlander as the gardens at Versailles - it was breathtaking - even though it was fall and many flowers were long gone. 

That's it for today - next time, we'll be off to Culloden, Clava Cairns, Pitlochery and the Hermitage. As always, more photos of thes places  are on my facebook page facebook.com/beespit59/. I am at Instagram  @lemonslinda and twitter @sokheaven