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Scotland's starring role in many famous films
These are some of the locations used in the movies,
if you would like to visit some, or all, for the
enthusiast, then drop us a line and we will plan
your vacation in the movies!
movies@mcleanscotland.co.uk
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) The peaty moorland and the bare rocks of the east
side in particular of the Isle of Harris were
transformed by Stanley Kubrick into the surface of
the planet Jupiter in a fly-over sequence.
The 39 Steps (1935) In the Alfred Hitchcock version, the director
moved the Scottish setting from Galloway to the
Highlands. When the main character outfoxes the
police by escaping aboard the Flying Scotsman over
the Forth Bridge, he finds himself in the Highlands
rather than Fife. The police pursuit was filmed in
Glencoe (both above) and Rannoch Moor.
The Battle of the Sexes (1959) Edinburgh, including South St Andrews Street, 45
George Street, Royal Mile and Holyrood Park featured
in this Peter Sellers comedy.
The Big Tease
(1999) Scottish hairdresser Crawford Mackenzie (Craig
Ferguson) travels to Los Angeles to take part in the
prestigious 'Platinum Scissors' competition in a
satirical look at LA life. The Scottish scenes were
filmed in Glasgow and Loch Lomond.
Bonnie Prince Charlie
(1948) Skye served as the backdrop for one of the
country's most famous tales, starring David Niven
and Margaret Leighton.
Braveheart
(1995) The stories surrounding William Wallace abounded for
centuries before this film hit Hollywood, but this
romantic tale of vengeance, greed, bravery and love
proved a major success and continues to be one, 11
years on. Wallace hailed from Lanark, to the
south-east of Glasgow, but the Hollywood treatment
transformed Lanark into a stretch of misty mountains
and heather-covered glens, so Glen Nevis was chosen
as the location. Additional shots were filmed in
Glencoe and the area around Kinlochleven.
Chariots of Fire
(1981) Winner of four Oscars in 1983, including best
picture and music score, Chariots of Fire has scenes
filmed in Scotland at the Sma Glen near Perth, St
Andrews and Edinburgh. The opening sequences of
runners with distinctive Vangelis soundtrack were
filmed at West Sands beach in St Andrews.
The Da Vinci Code (2006) Based on Dan Brown's global bestseller. A murder
inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings
lead to the discovery of a religious mystery
protected by a secret society for 2,000 years which
could shake the foundations of Christianity. Key
scenes filmed at Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian.
Dog Soldiers
(2002) Kevin McKidd plays the leader of a troop of soldiers
menaced by werewolves in the Highlands of Scotland.
While the forests of Luxembourg provided the main
backdrop, Glen Affric (above) provided the establishing
shots.
Dragonslayer
(1981) Fantasy filmed on Skye in which a king is forced to
sacrifice virgins to a dragon to protect his
kingdom.
The Duellists (1977) Set in the Napoleonic era and telling the story of
the enmity between two soldiers, director Ridley
Scott's first movie has some scenes filmed in
Dalwhinnie, while Aviemore stood in for Russia.
Enigma (2001) The cinematic adaptation of Robert Harris' novel
about wartime spies and code breakers decided to
replace Buckinghamshire and Northampton with a more
dramatic Scottish setting - the rugged coastline
south of Oban, and specifically Loch Feochan.
Entrapment (1999) The locations chosen for this movie could have been
influenced by its major star Sean Connery, and it
was his first Scotland-based work since Highlander.
The edgy pace of the robbery sequences in New York,
England and Kuala Lumpur gives way to the peaceful
retreat of Duart Castle (above) on Mull. Paul’s note; what
is the link here to Maclean? Easy, Sean’s mum was
one, the castle is home to one and 007 was based on
one!
Eye of the Needle
(1981) Second World War super-spy the Needle discovers
vital evidence about the Allies' D-Day invasion, but
as he aims to escape British shores he is
shipwrecked and washed ashore on an isolated island
- which was Mull. Top picture shows a Mull distant
shot
Flash Gordon (1980) Breakish airfield on Skye is perhaps an unlikely
location for this take on the 1930s comic strip.
