Inverness and Outlander Private Self-Guided Walking Tour

Our tour today starts here, at the bottom of the Market Brae Steps. If you look around you, depending on the season of the year, it might be more or less busy. You are in the centre of Inverness, the capital of the Highlands with about 60.000 inhabitants.

You are now standing in front of the VisitScotland tourist information. While it might not have been this exact location, there would have been some kind of tourist information in 1945, when Frank and Claire travel to the capital of the Highlands in order to rediscover each other after having been apart serving their country in the Second World War.

The beautiful building in front of you is the Town House of Inverness. It was built in 1878 on the old marketplace and was opened in 1882 by Queen Victoria’s second son Alfred.

Inverness Castle was probably built by Malcolm III of Scotland after he destroyed the previous castle which stood about one kilometre to the North East. We'll tell you how and why it connects to Outlander novels (and TV Series).

This statue is only indirectly concerned with Outlander. Faith, Hope and Charity are the three virtues referred to by the apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians in the Bible.

The modern building on your left is called Eden Court Theatre, a large theatre, cin-ema and arts venue. It was originally opened on 15 April 1976.

This is St Andrew’s, or Inverness Cathedral. On the 17th October 1866, the foundation stone of the Cathedral was laid by the Archbishop of Canterbury after Bishop Eden proposed a Cathedral in 1853. This was to mark the beginning of the building of the Cathedral, only the second one to be built after the Reformation.

Highland House of Fraser might look like a normal shop to you but to me it repre-sents highland culture. You should be standing in front of a big shop window which displays the traditional Scottish highland dress: the kilt.

This is Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church. It was designed by an architect called William Robertson and opened on 2 April 1837. It is a great example of Victorian Gothic Revival. On its left, you can find the priest’s residence, the Presbytery, and on its right there is a convent.

Greig Street Bridge is the second pedestrian bridge of Inverness. In the spring, the water level of the River Ness rises due to lots of rain and the melting snow flowing into the glen. Glen is the Scottish term for a valley.

This is the oldest building in Inverness, at least the tower is. It dates back to the fourteenth century. The small hill you are standing on is known as St Michael’s Mount. Discover why it is linked to Irish tradition in our tour!

Charles Leakey converted this old church into a second hand bookstore which fea-tures rare and old prints, classic volumes, old maps and much much more. If you are lucky, you might be able to even find a signed edition of one of the Outlander novels here!

In Outlander, Claire being a World War II combat nurse, or healer, is one of the most important parts of the story. Jamie first falls in love with her when Claire sets his shoulder in the first book and the first episode of the TV show. If Claire had lived in Inverness in the eighteenth century, it is highly likely she would have worked as a healer in the building opposite of you.

This is Abertarff House, the oldest non-secular building in Inverness. It is a 2,5 story merchant house which was built for the Fraser of Lovat family in 1593 and has served many different purposes since then.

While not specifically mentioned in the Outlander novels or the show, I believe you cannot visit Inverness without seeing its Victorian market. It is just too beautiful to miss. As the Royal Burgh of Inverness grew in size and population, particularly in the nineteenth century, the town council realised the need for a “covered Market”.

Falcon Square is dedicated to John Falconer who founded Falcon Foundry in 1858. To commemorate Falconer, there are falcons flying around the unicorn statue. Eastgate Shopping Centre was opened in 1983 and extended in 2003. There are over 60 stores inside.