Lights, Camera, Action! in the Cairngorms

The dramatic landscape of the Cairngorms National Park provides an ideal backdrop for the camera. You may be surprised to discover that some of the biggest movies and dramas have been filmed here…
The latest film to hit the big screen is Mary Queen of Scots starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. You can walk in their footsteps and visit the incredible filming locations right here in the Cairngorms National Park.

Here we look at 12 film locations in the Cairngorms.

1. Mary Queen of Scots

Hitting the big screens in 2019, the Mary Queen of Scots film is based on John Guy’s biography “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart.” Starring Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan as the duelling Queens, parts were filmed in the Strathdon and Glen Feshie areas of the Cairngorms National Park. Saoirse Ronan spoke of the beauty of the Cairngorms on the BBC1 One Show spending time in Glen Feshie, Aviemore and then Strathdon.

2. Outlaw King

Due for release by NetFlix on the 9th November, parts of Outlaw King were filmed on the shores of Loch an Eilein. The film tells the story of Robert the Bruce and stars Chris Pine. Many local people were involved as extras and it was quite a sight to behold to see the lochside turned into a township and the men in costume marching.

3. Outlander

The Highland Folk Museum and Tullochgrue at Rothiemurchus were both used in the filming of this very popular historical drama by Diana Gabaldon. The old township at the Highland Folk Museum was the setting for certain scenes. You can visit this amazing place between April and October and feel like you’ve travelled back in time.

4. Victoria

Episode 7 of the ITV drama features Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire which Queen Victoria visited often during her reign. The castle hosted the cast and crew in June 2017 for two weeks of filming. Two of the estate’s native Highland ponies saw their first starring role as Victoria and Albert’s personal ponies. Several Atholl Highlanders, the regiment which Queen Victoria herself founded, also feature in the episode.

5. Mrs Brown

This 1997 film based on Queen Victoria was partly filmed on the Ardverikie Estate. Based on the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown her royal servant, the film starring Judy Dench and Billy Connelly features the Ardverikie Estate near Laggan in the West of the Cairngorms National Park.

6. Centurion

This British historical action-war film was partly filmed in the GlenFeshie area near Kincraig. Set in Britain, A.D. 117. Quintus Dias, the sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Virilus’ legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the Earth in this dramatic production.

7. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

This romantic drama starring Ewan McGregor was partly filmed on Ardverikie Estate and at Loch Laggan.

8. The Queen

This 2006 British film starring Helen Mirren was partly filmed at Balmoral Estate. It follows the series of events resulting from the death of Princess Diana when the Queen decided it was best they remain in Scotland at Balmoral.

9. Brave

Disney/Pixar’s 3D animation ‘Brave’ was heavily influenced by the landscapes, wildlife, myths and legends of the Cairngorms National Park.

10. The Crown

This Netflix original telling the story of young Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was filmed in several locations around the Park including Glenfeshie Estate, Balmoral Estate and Ardverikie Estate. The crew and cast returned to film series 2 in 2017.

11. Monarch of the Glen

Filmed at Arderikie Estate and using the villages of Newtonmore and Kingussie as well as the train station at Nethy Bridge known as ‘Glen Bogle’, this was a very popular long running drama loosely based on Sir Compton Mackenzie’s Highland Novels.

12. Victoria & Abdul

Victoria and Abdul hit the big screen in 2017 and tells the story of Queen Victoria and her Indian servant Abdul Karim. Filmed around Glenfeshie in the Cairngorms.