From Russia with Love (1963) The boat chase scenes near the end of this Bond
movie were filmed on Loch Craignish near Crinan in
Argyll. These scenes were to originally to have been
filmed in Turkey, but due to various difficulties
were moved to Scotland. In the later 007 film The
World Is Not Enough, the iconic image of Eilean
Donan Castle turns up as a secret service base.
Gregory's Girl
(1981) Bill Forsyth's iconic tribute to teenage infatuation,
as Gregory falls for the gorgeous footballing-
playing Dorothy of 5a. Filmed in Cumbernauld.
Greyfriars Bobby (2005) A popular tale of the dog who takes to sleeping on
his master's grave in Edinburgh's Greyfriars Kirk
despite a 'no dogs' rule. Just when Bobby's fate
hangs in the balance, the children and Lord Provost
of the city come to the rescue.
Greystoke (1984) Floors Castle home of the Duke of Roxburghe near
Kelso was used to portray the ancestral home of
Tarzan. Floors (above) is reputedly the largest occupied
stately home in Britain with 365 windows - one for
every day of the year.
Hamlet (1990) Lots of castles used here, especially Dunnottar
(above right) on
the outskirts of Stonehaven, used in long shots or
where the fortress appears behind Hamlet (Mel
Gibson). Zeffirelli altered its skyline. Blackness
Castle near Edinburgh was also used for some
interior and also courtyard scenes.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) The Hogwarts Express was filmed going over the
majestic Glenfinnan Viaduct in the first of J K
Rowling's tales to be translated to the big screen.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) The fine views Harry and his chums can see from the
Hogwarts Express are of the Glenfinnan area and the
climactic Quidditch match was superimposed by
computer on a backdrop of Glen Nevis.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
(2004) Filming took place at a set built close to Glencoe
village. The Glenfinnan Viaduct made another
appearance.
Highlander (1986) The original film used numerous locations in the
West Highlands to convey a dramatic, mountainous
country. Glenfinnan was used as the birthplace of
the hero Connor MacLeod (played by Christopher
Lambert), but the Glenfinnan used in the movie was
actually created in the car park at Eilean Donan
Castle - though water-based scenes were filmed at
the real Glenfinnan. Eilean Donan was used as the
departure point for the Clan MacLeod going off to
battle, but the writer preferred the name Glamis.
The film's big battle scene was shot at Glencoe,
MacLeod's keep was constructed at The Study in
Glencoe and he is pictured running on deserted sands
in Morar and perfecting his weaponry skills at
Arisaig and on Skye.
Highlander 3 (1994) Scottish locations for Highlander 3 included Glen
Nevis, Castle Tioram and Moidart. It also recycled
some scenes from the original Highlander movie.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
(1959) An Edinburgh professor and assorted colleagues
follow an explorer's trail down an extinct Icelandic
volcano to the earth's centre. Scenes filmed at
Edinburgh University and the Mound.
Kidnapped (1971) One of several film versions of Robert Louis
Stevenson's classic, this had scenes filmed at
Stirling Castle and Culross.
The Land that Time Forgot
(1975) During the First World War, a German U-boat sinks a
British ship and takes the survivors on board. After
it takes a wrong turn, the submarine takes them to
the unknown land of Caprona, where they find
dinosaurs and neanderthals. Filmed at Quiraing,
Skye.
Local Hero
(1983) The tiny sea-edge community of Pennan, near Banff,
and the Sands of Morar supplied the locations for
the fictional village of Ferness, and most famously,
the telephone box scene, when MacIntyre (Peter
Riegert) describes the Northern Lights to his boss
Happer (Burt Lancaster). Pennan's phone-box is still
around today, though in the movie it appears on the
quayside, not its real-life location.
