The ‘Outlander effect’ has seen Scottish locations that either inspired author Diana Gabaldon’s books or were used as backdrops to the series enjoy big increases in day visits.

As the first series of Outlander is released on DVD and blu-ray, Scottish locations associated with the hit television show are reporting a surge in visitor numbers.

National Trust for Scotland (NTS) locations such as Doune Castle near Stirling and Culross in Fife, are among the places being promoted in VisitScotland’s new publication, Set in Scotland: A Film Fan’s Odyssey, which was released this week.

NTS has reported increases in day visits between September 2014 to September 2015, compared to the previous 12-month period.

Falkland – the Fife village which portrays 1940s Inverness in the first episode - has seen visits rise by12 per cent; Preston Mill – the doocot in East Lothian which features as a backdrop in several scenes - is 26 per cent up; Culross – the Fife village used as the fictional village of Cranesmuir - is 9 per cent up; and Culloden – the historic Highlands battlefield which plays a key role in the books - is 19 per cent up.

Meanwhile, Historic Scotland has already reported a 44 per cent surge in summer visitor numbers at Doune Castle, which has a starring role as Castle Leoch, while Blackness Castle in West Lothian, which stands in for the stronghold of Fort William, has seen a 31 per cent rise.

Anna Rathband, Filming Manager at National Trust for Scotland, said: “Outlander is an excellent example of how film tourism has benefited the Trust and the properties that either inspired the story or were used as backdrops have all seen an increase in visitors compared to last year.

"We worked closely with Sony to produce a digital guide to our properties that have Outlander connections and we hope this will continue to encourage visitors to explore the real places behind the series.”

Stephen Duncan, Director of Commercial and Tourism at Scotland’s new public heritage body, Historic Environment Scotland, said: “2015 has seen a record-breaking summer season for many of our fantastic heritage attractions and the ‘Outlander effect’ has certainly played a part, particularly at Doune Castle following its starring role as Castle Leoch in the TV series.

“Over the summer, Doune reported three back-to-back record breaking months and an overall surge of 44 per cent in visitors, whilst Blackness Castle, which stood in for the stronghold of Fort William, saw a 31 per cent rise. Other sites featured in filming have also seen increased footfall, and the response from the general public on our digital channels has been phenomenal – showcasing how Scotland’s history continues to enthral and engage people from around the world in new and different ways.”