Scottish movie map targets ‘set-jetting’ film fans

The Highlands & Skye movie map highlights about 50 filming locations and features everything from Hollywood blockbusters to low-budget horror films.

Among the landmarks highlighted are the Glenfinnan viaduct, which appears in the Harry Potter movies, Eilean Donan Castle, seen in Highlander and The World Is Not Enough, and Glen Coe, which forms a backdrop in Braveheart and The 39 Steps.

The map is divided into different genres ranging from horror films such as The Wicker Man, filmed partly in Plockton, to science fiction movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, which features Glen Nevis, as well as drama, action and more.

The guide, created by VisitScotland and Highland Council, also features a dedicated section on Skye which, in addition to providing the opening airport scene for Flash Gordon in 1980, has been a major draw to film-makers in recent years.

Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, Snow White And The Huntsman and the Gaelic language film Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle are among those to be filmed on Skye. It can also be seen in the forthcoming Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender.

Jenni Steele, film and creative industries marketing manager at VisitScotland, said: “This fantastic map is an indispensable guide to movies shot in the Highlands and on Skye.

“From Monty Python And The Holy Grail to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and from Local Hero to Braveheart, the spectacular scenery of the region has been a magnet for generations of film-makers.

“With set-jetting an ever more popular pastime, I’m sure even more people will be inspired to come to the Highlands after learning of its rich silver screen legacy.”

The map is available in VisitScotland information centres and will also be available to download.

Audrey Sinclair, chairman of Highland Council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee, said: “The Highlands has a great history of being used as a movie location and we also know this can be a significant factor in encouraging people to visit many parts of the Highlands to experience our fantastic scenery for themselves.

“With the last year seeing an increase in interest from movie-makers, it makes it all the more relevant for the council to have supported the production of this movie map which showcases many of the best Highland locations used in everything from movie classics to modern blockbusters.”

Related links: download the map as a PDF from visitscotland.com, and find out more about Film locations in Scotland at Visit Scotland.