From charming Scottish family tales, to James Bond epics and period dramas, Scotland’s beloved rural landscape has played home to some of the most iconic characters in film and TV history. Find out about the films and TV shows you (probably) didn’t know were made in Scotland here.
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Scotland has been the location for various film and TV projects over the years. Photo: Shutterstock
. The Da Vinci Code, 2006
The murder thriller, based on Dan Brown’s best selling book, saw Tom Hanks as Professor Robert Langdon unravelling mysteries after a murder in Paris. A key scene in the movie was filmed at Rosslyn Chapel, which can be found at the south of the city. Dan Brown calls the location “the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth.” Photo: Shutterstock
. Downton Abbey, 2010
The 2012 Christmas special of the loved ITV drama was shot on location at Inveraray Castle in Argyll. The two hour special saw the Crawley family head north to Duneagle Castle, the fictional home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Flintshire. Photo: Shutterstock
. The Crown, 2016
The hit Netflix drama has seen several of its travelling shots filmed up north in Scotland. Slains Castle features in season two of the series, as well as Cruden Bay - standing in as Castle of Mey’s beach. Ardverikie House in the Cairngorms features as Balmoral Castle through every season of the show. Photo: Shutterstock
5. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, 2011
As the title suggests, large chunks of this film are set in Yemen, but the story follows the ambition of building a salmon fishery in the heart of the Yemen desert, and wealthy businessman, Sheikh, who is a big fan of salmon fishing in Scotland. They filmed large chunks of the scenes at the Ardverikie Estate, which is located near the Cairngorms. Photo: Shutterstock
6. What We Did on Our Holiday, 2014
The 2014 family film starring David Tennant and Billy Connolly is set in rural Scotland, and filmed on Red Point Beach in Wester Ross. The film follows the family travelling from London to their grandpa's 75th birthday. Photo: Shutterstock
7. Victoria, 2016
ITV’s period drama following the early years of Queen Victoria filmed in the north of Scotland for two weeks. Stars Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes spent two weeks filming at Blair Castle in Perthshire - a location that Queen Victoria actually visited numerous times. Photo: Shutterstock
8. The Harry Potter films, 2001 - 2011
The Harry Potter series filmed in various locations across the Highlands of Scotland. One of the most iconic shots is the Hogwarts Express travelling over Glenfinnan Viaduct. The Quidditch World Cup, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, is held at Steall Fall in Glen Nevis, and Eilean na Moinse and Loch Eilt feature heavily, including as Dumbledore’s final resting place. Photo: Shutterstock