Are The Inverness Outlander Locations Accessible By Car Or Train?

If you want a straight-up practical take: yes, many of the Inverness-area 'Outlander' locations are accessible by both car and public transport, but the experience differs. Trains will get you into Inverness easily from major Scottish cities, and from there local buses, taxis, and organized tours serve the most popular sites like Culloden and Clava Cairns. However, the more remote or cinematic spots that appear in 'Outlander' are easiest to reach by car — rural roads, limited bus timetables, and occasional long walks make self-driving far more flexible. I personally enjoy arriving by train for the views, then renting a car for a day to roam the countryside; that mix felt relaxed and adventurous to me.

Planning a trip around Inverness and the places used in 'Outlander'? Great — I’ve spent enough time poking around the Highlands to have a pretty clear take. The short version is: Inverness itself is a major rail hub, so you can absolutely arrive by train from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and farther north on the Far North and Kyle lines. The railway station is convenient, and once you’re in town you’ll find local buses, guided day tours, and car rental desks. For locations clustered close to Inverness — like Culloden Battlefield and the nearby Clava Cairns — public transport and short taxi rides make them quite accessible, though timetables can be sparse on Sundays.

If you want to chase quieter, more cinematic spots that appear in 'Outlander', a car makes life much easier. Many of the show's landscapes and smaller villages sit on rural single-track roads, with passing places, narrow lanes and occasional flocks of sheep. Parking at popular sites is usually available but limited, and some places require a short walk from the road. Driving also gives you the freedom to swing by Loch Ness viewpoints, Glen Affric, or the coastal coves between shoots; these are gorgeous at dawn and often unreachable on an efficient day-trip timetable.

So my practical advice: if you prefer chill, flexible exploring, hire a car in Inverness and prepare for slow, scenic driving. If you don’t drive, base yourself in Inverness and book a couple of guided 'Outlander' or Highland tours, then use trains for longer legs. Either way, pack layers — weather changes fast — and bring a good camera. I loved taking the quieter lanes at my own pace, and the landscapes feel like they jump right out of the pages of 'Outlander'.

Last summer I hopped on the train into Inverness and did a mash-up of public transit and walking to hit some of the 'Outlander' nearby spots. The train ride itself is lovely — Inverness station connects to the north and to the central belt — and from there you’ll find local buses and a decent network of tour operators who run themed excursions to the famous filming sites. For places like Culloden and Clava Cairns, you can get there by a short bus or taxi from town; they're close enough that public transport is practical if you don't mind schedules.

That said, a car changes the game. I noticed that the real treasures — hidden glens, quiet lochside pull-offs, and farmhouse-type locations — sit off the main roads. Public buses don't always stop right at these spots and services thin out in the evenings. Hiring a car gave me the freedom to chase light and not worry about missing the last bus. If you enjoy slow travel, take the train into Inverness for scenery, rent a car for the day or two you want off-grid, and then return by rail. It felt like the best of both worlds for me: scenic rails and the freedom to explore the fringe locations that really put you in the world of 'Outlander'.