The time-travelling drama has also used various locations aside from Scotland.
As the Starz series Outlander takes a break from our screens, fans are left in the throes of the Droughtlander, filling the void with re-watches and trivia hunts. Here’s a nugget for you: some English castles have played a significant role in the quintessentially Scottish show.
Although primarily set in Scotland, Outlander has ventured to other filming locations. Notably, parts of season three were shot in South Africa, doubling as the West Indies.
Interestingly, several English locations have also been used to represent Scottish settings in the series.
Take Wentworth Prison, for instance. This is where Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) daringly attempts to rescue his wife Claire (Caitríona Balfe) from the sinister Captain ‘Black Jack’ Randall (Tobias Menzies).
The prison scenes were filmed at various locations, with an exterior shot of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland standing in for the fictional Wentworth Prison. It’s here that Jamie endures brutal torture and rape at the hands of Black Jack Randall, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Bamburgh Castle, a majestic fixture on the Northumberland coastline for over 1,400 years, is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country, according to its official website. Initially serving as the Royal capital for Anglo-Saxon kings in the 6th century due to its strategic position overlooking the North Sea, it was later seized by the Normans who built their own fortress on it.
This structure forms the core of the present-day castle.
Bamburgh Castle, after a rebellion, came under the control of the English monarchy, with notable visits from kings such as Henry III, Edward II and Edward III. Today, visitors can delve into its rich history by exploring the keep, the armoury, the state rooms and the king’s hall.
In contrast, Carlisle Castle in Cumbria served as the backdrop for Wentworth Prison’s courtyard in Outlander, where Taran MacQuarrie (Douglas Henshall), the leader of Jamie’s outlaw group The Watch, met his end. Located near Hadrian’s Wall, the castle was constructed by William the Conqueror following his invasion of England in 1066.
He chose to build it on the site of an ancient Roman fort known as Luguvalium.
Now under the stewardship of English Heritage, Carlisle Castle welcomes tourists to explore its medieval rooms and walk the walls. It also houses the Museum of Military Life, offering insights into the building’s origins.
Intriguingly, according to the Cumbria and The Borders History Facebook page, Carlisle itself has a place in Jacobite history, with 33 rebels executed on Gallows Hill, Harraby.
Another filming location for Wentworth Prison was Linlithgow Palace in Edinburgh, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Fans of Outlander will also recognise Scotland as the stand-in for the New World, with sets representing America and various locations including Fraser’s Ridge.
In the meantime, the English estate of Helwater, where Jamie was an indentured servant following his release from Ardsmuir Prison, was actually filmed at Gosford House in Longniddry, East Lothian, Scotland.