Artist-led Outlander Art Experience II 2022 ~ the Alumni Tour

Artist-led sketchbook journaling tour of Outlander locations in Scotland
Dates: 30 June – 10 July 2022
Tutors: Nicky Sanderson & guest tutors
Location: various locations, with Linlithgow (by Edinburgh) as accommodation base
Cost: £2890 per person, based on two sharing a room (plus £490 for single occupancy) – Special rate for guinea pigs and their friends applies – see below

This is what we have planned for you* – be prepared to be inspired!

Day 1 – Arrival in Linlithgow (by Edinburgh)

Arrival in Linlithgow. Welcome reception and dinner at our hotel, the award winning Champany Inn. Introduction to the tour. After dinner we have a special treat for you: storyteller Robert Howat will breathe life into tales from Jacobite times and he will, of course, be dressed in full Jacobite plaid outfit.

Union Canal near Linlithgow

Day 2 – Linlithgow, Union Canal & Muiravonside

Linlithgow is home to Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison in Outlander and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots in real life), overlooking Linlithgow Loch.  We start the day with a bookbinding workshop led by Edinburgh bookbinder Cassandra Baron. In this session Cass will guide you through the processes of making three books using different techniques: an Accordion Fold book, Japanese Stab Bound book and an Exposed Long Stitch leather journal. The venue for the workshop is at the small but very interesting Linlithgow Museum.  After lunch we’ll head to the Canal Basin to take a boat ride on the Union Canal to Muiravonside Country Park, which lent its backdrop to the dramatic Battle of Prestonpans and doubled both as a British encampment and the English countryside.

Day 3 – Glasgow 

After breakfast we’ll travel to Glasgow by train. We will explore some of the city’s gems, including Glasgow University, established in 1451 and the 4th oldest university in the English-speaking world. It doubled as Harvard University in Outlander. The nearby Kelvingrove Park became Boston Park where Claire often took walks. You’ll also have time to do a bit of exploring at your own leisure.

Day 4 – Ayrshire

Today we’ll visit Ayrshire in the South West of Scotland. The little Dunure Harbour stands in for Ayr Harbour where Claire and Jamie left Scotland to find Young Ian and where Brianna and Roger are reunited in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dunure Castle featured as Silkie Island in Season 3. Weather allowing, we’ll also stop at Troon Beach, where Claire, Jamie and Murtagh boarded a ship to deliver Jamie to France.

Dean Castle in East Ayrshire, a 14th century castle set in a woodland glen, doubled as Beaufort Castle where Claire and Jamie asked Lord Lovat for aid for Charles Stuart.

Day 5 – Edinburgh

We will spend the morning wandering and sketching in Edinburgh’s Old Town, where there’s so much to see and explore, including Holyrood Palace. Lunch will be at the stunning Signet Library, which was transformed into the Governor’s Mansion in Jamaica. The library is home to the prestigious Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet which dates back to the 15th century. In the afternoon we travel to ruined medieval Craigmillar Castle, which became Ardsmuir Prison where Jamie was incarcerated. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city some more.

Day 6 – Free day

A day to rest, relax and explore Linlithgow a bit more. Or you could hop on a train to nearby Stirling, or visit Edinburgh or Glasgow again – both have lots to see and do, and the shopping is great too.

Day 7 – Kinneil Railway & studio afternoon

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway station, which was transformed into a wartime London railway station where Claire and Frank said their goodbyes, is just a few miles down the road from our hotel. The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Museum of Scottish Railways are operated by volunteers of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS).  Our steam train journey will last just over an hour.

For the afternoon a local studio space will be available for some more in-depth creative work with guidance from Nicky.

Day 8 – East Lothian & Newhailes

Today takes us east of Edinburgh to East Lothian. Preston Mill in the village of East Linton is one of the oldest working, water-driven meal mills in Scotland. It provided the backdrop for several scenes during the Jacobite Uprisings. We will have lunch and spend the afternoon at Newhailes Estate, a Palladian house that played a prominent role in the Scottish Enlightenment. In Outlander it served as Governor Tyron’s home in North Carolina, where Jamie discussed the offer of a land grant in exchange for service to the English Crown and where Jamie and Claire were introduced into Wilmington society.

