Scotland's tourism chiefs are launching a map of Outlander locations to fans of the books and new TV series can follow in the footsteps of its characters.

To coincide with the US network premiere of Outlander tomorrow fans of the bestselling books can now view a new interactive VisitScotland map.

The online guide highlights real locations featured in Diana Gabaldon's first two Outlander novels as well as visitor attractions and historical sites that have a strong connection to the Scotland-set literary success.

The map will go live at www.visitscotland.com/outlander from midnight tonight.

It form part of a wider £40,000 VisitScotland marketing campaign entitled Scotland: The Land That Inspired Outlander.

Among the locations featured on the map are the Palace of Holyrood House and the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, where protagonists Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser meet with Bonnie Prince Charlie; Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness, where the characters go in search of the loch's most famous resident; and Fort William, which also plays a key role in Gabaldon's novels.

In addition, the VisitScotland itinerary features attractions such as Culloden Battlefield, the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore, and the Clava Cairns standing stones near Inverness, believed to be the inspiration for the fictional Craigh na Dun - the site where Claire is mysteriously swept back in time.

Lorna Ewan, Head of Visitor Experience, Content and Learning at Historic Scotland, said: "The Outlander books feature a number of iconic landmarks in Scotland, while many of the fictional locations were inspired by real places. Craigh na Dun, a key location in the books, shares similarities with a number of prehistoric places including the atmospheric Bronze Age cemetery Clava Cairns, near Inverness. Picturesque Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness is also name-checked in the books, and is a must-see for Outlander fans.

"Outlander paints a vivid picture of many locations in Scotland and I am delighted that some of our most outstanding sites have provided inspiration for a story which has captured the imaginations of readers around the world. Furthermore, to date the TV adaptation of the books includes scenes filmed at two of our sites: Blackness Castle, which was used for scenes depicting Fort William, and Doune Castle which stood in for the fictional Castle Leoch."

Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall (played by Caitriona Balfe), a married English combat nurse from 1945 who, while on her honeymoon in Inverness, is mysteriously swept back in time to the 18th-century Scottish Highlands.

There she meets Jamie (played by Scottish actor Sam Heughan), a chivalrous young warrior, with whom she becomes romantically entwined.

Filming of the 16-part Sony Pictures Television series began last October, in locations including Glasgow, Perthshire, Fife, Edinburgh and West Lothian.

It has yet to find a UK broadcaster.

Caitriona Balfe said: "We travelled the length and breadth of Scotland and were filming in the most beautiful places so I can't imagine people won't come away with an idea of how beautiful Scotland is."

To view the VisitScotland Outlander map and itinerary, go to www.visitscotland.com/outlander