When Is The Best Time To Visit Alloa Scotland For Festivals?

I get a kick out of mapping TV shows to real places, and 'Outlander' season 3 is a goldmine if you love Scottish scenery. The production moved around a lot across Scotland: the familiar Doune Castle shows up again (that’s Castle Leoch to fans), Midhope (the farm used for Lallybroch) is back, and picturesque villages like Culross and Falkland are used for period town scenes. The crew also filmed at Hopetoun House and Blackness Castle for stately interiors and fortress exteriors. Beyond those built-up spots, the show leans heavily on Scotland’s landscapes — you’ll see lochs, glens and Highland roads that were shot around places like Loch Lomond, Glencoe and other locations in the Highlands and Stirling areas. The production also uses Glasgow and Edinburgh for various interior shoots and modern-era sequences. If you’re planning a pilgrimage, expect a mix of recognizable castles and small towns plus sweeping outdoor shots — the season blends them beautifully, and I loved how familiar landmarks got new life onscreen.

I love getting out for a proper walk around Alloa — there’s something about the mixture of gentle water-side routes and the sudden, raw cliffs of the Ochils that keeps pulling me back. If you want an easy, reliable day out, head for Gartmorn Dam Country Park first. It’s a favorite of mine for a steady loop: family-friendly, dog-friendly, and very clearly waymarked. There’s parking close to the main trail and a cafe in Alloa not far away for a post-walk hot drink. The paths around the reservoir are great for a relaxed 2–4 mile circuit, birdwatching, or practising photography when the light hits the water at golden hour. If you’re after something hillier, the Ochil Hills really reward the effort. Dumyat is a classic shorter climb with sweeping views, while Ben Cleuch is the big one if you want a proper summit and extended ridge walking. For something historically pretty and a bit sheltered, combine a hike with a visit to Castle Campbell near Dollar — the glen below it is gorgeous in spring. For planning these, I always check WalkHighlands and the Ordnance Survey maps (the OS Explorer app is brilliant on my phone). Ramblers Scotland and local walking groups often post routes and meetups; they’ve pointed me to less obvious trails and shortcuts more than once. Practical tips: wear boots for the Ochils (parts can be steep and peaty), bring layers for fast-changing weather, and consider public transport if you don’t want to deal with parking — Alloa has decent bus links. For the tech-minded, Komoot or Strava heatmaps are useful to see which trails people actually use. Most of all, leave room in your day for a slow wander and a coffee in town afterwards — everything feels better with cake at the end of a good walk.

If you’re planning a beer-focused day in and around Alloa, you’ll want to lean into the local names first: Williams Bros in Alloa itself is the headline act — they’ve been behind beers like Fraoch (that lovely heather ale) and a bunch of seasonal, historic-style ales. In my visits there I’ve found it’s less a big factory tour and more a friendly, appointment-based experience: behind-the-scenes chats, a look at the kit when possible, and chances to try fresh bottles that don’t always make it to supermarkets. Call ahead or check their website for any open days. A short drive or quick local hop takes you to neighbouring Alva, home of Harviestoun Brewery — creators of 'Bitter & Twisted' and the famously dark 'Old Engine Oil'. Harviestoun sometimes runs tours and tastings (and even if there isn’t a formal tour on the day, their beers are widely stocked locally and their taproom vibe is worth catching if it’s open). I also like to add a whisky detour when I’m around: Deanston Distillery and a few smaller craft outfits in the Stirling area run polished visitor experiences that pair well with a beer crawl. Practical tip from my own trips: weekends can be busy and small breweries often only offer tours by appointment, so book or phone ahead, bring a reusable bag for takeaway cans, and plan a taxi if you’re tasting a lot. Alloa’s compact size means you can mix brewery visits with the riverside and the old town without feeling rushed, which makes the whole trip feel cozy and pleasantly Scottish rather than rushed.

The rich tapestry of Scottish history is absolutely ideal for romantic novels, especially those that weave in real events and figures. One gem that comes to mind is 'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon. This blend of historical fiction and romance follows Claire Randall, a WWII nurse who is mysteriously transported back to 18th-century Scotland. I was completely swept away by the detailed depiction of the Jacobite risings and the passionate relationship between Claire and Jamie Fraser. Gabaldon doesn’t just provide a love story; she immerses readers in the backdrop of Scottish clans, the beauty of the Highlands, and the complexities of loyalty during turbulent times. Another fantastic read is 'The Girl Who Came Home' by Hazel Gaynor, a poignant tale inspired by the real-life Titanic disaster. While it’s not entirely set in Scotland, it explores the aftermath of the tragedy on a young Irish girl, deeply affecting the Scottish community as well. The intersection of historical events with the characters’ personal journeys makes it such a compelling narrative. I also loved 'The Secret Wife' by Gill Paul, which, though primarily set in Russia and the UK, intricately involves Scottish heritage and history through its character’s journeys. There's something so moving about seeing love persist in the face of historical adversity, and these stories just hit you right in the feels! If you’re looking for novels that richly explore Scottish history through the lens of romance, these titles should definitely be on your list!