Day 9 – Tartan Weaving Workshop

Your sketchbooks may feel a bit neglected today as we will immerse ourselves in the ancient craft of weaving. You will learn about the history of Scottish tartan and get to weave your own shawl. The plan is to run this workshop at the historic Bannockburn House near Stirling, a 17th Century A-listed mansion house, whose most notable guest was Bonnie Prince Charlie in January 1746. Bannockburn House was used by the Prince as his headquarters during the siege of Stirling and the battle of Falkirk. The later owners, the Wilson family were prosperous mill owners who had built their weaving business in Bannockburn into the foremost tartan producers in the country. 

Day 10 – Falkland & Culross

We already visited Falkland on the original Outlander Art Experience on our way north to Inverness. Today’s trip will allow us more time in this iconic filming location which stands in for Inverness in the series. Covenanter Hotel stands in for Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouse and Bruce Fountain is where the ghost of Jamie looks up at Claire’s room. Fayre Earth Gift Shop doubles as Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store and Campbell’s Coffee House and Eatery is Campbell’s Coffee Shop.

Another location that truly deserves more time for wandering is Culross where we will return to spend the afternoon. You’ll have the chance to visit Culross Palace and explore the little wynds of “Cranesmuir”.

Our farewell dinner is at our hotel, the Champany Inn.

Day 11 – Departure

We say goodbye, but you’ll be taking back a precious sketchbook journal, filled with your artwork, and no doubt you’ll want to come back to Scotland soon! 😉

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*This is an outline itinerary and subject to change. This means we may change things round a bit. And we will add some additional interesting things nearer the time  nearer the time, once venues have re-opened after covid and event calendars are published. But you can be assured that the richness and value of the package will only increase and never decrease.

Accommodation

The accommodation base for this tour is the Champany Inn in Linlithgow by Edinburgh. 

The Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, where we also have our office base, is a beautiful historic town and the ideal base location for exploring most Outlander locations. Our accommodation Champany Inn is a small family-run hotel with an award winning restaurant.

The elegant bedrooms at Champany are based on the French concept of a restaurant-with-rooms. Decorated in deep homely colours and hung with hunting tartan curtains they offer space to relax and unwind. Ample space, a super comfortable bed, and a large bay window overlooking the garden that offers the perfect seat for a drink to relax before dinner. The spacious bathrooms offer a large bath and separate rain shower. The cooked-to-order Scottish breakfast offers bacon smoked in the Champany smokehouse, fresh farm eggs, homemade Boerewors Lorne sausage, Brechin black pudding and plenty of toast and locally made jams and marmalades. For those looking for a lighter option cereals, Scottish yoghurts and fresh fruits should satisfy all.

Cost & inclusions

Cost: £2890 per person, based on two sharing (plus £490 to have a double room to yourself). The special rate for guinea pigs and their friends is £2590 (plus £490 to have a double room to yourself).

This includes:

• Artist-guided tour of Outlander filming locations (sketchbook journaling, variety of media)
• 10 nights accommodation at Champany Inn in Linlithgow
• 10 full Scottish breakfasts (different dietary requests catered for)
• Welcome reception with Prosecco or other drink of your choice
• Welcome three course evening meal at the Champany Inn, with coffee/tea and wine or soft drinks, on arrival night
• Two-course lunch at Signet Library in Edinburgh
• Farewell three course evening meal at the Champany Inn, with coffee/tea and wine or soft drinks, on the last night
• Full day weaving workshop, including all materials
• Half day bookbinding workshop including materials
• Storytelling event on arrival night
• Group transport (combination of minibus transport and public transport, in line with our Responsible Travel policy)
• Steam train ride on Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
• Canal boat excursion (private charter) operated by Linlithgow Union Canal Society (LUCS)
• Entry fees to most properties visited as part of the tour
• Venue hire for weaving workshop and art studio space
• Pre-travel information pack (by email)
• Personalised Wild at Art service to ensure you’re well looked after 🙂

This art holiday starts and finishes in Linlithgow (20 mins from Edinburgh Airport). If you’d like to arrive a bit earlier or stay some extra nights after the Wild at Art vacation we can assist you with finding accommodation. Our hotel Champany Inn and other local hotels are extremely busy at that time of year, so please let us know your requirements as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Not included: flights to and from Scotland; meals other than those listed above. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost (approx. £60 return from Edinburgh Airport, contact us for quote from Glasgow). Guests are required to take out personal travel insurance. A non-refundable deposit of £500 secures your space.

Book now!