Confirmed · Stirling & Perthshire · Castle

Balvaird Castle

Castle Leather in Blood of My Blood in Outlander. Public exterior · check guided interior dates; allow 45–90 minutes.

On screen as: Castle Leather in Blood of My Blood
Access: Public exterior · check guided interior dates
Time needed: 45–90 minutes
Where: Near Gateside, Perth and Kinross

On screen

How Balvaird Castle appears

Balvaird Castle supplies Castle Leather in Outlander: Blood of My Blood. The fictional home belongs to Lord Simon Fraser, while the real building is near Gateside in Perth and Kinross. Historic Environment Scotland identifies the castle’s prequel role, adding another Scottish heritage site to the series’ screen geography. The main Outlander locations and this prequel connection should be kept distinct: Balvaird is not another name for Castle Leoch, which the franchise represents through Doune Castle.

The real place

What you can visit

The real castle is a heritage visit with a distinction between seeing the exterior and entering the building. A view of the castle can form an outdoor stop, while interior access is offered only through selected advertised guided dates. This makes advance planning particularly important for anyone interested in the architecture inside. Enjoy the actual building and its setting rather than expecting rooms dressed as the Fraser household or a visitor attraction permanently arranged around the prequel’s fictional occupants.

Choose explicitly between an exterior stop and an advertised interior visit before planning the rest of the day.

Historic Environment Scotland ↗

Getting there.

Check Historic Environment Scotland’s current page before travel, especially if you want to enter the castle. Selected guided interior visits require a different plan from an exterior outing. Follow local access signs and any barriers around the building. Ask the operator about steps, surfaces and the guided route if these affect whether a visit is suitable for your group.

Official visitor information ↗Open in Google Maps ↗Read the visiting guide →

Common questions

Planning a responsible visit

Is Balvaird Castle part of the main Outlander series?

The documented connection here is to Blood of My Blood. It plays Castle Leather, the fictional home of Lord Simon Fraser, rather than another main-series castle identity.

Can I enter whenever I can see the exterior?

Interior access is separate and limited to selected advertised guided dates. Consult the current operator information instead of assuming an exterior visit includes entry to the building.

Is Castle Leather another name for Castle Leoch?

They are different fictional places. Balvaird supplies Castle Leather in the prequel, while Doune Castle supplies the Castle Leoch setting associated with the MacKenzie household.

Plan your visit