If you’re a fan of film and television, then what better way could there be to spend the day than with a tour of a working film set? You’ll gain a new insight into how your favourite creations come to be, and perhaps a new appreciation for the scenery that brought those fictional worlds to life.
In Scotland, there’s no shortage of filming locations available for visitors to marvel at. If you’re planning a road trip to this part of the world, perhaps with your kids in tow, then you can make it an adventure by visiting the right filming locations. Then, after you’re done exploring for the day, you can retreat to the comfort of your own holiday home and get yourself refreshed for the next one!
So, where are these amazing locations? Let’s run through a few of the more famous ones.
PHOTO CREDIT: Netflix
Outlander
Being set in the eighteenth century, the TV adaptation of Outlander needed plenty of outdoor scenes. There are plenty of filming locations to explore, ranging from stately homes to castles to standing stones in the middle of the countryside. You can see a few of them using Visit Scotland’s location map.
Hogwarts Express
When they were scouting locations for the very first Harry Potter film, they had a few requirements in mind. A steam train, and some absolutely magical countryside. The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the star of the show, with its gorgeous archways stretching through the Highlands. If you want a good look at it, then you can go for a short walk through the surrounding hillside.
The Da Vinci Code
Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian provided the location for several significant scenes in this Dan Brown adaptation. It’s easy to see why it might have been chosen, with its incredible carved stonework and strange symbolism. Bear in mind that this chapel is still a working church – and that it might be occasionally closed for weddings, funerals, and the like.
Braveheart
Glen Nevis provided the backdrop for many of the outdoor scenes in the Mel Gibson extravaganza. The links are close enough that the ‘Braveheart’ car park is where hikers set off on their explorations of the area, near to Fort William. There are two walks you might want to look into, both of which are fairly strenuous – so, don’t take small children. If you decide that you want to conquer nearby Ben Nevis, then this goes especially.
The Crown
Ardverikie provides visitors with vast grounds to explore, which are home to a herd of around a thousand red deer. The estate has also featured in Outlander, but it’s perhaps best known for its role in Netflix’s The Crown, where it stood in for the Balmoral Estate.
