Sam Heughan: Outlander, Everest & the Perfect Cocktail

From Highland adventures and Himalayan expeditions to motorbike road trips and mezcal-fuelled misadventures, Sam Heughan’s life off screen is every bit as epic as his most famous role. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the Outlander star joins Jenni to talk about the places that shaped him, the journeys that pushed him out of his comfort zone, and why the south of Scotland deserves just as much love as the Highlands. Sam reflects on the emotional moment of finishing Outlander after more than a decade, what it felt like to say goodbye to Jamie Fraser, and how he decided to mark the end of that chapter by trekking to Everest Base Camp. He shares stories of freezing night shoots in kilts, being recognised in Kathmandu, and watching the sun set over Everest from 20,000 feet. Along the way, he talks about growing up in southwest Scotland, discovering acting at school in Edinburgh, and why adventure and the outdoors have always been part of who he is. There’s also plenty of talk about cocktails, creativity, and building his own distillery in Galloway, including the story behind a papaya margarita mixed in the back of a van in rural Mexico, his obsession with perfecting gin and vodka, and why bartenders are some of the most creative people he knows. Add in motorbike trips through Florida and California, Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon, and this episode becomes a wide-ranging, inspiring conversation about adventure, craft, and always saying yes to the journey.