Photo via Flickr/Andy Muir
With a highly anticipated third season of "Outlander" on the way, filming locations in Scotland have become increasingly hot tourist destinations.
Based on Diana Gabaldon's historical time-traveling novel of the same name, "Outlander" stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Randall, a married World War II nurse who finds herself transported back to 1743 Scotland where she falls for the handsome Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). After its debut in 2014, "Outlander" quickly became one of the highest-rated series on Starz.
The cast and crew will return to one of the show's most popular locales, Dunure Castle, on Jan. 30 for filming. The shoot will also mark the end of production in the country, before the series moves on to South Africa, where the remainder of season three will be filmed.
Located along Ayr Bay, Dunure, better known as the Castle Leoch to "Outlander" fans, was first seen in season one where it was introduced as the home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan.
Long before it gained infamy for its role as the Castle Leoch in "Outlander", Dunure Castle was notorious for being the site where the Commendator of Crossraguel was roasted on a spit. According to lore, an argument began between Gilbert Kennedy, the 4th Earl of Cassilis, and Allan Stewart, the succeeding lay Commendator of Crossraguel Abbey, over the ownership of land in 1570. Stewart was duped into going to Dunure where he was tortured by having his feet and body basted and roasted over a brazier in the castle's black vault until he finally signed over the land to Gilbert.
Dunure's dark history and newfound fame in one of TV's biggest series have made it a popular tourist destination. According to The Scottish Sun, the number of tourists to the castle has more than doubled in recent years with 71,000 people visiting the location last year alone.
The site's popularity has also prompted renovations on the castle, including a new parking lot, drainage updates, and masonry work that will help accommodate crowds. "It has become not only a significant cultural asset but also an economic asset," Historic Environment Scotland Director of Conservation David Mitchell said.
Though the castle is seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to "Outlander", this is far from its first brush with fame. For more than 40 years, Doune has been known as Castle Anthrax to fans of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." The castle still celebrates Monty Python Day each September when fans bring coconut shells to mimic the sound of horses' hooves, just as King Arthur did in the movie. It also served as the location for Winterfell in HBO's "Game of Thrones."
The castle's ruins can be accessed off A719 at Dunure. There is a parking lot, gift shop, and information on the property for visitors. The site is also part of the Ayrshire Coast Day Trip from Glasgow: Robert Burns Country and Culzean Country Park. Tickets for the tour start at $44.31.
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