A wee story...

My name is Samantha MacKenzie. I am a great fan of Diana Gabaldon's novels about Jamie and Claire Fraser. Although I am of Scots descent (my grandfather was John (James) Alexander Randal MacKenzie, no really!), I was brought up in Maine, near Nova Scotia so the first time I came to Scotland, I too was an "Outlander". There, I met and married my own Highlander ("Mmph").

Having conducted tours in Alaska, Maine and story-tours in Scotland, I began planning a "Jamie and Claire" tour in 2004 for other fans of Diana Gabaldon - a tour to let people experience Scotland as close to that which Claire found, both in the 20th and 18th centuries. A couple of years in the making, having guided many people on other adventures throughout Scotland and one full on
* Handfasting Wedding later (ours!) and the idea became a reality! *We are also
celebrants and perform Handfastings, Naming Ceremonies, Highland Master of Ceremonies, Scottish / Celtic Traditions, Fireside Whisky Tasting & Tales within our repetoire.

Scot and I are already two of the best historical guides in the Highlands, so we've worked hard to create the best Jamie and Claire tour possible. The best. I canvassed the views of fans about a tour. Thank you to all those who responded. The result is the tour that all fans and their non-Outlander-reading partners can join. We still provide non-book tours of other parts of Scotland and we take people to Ireland and parts of Europe as well (see the home page).

You may interested to read Jean Brittain's interviews with Diana Gabaldon and ourselves about Outlander and the tours that the book has inspired. The Outlander Lady and Looking for Lallybroch

Prior Tours excerpts

2010 Tours

May 2010 - The Grain Tour.
"I love reading the blog so I can relive every minute of the trip. What an amazing time. Truly one of the greatest weeks of my life. Pony trekking, hiking, private castle tours, walking the Royal Mile....I can't pick out a favorite part, because it's all my favorite. We have so many inside jokes from the trip that our friends back home are sick of listening to "see the feral chicken, goat, dog, cat, horse...." I've even started calling my dog Bru. It was an amazing tour with incredible people in a beautiful country. What more could you want?? Thanks again for giving Scott and I a trip we'll always remember. That won't be our last trip to Scotland! " Erin Coyle Moyers.
See Aven MacNab's Photos on Facebook
See Erin's Photos on Facebook
Read the full tour blog Outlandish Spirits Blog, but here's a few photos from it. Click to enlarge.

Pic titles:Picnic in the Wilderness; The Posse; Trying the Plaid; The resultant effect - Charrrrmed!

2009 Tours

May 2009. Our first Great Adventure was in May 2009 and you can read all about it on the Outlandish Spirits Blog, but here's a few photos from it. Click to enlarge.

July 2009

"Thank you again for such a wonderful time and tour. We thoroughly enjoyed it and I can't stop talking about it. Pictures unfortunately don't do it justice. It being the majestic mountains and incredible landscapes we saw. It is a feeling more so than anything else. I am sure I will be back and would be delighted to see you again. In the meantime I will spread the word about you (as I have already done) and hope we will stay in contact." Conny
The July tour blog (new window).

September 2009 Tour Photos

And the blog of the September Tour (new tab/window)...

MUST SEE WEB SITES!

HIGHLAND BLESSINGS
Handfasting Weddings
Naming Ceremonies
Scottish / Celtic Traditions
for ceremonies & receptions

Outlandish Spirits Blog

HIGHLAND STORYTELLER
Fireside Whisky Tasting
TALES ON THE HOOF TOURS
Custom Clan & Genealogy Tours

MAUI CELTIC
Celtic-Hawaiian Artwork & Wee Treasures

The Outlander Book Club

Chalice Centre ~ Celtic Spirituality

Diana Gabaldon's website

Our wee house - the Storyteller's Cottage