Outlander enthusiasts have raised an impressive £10,115 in just over a month for Scotland’s historic Culloden battlefield, marking actor Sam Heughan’s birthday.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) site is globally recognised as the location of the pivotal Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746, and holds a central, emotionally charged place within the popular Outlander saga.
The battlefield was crucial to the fictional journey of lead character Jamie Fraser, portrayed by Heughan in the television series.
Inspired by the show, Australian Outlander fan Tash Pow spearheaded the fundraising effort, designating the NTS Culloden Fighting Fund as the beneficiary. The substantial donation will bolster the trust’s conservation efforts at Culloden and enable continued interpretation of the battle, sharing the stories of those present.
Ms Pow explained: "As fans of Diana Gabaldon’s books and the Outlander series, Culloden is one of the central and most emotionally charged elements in the saga. Defining and haunting the entire series, it shapes Jamie Fraser’s life and Culloden Moor is where fans go to honour the history behind Jamie and his story. It is our 21st-century bridge between Jamie and his 18th-century Scottish heritage."
She added that with the series concluding this year, the NTS fund proved the ideal recipient, honouring both Heughan and the character he embodies. Ms Pow described the fundraiser as an opportunity for supporters to "leave a small part of their hearts on the battlefield, just as so many others had done before."
She concluded: "The generosity and passion for both Outlander and Scotland’s heritage have made this possible. It demonstrates what the fandom does best – turning our love for the story into real-world impact."
Between 2013 and 2024, six of Outlander’s eight seasons were filmed at various NTS properties, including Falkland Palace, Preston Mill, Culross Palace, and Newhailes House.
Anna Rathband, the National Trust for Scotland’s filming manager, commented: "I spent more than a decade working with the brilliant Outlander production team to bring Diana Gabaldon’s story to life on screen, and to see the legacy of this work continuing to inspire visitors, and incredible donations like this one for Culloden, is such a joy and really shows the importance of film tourism."
In recognition of the show’s final season, the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA has honoured the "Outlander effect" on Scottish tourism with its annual Great Scot award.
Chosen by the foundation’s board of trustees, the award celebrates a Scot or American who has significantly contributed to the shared heritage of both nations. Diana Gabaldon, the American author of the Outlander novels, received the award in 2022.
This year’s accolade was accepted by Outlander’s executive producer and showrunner Matthew B. Roberts, alongside cast members John Bell, Richard Rankin, and Jamie Roy.