Loch Ness (1995) Most of the filming took place on Loch Ness,
unsurprisingly, but a few additional locations were
thrown in for good measure. Film-makers wanted a
picturesque loch-side village with a pier, so they
added in the little village of Lower Diabaig on Loch
Torridon, 50 miles to the north-west. Urquhart
Castle was overlooked in favour of Eilean Donan in
Wester Ross. Dores, Foyers and Fort Augustus were
also used.
Macbeth (1997) Jason Connery takes on the role of the infamous
Scottish King. Scenes were shot at Blackness Castle
and Dunfermline Abbey.
Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) Vanessa Redgrave plays the tragic heroine who
fights to secure the crown for her son and heir, the
future James I of England. Scenes filmed at
Hermitage Castle near Hawick.
The Master of Ballantrae
(1953) Swashbuckling Robert Louis Stevenson adventure with
a highlander who fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie
who, after various escapades, becomes a pirate.
Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe, Glenfinnan all
feature.
Mission: Impossible
(1996) The
location of the railway in the final scenes was
Nithsdale in the south-west of Scotland. Extensive
footage was also taken along the stretch from
Dumfries to Annan and Dumfries to New Cumnock by
train and helicopter, pleasing the film-makers, who
wanted an open countryside free of overhead cables.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(1975) Variety of locations in central Scotland and Argyll,
notably Doune Castle (scene with the 'Trojan'
rabbit) and the Cave of Caerbannog, setting of the
'Killer Rabbit' scene halfway along the south shore
of nearby Loch Tay (it's actually an abandoned
copper mine). Castle Stalker was also used and crowd
scenes were shot at Sheriffmuir near Stirling.
Mrs Brown
(1997) The ballroom scene was filmed at Taymouth Castle near
Aberfeldy, where Victoria danced on her honeymoon.
Duns Castle in Berwickshire was used to represent
Balmoral. The stables were at nearby Manderston and
the harbour at Cockburnspath. The private Ardverikie
Estate near Dalwhinnie in Inverness-shire was used
for the grounds of Balmoral.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
(1969) Brodie lives on Admiral Terrace, in Edinburgh, with
most of the school drama taking place in the
Donaldson building on Henderson Row, now owned by
Edinburgh Academy, which serves as Marcia Blaine's.
Miss Brodie takes her girls to trips to Greyfriars
Kirkyard, and the Vennel off the Grassmarket for
fine views of the castle. Mr Lloyd the art master
has his studio across the street from Greyfriars on
the corner of Candlemaker Row and Merchant Street,
while his rival invites Miss Brodie to his home in
Cramond (Barnbougle Castle in the film).
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
(1970) Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle feature in Billy
Wilder's unique take on Conan Doyle's hero. Well, Mr
Doyle was an Edinburgh laddie after all.
Ring of Bright Water (1969) The much loved otter movie featured Loch Feochan,
Oban and Seil Island.
Rob Roy (1995) The Balquhidder area where Rob Roy lived in the
early 18th century had to be ruled out because of
modern developments, so film-makers made for the
West Highlands, where Rob Roy seemed to have a
number of dwellings in different locations,
including Bracorina on the north side of Loch Morar,
at Rannoch Moor and Inversanda in Glen Tarbert. The
film also shot at Glencoe in the hills above Loch
Leven, and in Glen Nevis, where the MacGregor
village was built. Nearby Drummond Castle served as
the seat of the Marquis of Montrose and was chosen
for its ornamental terraced gardens (which are open
to the public). The courtyard of Megginch Castle
near Perth was used as a village square, and
Crichton Castle south of Edinburgh was the site of
the duel between Rob Roy and Archibald Cunningham.
Shallow Grave (1994) This deliciously dark comedy-thriller was a
roller-coaster ride through Edinburgh's New Town,
over the cobbles of Heriot Row, along Great King
Street and Drummond Place, down St Vincent Street to
North East Circus Place - the latter being the
location of the flat in which most of the action
takes place (although, in reality, that was a
combination of locations including nearby Scotland
Street and a warehouse in Glasgow). Ewan McGregor
plays a journalist and filming took place in the
(then) Albion Street offices of the Glasgow Evening
Times. The body was disposed of in Rouken Glen on
the outskirts of Glasgow, and the car was dumped at
Mugdock Country Park near Milngavie. The Scottish
country dancing scenes were filmed at Glasgow's
Townhouse Hotel on West George Street, which has
since closed down.
