Outlaw King Filming Locations in Scotland: FULL List + Map!

Netflix’s Outlaw King filming locations are so extensive, authentic and historical that you could plan a road trip around visiting them all and it would be so epic. This movie has done what Braveheart should have back in 1995. Whereas Braveheart was a cringey, crass (yet highly entertaining) appropriation, Outlaw King is a much more thoughtful, worthy tribute to Scottish heritage.

Why? Well, for starters, they filmed in the right damn country!

The Braveheart comparisons are warranted because both films are set in a similar era following subsequential events. Outlaw King (2018) covers a three year period from 1304-1307, following Robert the Bruce (played by Chris Pine) as he’s crowned King of Scotland and leads a Guerilla army against the English.

Outlaw King shot all over Scotland including many castles, palaces, sweeping landscapes and rugged beaches. This list includes all the “Robert the Bruce film” locations, and I’ve even plotted an Outlaw King filming locations map.

Where was Outlaw King Filmed in Scotland?

Outlaw King Filming Locations in Scotland

1. Craigmillar Castle

Outlaw King begins at the foot of Stirling Castle’s hill, but Stirling Castle wasn’t used as an Outlaw King filming location, so Craigmillar Castle is the first proper location. Well, the opening scene was shot on a set built near Stirling Castle, but the castle itself wasn’t used. And can you believe the first shot of the film is 9-minutes long totally uninterrupted? Amazing!

Craigmillar Castle stands in for Bruce’s castle and village, where he meets his second wife Elizabeth de Burgh (played by Florence Pugh). It’s known as Edinburgh’s “other castle” and it’s courtyard has a rather old yew tree, which Robert the Bruce’s daughter, Marjorie, sits in to greet her new step-mother. It also stood-in for Kildrummy Castle later in the film.

We’re not sure where the real Robert the Bruce was living at this time, hence why Outlaw King doesn’t mention a specific castle name.

2. St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow

Right next door to Linlithgow Palace, where Mary, Queen of Scots was born, is St Michael’s Parish Church. Robert the Bruce and Elizabeth de Burgh marry in a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony in this church. It’s also where they hold the funeral for Robert’s father. I assume it’s supposed to be Robert the Bruce’s castle chapel, wherever in Scotland that’s supposed to be.

3. Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Though Berwick-Upon-Tweed now resides in England, in the 1300s it was a Scottish border town. Robert has to travel down to Berwick to pay taxes to the King (did they not have PayPal back in the 14th century?!) and witnesses an angry mob reacting to seeing 1/4 of William Wallace’s body hung up as a gruesome warning.

Berwick-Upon-Tweed is one of the authentic Outlaw King locations, particularly the Town Walls, but there is a heck of a lot of CGI going on to conceal anything modern. No wonder the movie cost $120 million to produce.

4. Glasgow Cathedral

After seeing how unpopular the English still are in Scotland (everyone gasps in shock!), Robert the Bruce decides to reignite the rebellion. He visits John Comyn to try and join forces, but instead, Comyn threatens to tell King Edward of Robert’s plans. So obviously, Robert has to stab him.

In real life, this encounter would have taken place at The Chapel of Greyfriar’s Monastery in Dumfries. But the Outlaw King filming location scene was shot inside Glasgow Cathedral deep in the crypts.

And to make things a bit more confusing, Robert the Bruce races to tell Bishop Lamberton to confess his crime. And the Cathedral that Robert and his men (apparently) race over hills to reach? Oh look, it’s the exterior of Glasgow Cathedral!

5. Berwick Bridge

Also known as the Old Bridge, Berwick Bridge stands in as London Bridge in Outlaw King. It’s an impressive stone bridge built during the early 1600s that’s now a Grade I listed building. It’s featured when a messenger gallops over the bridge to relay the message about John Comyn’s death to King Edward.

6. Dunfermline Abbey

King Edward is randomly chilling out in Westminster Abbey when he hears the message. But Outlaw King shot the scene in Dunfermline Abbey, not Westminster Abbey in London. Specifically in The Nave which is the oldest part of the Abbey. The chevron carvings in the columns of the church are quite distinguishable.

7. Linlithgow Palace

The Scottish church insists Robert should be crowned at Scone Palace despite nearby English Garrisons, so that’s where they go. Well, that’s where they go to in Outlaw King. But in reality, they shot this scene just outside Linlithgow Palace. There’s a beautiful shot where the new King and Queen overlook Linlithgow Loch with dozens of sailboats lit with small fires.

And again, Outlaw King uses Linlithgow Palace (the courtyard, this time) as a completely different filming location in the very next scene. This time, Scottish noblemen who are loyal to King Edward are occupying Perth Castle which is actually Linlithgow. You can spot King’s Fountain in a number of the shots throughout the film.

8. Loch Lomond

I think The Battle of Methven, where the English ambush the Scottish with flaming arrows overnight, took place next to Loch Lomond. Specifically, near the walking route in Luss. But I’m not 100% certain exactly where.

