- Home
- Things to do
- Attractions
- TV & Film Locations
- Scottish Film & TV locations itinerary
Scottish Film & TV locations itinerary
More than just a backdrop, Scotland has added its own particular ambience to a wide variety of films, from the Da Vinci Code's mysterious Rosslyn Chapel to the breathtaking Highland scenery found in Braveheart, Harry Potter and Skyfall.
Follow this itinerary to see these very locations for yourself, and find out why the sheer dramatic impact of these landscapes lures filmmakers back to Scotland again and again.
- Start / Finish
- Whithorn / Doune
- Days7
- Distance540Miles864km
- TransportCar
- Main themeTV & Film
- Highlights
- Film locations
- Landscapes
- Areas covered
- All
Day 1Machars Penninsula, Port Logan & Stranraer
- Transport:
- Car
Your first day begins in Dumfries & Galloway for a whole range of settings associated with the cult film The Wicker Man.
- 1
St Ninian's Cave Whithorn
The fearsome wicker figure burned in the sacrifice scene at the end of The Wicker Man which was set up at Burrows Head in the Machars. Explore the otherworldly St Ninian's Cave nearby, where Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) tracks Rowan.
Find out more about St Ninian's CaveSt Ninian's Cave,Whithorn - 2
Logan Botanic Garden Portpatrick
Look familiar?The beautiful garden filled in as Lord Summerisle's lush garden in The Wicker Man movie.
Head to the gorgeous Logan Botanic Garden and admire the impressive tropical plants which thrive in the warm atmosphere created by the Gulf Stream.
Find out more about Logan Botanic GardenLogan Botanic Garden,Portpatrick,DG9 9NDKey facilities- Parking
- Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
- Accessible toilets
- Cafe or Restaurant
- 3
Castle Kennedy Stranraer
Did you know?Castle Kennedy featured in the stone circle and May Day procession scenes in The Wicker Man.
The beautiful gardens which surround this impressive ruined Castle Kennedy are the perfect place for a walk in the countryside or you could stop for a tasty snack in the tearoom.
Castle Kennedy Gardens,Castle Kennedy,Stranraer,DG9 8SJKey facilities- Parking
- On Public Transport Route
- Pets Welcome
- Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
- Accessible toilets
- WiFi
- Cafe or Restaurant
Day 2Maybole and Glasgow
- Transport:
- Car
The second day of your itinerary begins at your final film location from The Wicker Man, Culzean Castle, before you travel north to explore the bustling city of Glasgow, where you can see settings from World War Z, The Angel's Share and Cloud Atlas.
- 4
Culzean Castle Maybole
Did you know?You'll recognise the exterior of Culzean Castle as the grand mansion of Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) from The Wicker Man.
Travel to Maybole to Culzean Castle which was designed by Robert Adam, one of Scotland's most renowned architects. Perched on the side of a dramatic cliff, it's packed with treasures for you to discover as well as peaceful walks in the stunning grounds.
Find out more about Culzean CastleMaybole,Maybole,KA19 8LEKey facilities- Parking
- Pets Welcome
- Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
- Hearing Loop
- Cafe or Restaurant
- 5
Glasgow Glasgow
Spend the rest of your day exploring Glasgow, where in 2011 the city centre was transformed into the streets of Philadelphia for the zombie apocalypse movie World War Z, starring Brad Pitt. The city's renowned architecture has also been the backdrop for the critically acclaimed The Angel's Share, Cloud Atlas and The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz.
Find out more about Glasgow
Day 3Roslin and Edinburgh
On your third day head east to Roslin and explore the magnificent Rosslyn Chapel, star of the Da Vinci Code. Next head into Edinburgh and see which film locations you recognise .
- 6
Rosslyn Chapel Roslin
Head to Rosslyn Chapel and admire the extraordinary architecture and medieval stone carvings which provided the backdrop to Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code book and the movie adaptation. Walk in the footsteps of Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) as you explore this stunning chapel.
Step inside Rosslyn ChapelChapel Loan,Roslin,EH25 9PUKey facilities- Parking
- On Public Transport Route
- Hearing Loop
- Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
- Accessible toilets
- WiFi
- Cafe or Restaurant
- 7
Edinburgh Edinburgh
Scotland's capital city has featured in many films and TV productions over the years. The Edinburgh film map takes you to the places where your favourite movie moments happened. In the city centre you can admire some of the buildings which featured in iconic shots from One Day, the romantic comedy based on the novel by David Nicholls and starring Anne Hathaway.
The gritty portrayal of Leith in Trainspotting is already history. The old seaport has had a far ranging facelift and now offers a fine range of eating and drinking venues as well as quality shopping. Why not book a Trainspotting tour of Leith to see some of the locations featured in this classic for yourself?
Find out more about Edinburgh
Day 4St Andrews and Ballater
- Transport:
- Car
Your fourth day on the itinerary takes you through the beautiful landscapes of Scotland's east coast. Drive along the coastal route to St Andrews, featured in Chariots of Fire, before heading north to Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire where Balmoral Estate, featured in The Queen, awaits you.
- 8
West Sands Beach St Andrews
This handsome east coast town's West Sands beach features in the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire, with its distinctive Vangelis soundtrack. Golf fans will recognise St Andrews' famous Royal and Ancient Golf Clubhouse in the background, and real film buffs will observe the camouflage netting covering parked cars in one shot here!
Find out more about West Sands BeachSt Andrews - 9
Balmoral Castle Ballater
Film fansYou'll recognise this iconic castle which featured in the Oscar-winning film The Queen, a 2006 portrayal of HM The Queen, Elizabeth II.
