Britain’s Film and TV by region: South-west Scotland and the Borders
Dumfries and Galloway
Drumlanrig Castle
Step into a real-life ‘Pink Palace’ at Drumlanrig Castle – a Renaissance-style 17th-century manor house with 17 striking turrets and four towers – which starred as Bellhurst Manor in Outlander. Commissioned by the first Duke of Queensberry, it is built from the area’s distinctive pink sandstone which gave it its nickname. Inside, clients can explore the Buccleuch Art Collection, which includes Rembrandt’s painting Old Woman Reading, and stroll through 120 grand staterooms filled with antiques. Outside, 90,000 acres of forest and parkland feature formal gardens, mountain-bike trails and red deer. The gardens are open between March and October, while public tours of the castle are available between April and December. Private tours can be arranged all year round by appointment (check website for more details).
The Burns Heritage Trail
For a road trip with a literary twist, the Burns Heritage Trail lets clients follow in the footsteps of Robert Burns. This circular driving route traces the places that shaped the poet’s life – from his birthplace in Alloway to his final home in Dumfries – linking museums, monuments and inns where he once ate, drank and found inspiration. Clients can stop at the Selkirk Arms in Kirkcudbright, where Burns recited the Scottish prayer of thanks, ‘Selkirk Grace’, or visit Ellisland Museum and Farm where he wrote ‘Auld Land Syne’ (open from 3 April to 26 October 2026). Today, the museum invites people into the poet’s world through original manuscripts and personal belongings of the poet and his wife Jean Armour. Clients can linger over the couple’s dressing mirror, admire painted portraits and stand beside a wrought-iron candle stand that once lit their home – objects that help bring their daily lives vividly to life.
Logan Botanic Garden
Clients can trade Scotland’s windswept mountains and glens for avenues of palm trees, towering tree ferns and other near-subtropical plants at Logan Botanic Garden on the Rhins of Galloway – Scotland’s most southerly botanic garden, warmed by the Gulf Stream. Its exotic planting also featured in scenes from cult horror film, The Wicker Man (1973). Today, the 30-acre garden showcases eucalyptus and rhubarb-like giant gunnera, a fishpond with elegant water lilies, and a Victorian-style glasshouse displaying South African plants. The Potting Shed Bistro serves homemade cakes and dishes made from ingredients sourced from suppliers in Dumfries and Galloway.
Robert Burns Centre and Film Theatre, Dumfries
Set in an 18th-century watermill on the River Nith, the Robert Burns Centre (RBC) houses a collection of artefacts that explores the later life of the poet in 18th-century Dumfries. Highlights include a 3D landscape model of Dumfries, and an audio booth giving clients the opportunity to listen to contemporary performances of the poets’ songs and poems. The centre also houses the 69-seat independent RBC Film Theatre, which screens arthouse, world and Scottish films. It also organises special events, including a Monday Night Film Club where audience members can stay on to discuss films over coffee.
Globe Inn Tour, Dumfries
Raise a glass to Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, at the Globe Inn in Dumfries. Established in 1610, it was likely Burns’s favourite tavern and is alleged to be one of Scotland’s oldest hostelries. Weeks before his death on 21 July 1796, Burns wrote of The Globe being ‘…my Howff, where our friend Clarke and I have had many a merry squeeze’. Guided tours reveal the poet’s chair and the rooms where he composed verses and entertained friends. Historic artefacts mix with a lively bar boasting 150 single cask single malt whiskies, as well as craft ales. The 1610 Restaurant serves contemporary takes on Scottish fare.
Theatre Royal Dumfries
Step into the spotlight at the Theatre Royal Dumfries, Scotland’s oldest working playhouse where live performance still fills the 1792 auditorium with energy. Once a favourite haunt of poet Robert Burns, the theatre now shows everything from touring productions, local drama, and stand-up comedy. Its intimate horseshoe-shaped balconies draws audiences close to the action, making shows feel immersive. Clients can book a guided tour for a behind-the-scenes look at how this historic venue continues to set the stage for modern performance.
Kitchen Coos and Ewes, High Airyolland Farm, near Newton Stewart
High Airyolland Farm, a working farm near the market town of Newton Stewart, turns Scotland’s rural life into an interactive experience with Kitchen Coos and Ewes. Clients can meet Highland cattle up close on a range of themed safari tours, from Walking Tours to Cream Tea Coo Tours, and sample farmhouse baking afterwards. Situated within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, there are plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting beyond the shaggy-haired cows, and for hiking across the Galloway Hills.
Getting around
Getting around: The nearest airport is Glasgow Airport, with direct trains to Dumfries from Glasgow Central Station taking around two hours. Dumfries can be easily explored on foot. To venture further out to surrounding villages and sites, hiring a car is recommended.