Supergirl (1984) One scene filmed at Castle Tioram, Loch Moidart.
The Thirty Nine Steps (1959) This remake stuck closely to Hitchcock's version
filming at the Forth Bridge, North and South
Queensferry, Dunblane and at the Falls of Dochart in
Killin, as well as other parts of Perthshire.
To Catch a Spy
(1971) Kirk Douglas spy thriller with scenes filmed at Loch
Awe and Ballachulish.
Trainspotting (1996) Hailed by Empire and Time Out magazines as the best
British film of the decade, Trainspotting launched
many a movie career. Locations included Rouken Glen
on the outskirts of Glasgow, where Ewan McGregor and
Jonny Lee Miller shoot the skinhead's dog, and
Rannoch Moor, the destination for the abortive trip
to the countryside. Other locations include Princes
Street and Calton Road in Edinburgh, where McGregor
and Ewen Bremner are pursued by store detectives at
the start of the film. But although it is set in
Edinburgh, most of the filming was in Glasgow, and
many of the locations have since been closed or
demolished. The football sequence at the beginning
was shot at the Firhill Complex in Hopehill Road.
Renton and Spud share a milkshake in Jaconelli's
café. The Volcano disco where Renton meets Diane has
since closed. The bar where the American tourist is
mugged was the London Road Tavern, and the Begbie
fight took place in Crosslands on Queen Margaret
Drive.
Trouble in the Glen (1953) Comedy featuring Orson Welles as the new laird who
stirs up the locals. The film is a mix of studio and
location filming, with some scenes filmed in
Perthshire
Tunes of Glory
(1960) Post Second World War military drama starring Alec
Guinness and John Mills with scenes filmed at
Stirling Castle.
When Eight Bells Toll (1971) Anthony Hopkins is a secret service agent sent to
investigate piracy in the Hebrides with Robert
Morley as his unlikely boss. When Eight Bells Toll
has scenes filmed on the islands of Mull (Duart
Castle again) and Staffa.
Whisky Galore!
(1949) In 1948, a cast and crew of 80 descended on the
tranquil island of Barra. Compton MacKenzie's story
about a ship that runs aground carrying 50,000 cases
of whisky and the islanders' attempts to salvage
them was inspired by the wreck of the SS Politician
off Eriskay in 1941. Director Alexander Mackendrick
filmed all over the island and many locations are
easily recognisable. The village of Castlebay,
Kisimul Castle and the Church of Our Lady Star of
the Sea have changed little. The bank and school
house are still there under different names, as is
the local post office which was used as the island
store. Beach scenes were shot at Allasdale,
Eoligarry and on the neighbouring island of Vatersay
- now linked to Barra by a causeway.
The Wicker Man (1974) The fictional Summerisle in the cult film was
created from a variety of mostly Galloway locations,
including the colourful houses and
closes of Kirkcudbright. The Cally Estate Offices in
Gatehouse-of-Fleet became the film's Green Man Inn.
The grand home of Lord Summerisle was the real-life
Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, though the gardens were
Logan Botanic Garden and Castle Kennedy Gardens in
Galloway.
The World is Not Enough (1999) Eilean Donan Castle in Wester Ross was decorated
with masts and satellite dishes and posed as MI6's
Scottish branch office. Among the gadgetry that Q
developed there were innovative bagpipes that
doubled up as machine guns and flame throwers.
LITTLE KNOW FACT; PAUL WAS IN A MOVIE ONCE,
GOING BACK TO 1980. WELL A VIDEO ACTUALLY OF
LIVERPOOL FC. HE ALSO HAS APPEARED ON
VIDEOS/DVD IN CELTIC FOOTBALL CLUB AND RUNRIG AT
STIRLING CASTLE. MOVE OVER SEAN, PAUL IS COMIN
THROUGH!
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