Royal Deeside is home to the famous Balmoral Castle, a firm favourite with the Royal Family. The estate has been in the family since 1848, after it was purchased by Queen Victoria. Enjoy a stroll around castle gardens, visit the ballroom and special exhibitions or relax with a drink in the coffee and gift shop.
Find out more about Balmoral CastleThe Estate Office,Crathie,Ballater,AB35 5TBKey facilities- On Public Transport Route
- Pets Welcome
- Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
- Accessible toilets
- Cafe or Restaurant
Day 5Stonehaven, Pennan and Inverness
- Transport:
- Car
Day five on the itinerary takes you to Dunnottar Castle, which is said to have inspired Merida's family home in Brave, the quaint town of Pennan, a setting in Local Hero, and Loch Ness, featured in The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep.
- 10
Dunnottar Castle Stonehaven
Disney connectionsDunnottar Castle is also said to be the inspiration for the DunBroch family home in Disney Pixar's Brave.
The well-preserved ruins of Dunnottar Castle are perched on a dramatic cliff some 160 ft above the North Sea. This once impregnable fortress was visited by legendary historic figures including William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell and, in more recent times, Mel Gibson in Franco Zeffirelli's 1991 film, Hamlet.
If you're lucky, you may even see puffins or dolphins from the castle ramparts.
Explore Dunnottar CastleDunnottar Castle,Stonehaven,AB39 2TLKey facilities- Parking
- On Public Transport Route
- Pets Welcome
- 11
Pennan Pennan
Follow the Aberdeenshire coastline north to a Scottish film icon. Clustered below the cliffs and with Scotland's most famous phonebox, Pennan was one half of the fictional village of Ferness in Local Hero.
Find out more about PennanPennan - 12
Loch Ness Loch Ness
For film buffsLoch Ness is the setting of the film The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep, an enchanting story about its most mysterious inhabitant, the Loch Ness Monster. Ardkinglas House in Argyll was used as the main exterior location in the film.
A trip to Inverness isn’t complete without visiting Loch Ness. This huge expanse of water is an immensely impressive sight – the loch holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. In the Outlander novels, Claire and Frank take a cruise on the water and in her 18th century life Claire meets the Loch Ness Monster here (referred to as a water horse in the novel). You can still take a cruise on the Loch today, which is a great way to take in the awesome landscape.
Find out more about Loch Ness
Day 6Fort William and Glenfinnan
- Transport:
- Car
Spend a day exploring Fort William, the Outdoor Capital of the UK and one of the most frequently used film locations in Scotland. Round off your stay in the area with a train ride along the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, which features in several of the Harry Potter movies.
- 13
Fort William Fort William
Explore Fort William and Glen Nevis, in the shadow of Ben Nevis. With some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery available, filmmakers have used this location repeatedly, including scenes from films such as Braveheart, Rob Roy, Highlander and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Find out more about Fort William - 14
Glenfinnan Viaduct Glenfinnan
The magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct was featured in the Harry Potter films. The famous viaduct carries the railway to Glenfinnan Station across a 1,000 ft span, 100 ft above the ground. Experience your own magical train journey by taking a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train* between Fort William and Mallaig in summer months, with regular trains available the rest of the year.
* Please note that the Jacobite Steam Train is running with reduced capacity for the 2024 season. Please check directly for the latest availability.
Find out more about Glenfinnan ViaductGlenfinnan,PH37 4LT
Day 7Glencoe, Killin & Doune
- Transport:
- Car
Your final day will take you through some of Scotland's most impressive landscapes. Drive along the same route James Bond followed in Skyfall at Glencoe, stop at the Falls of Dochart (another Bond site) before travelling on to Doune to explore Doune Castle, which boasts connections to the Outlander TV series and Monty Python.
- 15
Glencoe Glen Coe
Top tipYou don’t need scorching sunshine to get the most from this beautiful place. In many ways Glen Coe is even more striking on an overcast, brooding day, when mist is sweeping down the glen and cloud is lying low on the hills.
Featured in Outlander’s opening credits, visiting world-famous Glencoe will be a highlight memory from your trip. Driving through this deep-carved glen feels like you’re entering in a secret part of Scotland. Scenes from Skyfall were also filmed here, in the shadow of Buachaille Etive Mor.
Pull into one of the parking places to absorb the atmosphere created by the towering peaks around you before popping into the Glencoe Visitor Centre. You can grab a bite to eat here before browsing the exhibition.
Find out more about Glencoe - 16
Falls of Dochart Killin
The picturesque Falls of Dochart were the backdrop to the 1967 Casino Royale and the 1959 remake of The 39 Steps.
Find out more about Falls of DochartKillin - 17
Doune Castle Doune
Jacobite connectionsThe Jacobites took the castle from government troops in 1745 and, following the 1746 Battle of Falkirk, government prisoners were held there.
This striking ruin is a key location in the hit TV series Outlander, where it stands in for the fictional Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th century episodes. The castle is also firmly associated with Monty Python and the Holy Grail and is still very much a place of "pilgrimage" for Monty Python fans.
Find out more about Doune CastleCastle Road,Doune,FK16 6EA
Find experiences
JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.
Other things you might like
Outlander Filming Locations in Scotland
James Bond & Skyfall Filming Locations
4Days
Car
Harry Potter Film and Book Locations Itinerary
Disney Pixar's Brave
Film & TV locations in Scotland
8 Buccaneers Locations to Visit in Scotland
6 Rebus Filming Locations in Scotland
Join our Newsletter Clan
Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.