Ayrshire
Dunure
In the coastal fishing village of Dunure, your clients can experience history and Highland drama. With its 13th-century castle, overlooking the Firth of Clyde, it became the port of Silkies’ Island in Outlander (season three), where Jamie and Claire set sail for adventures in Jamaica. Clients can explore the castle ruins, stroll along the shoreline to Croy Beach, or enjoy a drink by the fire at the Dunure Inn. South of the village, at Electric Brae, clients can experience live physics…with a sense of humour. This hill causes an optical illusion where a car looks as if it is going uphill when actually, it is rolling downhill.
Culzean Castle
Crowning the cliffs above the Firth of Clyde, Culzean Castle was designed by neoclassical architect Robert Adam in the late 18th century for the Kennedy family, one of the oldest clans in Scotland. Its turrets and staircases appeared in folk horror classic, The Wicker Man (1973). Managed by the National Trust for Scotland, the estate includes walled gardens, parkland, follies and more than 40 historic buildings. Inside, clients can see the circular Armoury with more than 700 flintlock pistols, and the Eisenhower Suite, named for the former US president and wartime general who stayed here four times between 1946 and1962.
Troon Beach
Brace for a fresh sea breeze – Troon Beach is where Outlander fans can relive Jamie and Claire’s departure to France. With sandy beaches and views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran, it’s got lots to offer. Wander through the Italian gardens, enjoy fish-and-chip picnics on the esplanade, or catch a glimpse of sporting history on a stroll past the Royal Troon Golf Club – one of Scotland’s oldest courses and a host of The Open Championship.
Burns Birthplace Museum and Centre, Alloway
In the Ayrshire village of Alloway, the National Trust for Scotland’s Robert Burns Birthplace Museum explores the life and legacy of the poet with rare manuscripts, interactive exhibits and film installations. Clients can follow in Burns’ footsteps from his 1759 thatched cottage to the Brig o’ Doon and the ruins of Alloway Auld Kirk – both immortalised in the poem ‘Tam o’ Shanter’. Landscaped gardens and footpaths link each site, creating a walk-through story of Scotland’s national poet.
Dean Castle and Country Park, Kilmarnock
In Kilmarnock, Dean Castle’s battlements and courtyards set the scene for Outlander’s 18th-century drama. Once home to the Boyd family, the 14th-century fortress has been carefully restored, with its Great Hall now displaying medieval arms, armour and rare musical instruments. The surrounding 200-acre park features woodland trails, heritage gardens and paddocks of native livestock – from Manx Loaghtan sheep and Bagot goats to Eriskay ponies and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs.
Getting around:
Getting around: Alloway is linked by regular direct trains from Glasgow which take around one hour. However, hiring a car will be necessary for travel to destinations like Troon Beach (7 miles (11km) from Alloway), Dunure (5 miles (8km) from Alloway) or further afield.
Lanarkshire
New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site
Clients can step onto an Outlander film set at New Lanark, Scotland’s 18th-century model industrial village on the banks of the Falls of Clyde, just under one hour by car from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Home to a resident community of 65 households, this UNESCO World Heritage Site sits within the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve of designed landscapes and woodlands. Invite your clients to explore Robert Owen’s restored mill buildings, watch textile machines spin traditionally produced organic wool, and follow riverside paths to the Falls of Clyde. The Visitor Centre offers the immersive Annie McLeod Experience Ride, where clients can travel in motorised pods through an audio-visual space guided by ‘the ghost’ of mill-girl, Annie McLeod. The Mill Shop sells village-made treats, while rooftop views from the Mill Café and overnight stays at the on-site hotel give your clients a true ‘live-in-history’ experience.
Hamilton
Just a 30-minute train-ride from Glasgow, Hamilton has plenty of stories to tell. In the Tetris biopic it stood in for 1980s Moscow, but the town boasts a lively mix of history and modern attractions in its own right. Clients can explore the former grounds of Hamilton Palace – once the largest non-royal residence in Britain – and wander over to Chatelherault Country Park with its 18th-century baroque hunting lodge. Low Parks Museum, set within the Duke of Hamilton’s former estate, tells the story of the Hamilton family and the local regiment, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), while the Hamilton Mausoleum once held the record for the longest-lasting echo of any building in Europe. Add Hamilton Park Racecourse, three shopping centres, plenty of restaurants, plus three railway stations with links to Motherwell, Glasgow and Lanark, and this is a Lanarkshire stop that’s far more than a Hollywood cameo.
