Alistair Hardaker
Balvaird Castle, which featured in ‘Outlander: Blood of my Blood’, opens for guided tours this week.
Balvaird Castle in Perth and Kinross is opening for guided tours, the first time the inside of the castle has been accessible to visitors in more than a decade.
The 15th-century castle featured in the Outlander prequel Blood of my Blood, where it doubled for Castle Leathers, the seat of Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat, played by Tony Curran.
The castle, cared for by Historic Environment Scotland, is a late 15th-century tower house built in 1495 for the Murray family. Set within the Ochil Hills, the tour includes views from the roof walk and accounts of the Murray family and 16th-century life.
Anne-Marie O’Reilly, regional visitor and community manager for central Scotland at HES, said:“Balvaird Castle is visually stunning, and it’s entirely understandable that it landed a starring role on Outlander: Blood of my Blood! The castle has so much to offer, from wonderful scenery to its fascinating history, and we’re excited to welcome visitors inside for the first time in over 10 years.”
As the castle is undergoing conservation works, the internal part of the tour requires each visitor to wear a hardhat and high-visibility vest, which will be provided. Sturdy footwear must be worn, and for health and safety reasons the tour is not suitable for children under seven.
The tour route includes uneven surfaces, a spiral staircase and, weather permitting, access to the roof walk, with an incline from the car park to the castle. Dogs are not permitted in roofed areas and there are no visitor toilets on site.
Tours are available on selected dates from 15 July to 22 August 2026. A 10% discount is available for Historic Scotland members.
