It’s hardly surprising that the Scottish Highlands have been used as a location for so many movies. Their expansive beauty, rugged cliffs and mountains and stunning natural beauty have been an inspiration for filmmakers for years. If you’re keen to check out some movie locations on your holiday to Scotland, here are a few places to put on your wish list.
Duntrune Castle (Skyfall)
Parts of the Bond film From Russia with Love were filmed in the area of Duntrune Castle in 1963, and while staff at Duntrune Castle near Lochgilphead in Argyll were looking forward to a return from Judi Dench and co, unfortunately filming for Skyfall in the same area was cancelled.
Still, if you’re a Bond fan you can visit the sites used for the helicopter and boat chase scenes near the end of the movie, which were filmed in Argyll. Ask our staff to arrange a personal Bond tour, taking in some other lovely sites and a trip to Duntrune Castle along the way.
Eilaen Donan (Highlander)
Fans of Highlander (1986) will undoubtedly recognise Eilean Donan Castle in Loch Duich as the gruff Connor MacLeod’s home. Bond fans too will notice that Scotland’s most photographed castle was also present in The World Is Not Enough. The great location of this historic landmark provides spectacular views, so don’t miss a trip on your way to other Highlander movie locations in Glen Nevis and Moidart.
Glen Coe (Braveheart)
The sweeping, mountainous and craggy landscapes seen in Braveheart (1995) couldn’t be faked or recreated in a studio, which is why Mel Gibson and co upped sticks to Scotland and its rocky highlands to shoot around Loch Leven and gorgeous Glen Coe. The village of ‘Lanark’, where William Wallace grows up and falls for Murron was built specially for the movie in the Glen Nevis Valley, right at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis.
Drummond Castle (Rob Roy)
This beautiful castle and its surrounding woods were used in the movie Rob Roy (1995), and Liam Neeson, John Hurt and Tim Roth all got to stroll around Drummond Castle’s beautiful gardens in their wigs. You’ll love doing the same on your movie tour of Scotland (minus the wigs) as these eclectic, Italian-style gardens will provide some great photo opportunities around its fountains, terracing, urns and statues.
West Highland Railway Line (Harry Potter)
The magical steam train that transports Harry Potter and his friends to Hogwarts in the popular franchise is actually the West Highland Railway Line, which can take you 42 miles from Fort William to Mallaig through spectacular countryside. Ben Nevis, the surrounding lochs and craggy countryside of Glen Nevis are all shown in the movies, as is Steall Falls, the waterfall at the bottom of the mountain where Harry has to battle with a dragon for the Triwizard Tournament.
Ask our travel specialists to help arrange a special Harry Potter movie location tour, on which you can also see Loch Eilt, where Hagrid skips his stones across the water, Black Rock Gorge near Evanton in Easter Ross and Lochaber, where the Wasley’s flew their car over treetops.
For more exciting movie location tour opportunities and accommodation in your favourite parts of Scotland, contact our travel experts today.
