Queensferry Castle needs extra security from Outlander fans

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Actor Sam Heughan attends the 'Outlander' Season Two World Premiere at American Museum of Natural History on April 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Actor Sam Heughan attends the 'Outlander' Season Two World Premiere at American Museum of Natural History on April 4, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)

Outlander fans are showing up in droves to the Queensferry Castle, where Jamie Fraser’s roots are. It’s gotten really crazy and they’ve had to hire security.

“Fans” is short for fanatics. People may love their favorite show or team to the nth degree, but some Outlander fans are taking it a bit too far in their adoration of Jamie Fraser. Fans have found the South Queensferry castle that serves as Fraser’s ancestral home on screen, Lallybroch, and have committed vandalism to the castle and surrounding area.

It has gotten so out of hand that the South Queensferry’s castle, Midhope Castle has had to hire security to keep Outlander fans in check. While the exterior was good enough to appear on screen as a backdrop back in 2013, it’s not safe for fans to go inside. But fans don’t know that, as they want to see where Jamie lived!

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Midhope Castle has been part of Outlander-themed tours since the airing of the show on Starz. However because of the added security, the property managers are charging fans to basically park their cars and look at the structure. No, they still can’t go inside. It will cost an Outlander fan $10 (about $14) for a car and £40 (about $55) for a minibus to essentially snap a photo of the 15th century Scottish castle. Fans are not happy about it, but it is the price to see where Jamie lived.

While the property managers have a more stable building on the same property called Hopetoun House, where tourists can totally check out, this isn’t where Jamie lived.

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The extra security is also needed due to fans committing vandalism and other actions of indecent behavior. It’s just a strange situation where fans of a popular television series and the caretakers of ancient Scottish property collide.

Maybe one day Outlander fans will be able to go inside Lallybroch/Midhope Castle. However, safety is more important than someone’s photo opportunity. That being said, the property managers had to know what they were up against in the Outlander fan base. It’s a massively popular book and television series. People are going to absolutely want to see where Jamie lived if given the opportunity.

Next: Breaking down the bond between Jamie and Lord John Grey

Of course, people going on Outlander tours in Scotland should be respectful of all destinations. If the fans behaved themselves, maybe Midhope Castle wouldn’t need this much security or have to charge fans £10 to park on the premises? The whole thing is nuts, but fans are fanatical!