Movies that you may not know were filmed in Scotland…
Scotland is a land of so many different things to do and see for our walkers and visitors, but it is also popular with international movie producers from around the world for its diversity.
Think mountains, moors, and sea – but also its characteristic rugged and hardy terrain, which is ideal for all things epic saga, powerful love story, Scottish history, James Bond and even a bit of ‘Potter’ inspiration!
Braveheart
An iconic Scottish movie, Braveheart was filmed in 1995 and saw Mel Gibson take the role of William Wallace, leader of the Scottish resistance and possibly one of the most well-loved Scottish figures of all times.
William Wallace famously led his fellow countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of English King, King Edward I.
The film was shot mostly along The West Highland away in the areas of Glencoe, Loch Leven and the Mamore’s mountains which are located close to Fort William.
The movie took home 5 Academy Awards that year, among them Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Director, who was also, oddly enough – Mel Gibson.
Harry Potter
We have mentioned the ‘Harry Potter Train’ in one of our previous posts, but the magical Hogwarts Express that Harry boards at platform 9 ¾ in London then wends its spooky and mystical journey along the well-known Jacobite Railway, which passes over the utterly stunning Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The train scenes are probably some of the most striking from the movie, and you can also get a glimpse of Steall Falls in Glen Nevis in the background of Harry’s Quidditch matches.
Steal Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Britain and forms a great backdrop for these high-speed games that take place above the Quidditch stadium.
You can trace Harry’s footsteps too, the Jacobite steam train departs daily from Fort William, which is located at both the start of The Great Glen Way and the end of The West Highland Way.
Rob Roy
Ironically also filmed in 1995 (a great year for Scottish movies it seems) Rob Roy starred Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange and tells the story of Robert Roy McGregor, who is a true-life character who becomes instrumental in the Jacobite uprisings in the late 1600s.
Rob Roy even has his own long walk named after him, the Rob Roy Way, which commences in Drymen and ends in Pitlochry, and many of the paths and trails that Rob Roy McGregor used himself now form part of this iconic long walk.
Some portions of the movie were filmed in such incredibly remote parts of the Highlands that the cast and crew had to use a helicopter to get to the sets, as there were no roads or pathways available!
Several scenes were also filmed along Rob Roy Way, and include the areas of Glen Coe, Glen Nevis, and Megginch Castle, to name a few.
Skyfall
Filmed in 2012, the twenty-third James Bond film to be made, and the third starring Daniel Craig – and although it was filmed around the globe, the iconic finale scene of the movie kept people enthralled. Although the film did not win an Academy Award for cinematography, it was nominated, and we like that fact too!
At the end of the film, James Bond return to his family home, an estate called Skyfall, and this part of the movie was filmed in the isolated areas around Glencoe.
The fight scenes are breathtaking and the scenery only lends itself to this epic feat of cinematography perfectly.
Luckily, our long-distance walkers will not need to fend off any ‘baddies’ so can rather enjoy their time taking in the beautiful scenery and enjoying some of the many outdoor offerings available such as cycling, skiing and of course, walking in beautiful nature.