Calderglen Country Park and Zoo
Calderglen Country Park’s wooded gorges became Jamie and Claire’s 18th-century hideouts in Outlander, but the park offers far more than screen fame. Your clients can follow riverside trails past waterfalls, visit the tropical glasshouse, meet meerkats, wallabies and otters at the children’s zoo, practice their putting skills on the 18-hole golf course or explore the museum’s local-history displays. Family-friendly play zones and a café make it a fun-packed day out. Entry to the zoo and conservatory is ticketed.
Falls of Clyde
The Falls of Clyde, comprising the waterfalls Corra Linn, Dundaff Linn and Bonnington Linn, provide a natural blockbuster without CGI. Clients can hike the heritage trails from New Lanark to viewpoints overlooking the gorge. They can also spot otters and Daubenton’s bats in this Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve, watch badger camera footage at the interactive visitor centre, or join ranger-led walks and expert talks
Getting around:
Getting around: Lanarkshire is well connected by train and road, with frequent services linking Hamilton, Motherwell and Glasgow (taking around 20 to 25 minutes, roughly 9 to 12 miles (15 to 20km). The nearest international airport is Glasgow Airport (approximately 12 miles (19km) from Hamilton).
The Scottish Borders
St Abbs
Clients can follow in the footsteps of superheroes at St Abbs. Located just north of Eyemouth on the Berwickshire coast, the remote fishing village played the role of New Asgard in the Avengers films. Named after Æbbe, a 7th century Northumbrian saint who founded a nunnery here, St Abbs offers plenty of cinematic charm with its historic fishermen’s cottages, jagged cliffs and North Sea vistas. Today, clients can pose beside a sign stating the village is twinned with ‘New Asgard’, enjoy a hot drink in one of the cafes or go bird-watching in the St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve, offering 200 acres of wild clifftops home to seabird colonies of guillemots and nationally important numbers of kittiwakes and razorbills. To dive deeper into the area’s fishing heritage, visit Eyemouth Museum, just a ten-minute drive along the coast.
Wilson’s Farm and Kitchen, Kelso
Step into family-run farm life at Wilson Farm and Kitchen, just outside Kelso. Clients can start their visit with a guided ‘Field to Fork’ tour around the working farm, spotting lambs, cattle and rolling Borders hills. Then they can relax in a rustic dining room where open-flame cooking highlights the region’s best produce straight from the farm, including Borders lamb, beef and seasonal vegetables. Upgrade options include a ‘Scotch Beef Tasting Menu’ letting clients sample the farm’s grass-fed steaks straight from the barbecue after a day of walking. Wilson’s also offer bespoke options for the travel trade, including on-foot farm tours and sheep dog demonstrations, alongside cookery shows for larger coach groups of up to 50 people.
Beirhope Alpacas, Kelso
Meet the fluffy locals in the Cheviot Hills with a trek at Beirhope Alpacas. Your clients can wander beside their own four-legged companion while taking in panoramic views of the rolling hills and valleys of the Anglo-Scottish border. Experiences include gentle, family-friendly alpaca strolls, as well as longer treks, alpaca ice cream picnics and seasonal events. Afterwards, stock up on bespoke sustainable gifts at the barn shop, including alpaca yarn, knitwear and handmade soap. The farm also offers grass pitches for off-grid, eco-friendly camping.
Abbotsford, Melrose
Once the residence of writer Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford, near Melrose, draws your clients into the world of the father of the modern British historical novel. Built in the early 1800s, the Gothic baronial mansion features turrets, towers and a wood-panelled library. Exhibits showcase Scott’s manuscripts and weaponry, while nearby Scott’s View offers a cinematic panorama over the Tweed Valley and Eildon Hills.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels
Inspired by author Alexander McCall Smith and designed by artist Andrew Crummy with historian Alistair Moffat, the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels encompasses 160 hand-stitched panels charting 420 million years of Scottish history. The award-winning, purpose-built visitor centre (Edinburgh Architectural Association’s ‘Large Project Award’, RICS Scotland’s ‘Best Public Building Award’) lets your clients discover the artwork with touchscreens, magnifiers and multimedia guides, before exploring temporary exhibitions, a café and shop.
Floors Castle, Kelso
Built in 1721 by William Adam for the Dukes of Roxburghe, Floors Castle looms above the River Tweed with enough turrets to justify any fairytale comparison – or Hollywood cameo in The Legend of Tarzan (2016). Inside, clients will find Thomas Gainsborough portraits and French tapestries. For full fantasy-immersion, year-round stays in the 19th century Head Gardener’s House within the Walled Garden offer access to woodland trails, riverside walks and the castle’s fine art collection.
Getting around:
Getting around: The Scottish Borders are best explored by car. The nearest international airports are Edinburgh Airport, around a one hour 30-minute drive from Kelso, and Newcastle Airport, approximately a one hour 45 minutes’ drive away.
