Scottish film & TV locations itinerary

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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.

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Head to the gorgeous Logan Botanic Garden and admire the impressive tropical plants which thrive in the warm atmosphere created by the Gulf Stream. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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?

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The picturesque Falls of Dochart were the backdrop to the 1967 Casino Royale and the 1959 remake of The 39 Steps.

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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.