Blackness Castle

It's a great stop. Blackness is a brooding 15th-century tower rising straight from the shore of the Firth of Forth, with views toward the Ochil Hills and Edinburgh. It's also one of Scotland's most-filmed locations, so it's a favourite with Outlander fans exploring the Edinburgh and Lothians area.

It does. Blackness stands in as Fort William, the garrison where Black Jack Randall is based, and several of the show's most dramatic scenes were shot here. Your Hopscotch guide will fill in the context from the series.

Blackness is about 18 miles west of Edinburgh, roughly a 30-minute drive. It sits on the south shore of the Firth of Forth near Linlithgow, so it pairs easily with Linlithgow Palace, Midhope Castle or Hopetoun House on an Outlander-themed day.

You can. Historic Environment Scotland looks after Blackness and it's open to visitors, so you can wander the courtyard, the great hall and the dungeons, and climb the central tower for views across the Firth of Forth. There's an entry charge, and it's open year-round with some seasonal change to hours.