9. Glen Coe

After the Battle of Methven, the few men who remain in Robert’s army walk through Glen Coe. No, this location is nowhere near Loch Lomand, but you can’t have a Scotland-set movie and not feature Glen Coe, can you? Surely there’s a law against it.

10. Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus

The MacDougalls confront Robert the Bruce and his fifty-men army on the Rothiemurchus estate with Loch an Eilein in the background.

Though the MacDougalls let Robert and the rest of his army go when they meet on foot, they ambush Bruce and his men when they try to flee on boats. A lot of ambushing going on here. There are mixed reports on this Outlaw King filming location, but I believe the loch used in filming this scene was Loch an Eilein, though the sea loch Loch Ryan was the real-life location it stood in for.

I could be wrong. Loch Laggan is a contender, too. Let me know if you know!

11. Glen Feshie

Meanwhile, as the MacDougalls are giving Robert and his men the side-eye, his wife and daughter are running in a different direction. They meet Lord Fraser while riding through Glen Feshie and they take Elizabeth and Marjorie to Kildrummy Castle. And later, English soldiers march through the same glen to capture Elizabeth and Marjorie.

This is perhaps one of the most naturally beautiful Outlaw King filming locations because the heather is out in full purple bloom. Gosh, they did pick a fantastic time of year to film in Scotland! Must have just missed the rainy season.

12. Blackness Castle

Prince Edward II captures Elizabeth and Marjorie at Kildrummy Castle and takes them both back to England, specifically Yorkshire Castle. However, Outlaw King didn’t shoot the scene in England, they shot it at Blackness Castle on the River Forth. Shaped like a boat, Blackness Castle is known as “The Ship That Never Sailed.” It also features as a filming location in the Jacobite-era TV show Outlander and Mary, Queen of Scots (2018).

13. Talisker Bay Beach

One of my favourite Outlaw King movie locations! Angus, Robert’s right-hand man, suggests that Robert hideout on his home island of Islay because no one would find him there. And they could also attempt to recruit more men, too.

In reality, they shot all Islay scenes on the Isle of Skye. When Bruce arrives on the island and meets Lord Mackinnon, he’s actually landing on Talisker Bay Beach. What a truly cinematic black sand beach.

Read next: 8 Epic Isle of Skye Filming Locations to Discover in Scotland

14. Claigan Coral Beach

When Lord Mackinnon proves unconvinced by Robert’s claims, the men get back in their boats and land in a different part of the Isle of Islay where Angus’ family greets them. They land on Coral Beach in the Isle of Skye, which is a complete 180° difference from the black sand of Talisker Bay. Coral Beach wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean, with its pinky hued sand and clear waters.

15. Doune Castle

Upon learning the English killed his brother and captured his wife and daughter, Robert the Bruce doesn’t just get mad, he gets flaming mad. Apparently, the best way to take down the English is to burn all the Scottish castles that they seized. Hey, it’s not an eloquent plan but it’s a plan.

James Douglas requests to burn down his own ancestral home, which he does. The Douglas Castle is none other than Doune Castle, one of the most famous filming locations in the world. It’s featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), in the TV show Outlander as Castle Leoch and in the pilot episode of Game of Thrones as well as so many others.

16. Borthwick Castle

Standing in as Rowallen Castle, Borthwick Castle with CGI flames flickering out of its windows featured briefly in Outlaw King.

17. University of Glasgow Cloisters

While Robert and his men are starting fires, Kind Edward has joined the prince for a spot of archery training. They’re probably supposed to be at Perth Castle or another random castle that they’ve sacked, or maybe they’re back in London, who knows. Regardless, Outlaw King shot this scene at the University of Glasgow Cloisters. 

18. Mugdock Country Park

The big battle scene at the end of Outlaw King is known as the Battle of Loudoun Hill. This Outlaw King movie location shot this scene in Mugdock Country Park just north of Glasgow.

19. Seacliff Beach

The final, and one of the best, Outlaw King filming locations! After Robert the Bruce and his army win the Battle of Loudoun Hill, forcing the newly crowned King Edward II to retreat, Robert and Elizabeth finally meet again and embrace. They’re supposedly on a beach next to Kildrummy Castle which in reality is Seacliff Beach in North Berwick, overlooked by the ruined Tantallon Castle.

Other Outlaw King Filming Locations in Scotland

Apparently, there are around 50-60 Outlaw King filming locations around Scotland. Clearly, I have not listed them all. My research gave a lot of real-life locations, but no scenes to match them up with. But I didn’t want to miss them off this list completely as I learned most of them from very reliable sources.

• Muiravonside Country Park – Selkirk Forest. I don’t recall either Robert or Prince Edward being in Selkirk Forest.
• Portencross Castle – Apparently, this castle appeared briefly in the background of a scene in England.
• Ardrossan Castle – …Search me.
• Loch Laggan – Possibly, the boat scenes. Otherwise, no idea.
• Tullibardine Chapel – No dice.

As always, I’d really appreciate you enlightening me if you know for certain which of these locations featured in Outlaw King and which scenes, too.

And those are all the top Outlaw King filming locations in Scotland! Have you watched Outlaw King on Netflix? Or have you visited any of the film locations? Let me know in the comments below!

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