Drama · 2010s
Downton Abbey
A Journey to the Highlands (Christmas Special 2012)
Scottish castles, country fairs and a Christmas special that breaks hearts.
- Family-safe
- Tearjerker
Content note: Emotional ending
ITV
2012
First shown 25 Dec 2012
- First shown
- 25 December 2012
- Channel
- ITV
- Runtime
- 1 hr 33 mins
- Genre
- Drama
Where to watch
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The Crawleys pack their trunks and head to Scotland, where Lady Rose's warring parents are hosting at Duneagle Castle, and the family finds out how the other half of the gentry live. Back at Downton, Tom looks after little Sybbie while the staff get stuck into a country fair and Carson tries to keep everyone's mind on the job. It's Julian Fellowes in full swing: frocks, flirting and fine china, all with a good dose of heartache. Fair warning, this is one of the great Christmas weepies, so keep the tissues beside the mince pies and the good chair free.
Stay on the sofa
Watch next
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Babies, nuns and bicycles: Christmas in 1950s East London, with tissues.

Checked 9 Nov 2026