Security guards to protect TV castle from rampaging fans

Bosses at a historic estate featured in hit TV series Outlander have drafted in security squads to deal with rampaging fans of the show.

Staff have had to cope with vandalism, anti-social behaviour and even people defecating at Midhope Castle in South Queensferry, the ancestral home of character Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan, in the hit US programme.

The castle lies on the same estate as Hopetoun House, which also features, making it a top destination for hoards of so-called “set-jetters” desperate to see the real-life locations of their favourite fictional dramas.

Known on screen as Lallybroch, Midhope is derelict inside but the exterior is used as a backdrop in series one and two.

Since it was chosen as a filming location in 2013, it has become a staple of many Outlander-themed tours, prompting estate managers to bring in security guards to protect the 15th Century castle and nearby farm, as well as the property of tenants who use buildings on the estate.

They have also had to charge visitors for parking at the site – £10 for cars, £40 for minibuses – to offset their security costs, which has upset some Outlander fans.

Fan Christine Howard, 35, from Ayrshire, has visited numerous filming locations across Scotland.

She said: “It’s quite expensive just to pay to park somewhere that you can’t even go inside.”

A spokeswoman from Hopetoun Estate said: “The introduction of security is to accommodate visitors safely while protecting the historic castle, the privacy of residents and the livelihood of the people who work at the site.”

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