More than 100 Scottish film locations unveiled in new book

IT has long been a mecca for filmmakers, the windswept Highlands and picturesque lochs attracting big screen productions from all around the world. But now, a book which contains details of more than 100 films shot in Scotland over the decades is to be launched to capitalise on the growing trend of “set-jetting”.

A young 007 emulates Daniel Craig's pose in Skyfall

The publication, Set in Scotland: A Film Fan’s Odyssey, created by VisitScotland, gives visiting fans the chance to visit the Scottish locations of their favourite films including Skyfall, which features Glen Etive as James Bond’s ancestral home; 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film The 39 Steps, which includes the iconic Forth Bridge and Chariots of Fire which opens with a scene filmed on the beach in St Andrews.

The book also includes special sections on James Bond – the spy with the Glen Coe ancestry – and Bollywood, as well as honorary mentions for popular television series such as Outlander, Downton Abbey and Balamory.

It also details some of the more surprising places that Scotland has stood in for on the silver screen, including Argyll and Bute masquerading as Turkey, for the final helicopter chase scene from From Russia With Love; San Francisco, which was recreated in Glasgow as the location for Cloud Atlas and even the surface of Jupiter for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Children re-enact a scene from Local Hero. Picture: VisitScotland

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “The list of films and locations featured in Set in Scotland is not exhaustive, but the guide serves as a fantastic way to introduce visitors to our country’s many scene-stealing roles on the silver screen. It is a handy and fun way for people to enjoy a set-jetting holiday in Scotland, to follow in the footsteps of the stars and to find out why this country has inspired generations of film-makers.”

Professor Martin-Jones, who also provides the foreword to Set in Scotland, said: “Scotland has a tremendous heritage as a film location. It has provided unforgettable settings for some of the most iconic moments in film history. This helpful guide will allow visitors to experience these memorable locales first hand, turning memories of the silver screen into reality.”

In June 2015, Scotland was voted Best Cinematic Destination by readers of USA Today in an online poll, while research shows that 40 per cent of visitors to the UK are inspired to visit locations after seeing them on film or on television.

The book is available free of charge in VisitScotland Information Centres throughout the country, in branches of Waterstones and for download at visitscotland.com from today.