If you love 'Outlander' and want to follow where 'Sam Heughan' and the crew shoot around Scotland, you've got a treasure map of beautiful spots. The most iconic is Doune Castle — that's Castle Leoch on the show — and it's classic medieval stone that fans queue to photograph. Midhope Castle, the ruin you see as Lallybroch, sits near South Queensferry and feels exactly like Jamie's home in the books. Culross is the postcard-perfect village used for 18th-century scenes and small-town exteriors; walking its cobbled streets gives the same vibe you see onscreen. Beyond those big hitters the production moves all over: Blackness Castle and Hopetoun House have both popped up, and the team regularly uses studio space near Glasgow for interiors. For the sweeping Highland landscapes expect shoots around places like Glen Coe, Loch Lomond and the areas north of Inverness — those open moors and lochs are staples. There are also occasional shoots around Falkland and other Fife villages that stand in for period towns. If you plan a pilgrimage, check official tours and local notices because many spots are on private land or involve fragile environments. I loved standing where a scene was filmed and feeling the real chill of the Highlands; it's a little magic seeing fiction and landscape collide.

As someone who devours both romance novels and their film adaptations, I can confidently say Scotland’s breathtaking landscapes and rich history make it a perfect backdrop for love stories. One standout is 'Outlander', based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels. The series blends time-travel romance with Scottish history, and the chemistry between Claire and Jamie is electric. The show captures the Highlands’ rugged beauty, making it a visual feast. Another gem is 'The Decoy Bride', a charming rom-com loosely inspired by Scottish settings. While not a direct adaptation, its whimsical vibe and David Tennant’s performance give it a novel-like feel. For a darker, gothic twist, 'The Bride of Lammermoor' by Sir Walter Scott inspired several adaptations, though they’re harder to find. If you crave kilts, castles, and sweeping emotions, these picks won’t disappoint.

The Scotland scenes for 'Outlander' were mostly filmed all across Scotland — not in one studio backlot — and you can actually walk to a lot of the places the show made famous. Doune Castle near Stirling stood in as Castle Leoch and is a proper medieval keep that fans can visit; it’s one of those locations where the walls feel like they remember the cameras. The mythical standing stones of Craigh na Dun? Those were represented on location around the Inverness area, with the production using ancient stone circles like the Balnuaran of Clava to capture that eerily beautiful vibe. Beyond those headline spots, the production loved old towns and Highland glens: Culross in Fife doubled for 18th-century villages, Midhope Castle (the Laird’s home, Lallybroch) is up near South Queensferry, and Blackness Castle has been used for several fortress scenes. For sweeping Highland vistas you’ll see places like Glencoe and other Lochs and glens that give the show its big, moody landscapes. Some interior scenes and later-season locations were shot elsewhere or on sets, and as the series progressed they sometimes filmed abroad, but the Scottish scenes you’re asking about were overwhelmingly on-location across Scotland. I went on a little pilgrimage to a few of these sites and loved how real they felt off-screen — walking the courtyard at Doune or staring at stone circles with wind in your face makes the show click into place. If you’re planning a visit, bring good walking shoes and expect breathtaking views; Scotland really sells the romance and grit of 'Outlander' for you.

I can see Jamie's return to Scotland in season two as something that was almost inevitable for him — it's where his roots are tangled, and where his sense of honor lives. After the chaos in France and the desperate attempt to change fate in 'Outlander', he couldn't just vanish into a new life; the land, the people, and the debts of his name kept pulling him back. He goes home because leadership, family obligations, and the need to mend what was broken are part of who he is. At the same time, there's this raw, personal reason: Jamie needed to stitch his own heart back together. Scotland is where memories of Claire, of battles, and of promises linger. Returning is a way to confront ghosts — Black Jack Randall's shadow, losses at Culloden, and the complicated ties to Lallybroch and his clan. That mix of duty and longing makes his decision feel authentic to me, and it underlines how much he values both people and place as anchors in his life.