Outlander fans sneak onto Kilmarnock set

Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe

OUTLANDER stars were mobbed by die-hard fans as they began filming for the second series of the hit show.

Pictures taken a few days ago at Dean Castle in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, show heartthrob Sam Heughan and his co-star Caitriona Balfe dressed in 18th century attire and riding horses.

Despite the castle and surrounding areas being closed to the public, some fans managed to catch a glimpse of and even a chat with some of the cast.

One woman even got a video of Heughan calling her “darling” and promising to come back to speak to her after filming.

The snaps, which have been shared on social media, show that Heughan managed to maintain a smile as the heavens opened and rained on the set.

He can be seen sheltering beneath an umbrella, holding a bottle of water and posing with fans as producers and other cast members bustle behind him.

In a video Heughan can be heard saying “I’ll be back out yeah, as soon as we turn around I’ll be back out... sorry darling” to a fan who asks if she’ll see him again later on.

Co-star Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire Randall, also took the time to pose with members of the public who were delighted to meet their favourite stars.

Photographs of the set were also shared, showing wooden tables, wagons piled high with hay and large barrels.

The Outlander series, adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling books, already boasts a cult following and has increased tourist figures at similar previous Scottish locations.

The number of visitors to Doune Castle, near Stirling, rose by almost a third after it featured in the series as the fictional Castle Leoch - where the story is set.

One fan wrote on the Outlander Crew blog that they were delighted Kilmarnock had been selected for filming.

They said: “Outlander fans everywhere are breathing a collective sigh of relief that the end of Droughtlander is drawing near as the cast and crew get ready to film the final two episodes in Scotland.”