Famous Film and TV Locations in Scotland

For some travellers, the inspiration for a trip to Scotland starts with a photograph.

For others, it's a scene.

Perhaps it's Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express crossing a Highland viaduct. James Bond driving through the mountains. Claire and Jamie walking through a Scottish village in Outlander. Or the streets of Edinburgh suddenly becoming the backdrop for a Marvel blockbuster.

Scotland has a habit of making an impression on screen, and travellers are coming here to experience those locations for themselves.

The great thing about doing it in Scotland is that your film itinerary doesn't need to feel like a checklist. Many of the locations sit within some of the country's most beautiful landscapes and spectacular driving routes.

So you can come for the films and discover an entire Scottish adventure along the way.

Start With the Stories You Love

One of the easiest ways to build a film and TV-inspired Scotland tour is to start with the productions that mean something to you.

Harry Potter? Head towards Edinburgh, Glenfinnan and the Highlands.

Outlander? Combine castles and historic sites around Stirling, Fife and Perthshire.

James Bond? Take to the roads through Glen Coe and Glen Etive.

Marvel? Spend time exploring Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Traitors? Make the Highlands and Inverness part of your journey.

Or perhaps you're less interested in one particular production and more interested in experiencing Scotland as you've seen it on screen. That's where a private driver-guided tour can make a real difference.

Rather than building your entire trip around film locations, we can use them as the starting point and then build an itinerary around everything else you want to experience.

Harry Potter: From Edinburgh to the Highlands

Scotland's connection with Harry Potter goes far beyond Hogwarts itself.

Begin in Edinburgh, where Victoria Street is often associated with the inspiration for Diagon Alley, and visit Greyfriars Kirkyard, where Harry Potter fans seek out the gravestone of Tom Riddle.

Then head north.

The real highlight for many fans is Glenfinnan Viaduct, where the Jacobite Steam Train crosses the famous 21-arched railway bridge surrounded by Highland scenery (be sure to check the train timetable).

The journey itself is an experience, taking you through the dramatic landscapes of the West Highlands towards Mallaig. Add in Glencoe, where you'll find another important Harry Potter filming location, and the Jacobite Museum in Glenfinnan, and you can turn a few recognisable scenes into several memorable days in Scotland.

Outlander: History Brought to Life

If Harry Potter introduces visitors to Scotland's landscapes, Outlander introduces them to its history. And that's what makes following the show's locations particularly rewarding.

Doune Castle is perhaps the essential stop. The medieval stronghold became Castle Leoch, home of Clan Mackenzie, and remains one of the most recognisable Outlander locations in Scotland.

Then there's the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, where the reconstructed 18th-century Highland township appeared in the series.

Further south, Linlithgow Palace became Wentworth Prison, while Blackness Castle was used as both Fort William and Inverness Jail.

What makes this route particularly interesting is that you're not simply moving between film locations. You're travelling through the real history that inspired so much of Outlander in the first place.

Castles, battlefields, historic villages and landscapes can all become part of the same journey.

James Bond: Take the Scenic Route

In Skyfall, Bond travels north into the Highlands, with the spectacular scenery around Glen Coe and Glen Etive providing the backdrop.

This is one of those occasions where the journey is every bit as important as the destination.

Take your time on the roads through the glens and you'll find dramatic mountains, waterfalls, lochs and viewpoints around almost every corner.

You can even visit the location associated with Bond's famous roadside scene in Glen Etive.

And if you're travelling with a private driver-guide, there's no need to worry about navigating the winding Highland roads yourself. You can concentrate on the scenery, stop when something catches your eye and let someone else handle the driving.

Which feels considerably more Bond than wrestling with a rental car.

Edinburgh: Where Scotland Meets Hollywood

Edinburgh has featured in everything from Marvel blockbusters to historical dramas, but the city itself is often the star.

In Avengers: Infinity War, the Old Town became the setting for a major action sequence, with Waverley Station, Cockburn Street, the Royal Mile and St Giles' Cathedral appearing on screen.

But Edinburgh offers plenty for film lovers beyond Marvel.

Or perhaps you're more drawn to romance than superheroes. You may recognise Edinburgh's medieval streets and Georgian architecture from the likes of One Day – or, for horror fans, Frankenstein.

And because so many of the locations sit within the city centre, they can easily be incorporated into a wider Edinburgh experience rather than requiring an entire day dedicated to filming locations.

The Traitors: Into the Highlands

You don't need to be a superfan of The Traitors to understand why the Scottish Highlands were chosen as its setting.

The combination of historic architecture, enormous landscapes and unpredictable weather creates exactly the kind of atmosphere the programme needs.

Ardross Castle, north of Inverness, is the show's famous castle setting, while the surrounding Highland landscape provides the backdrop for many of its challenges.

Although Ardross Castle itself is privately owned, the wider region opens up an enormous range of possibilities for visitors.

Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns and the Cairngorms can all form part of a Highland itinerary based around Inverness.

And thankfully, nobody gets killed off after dinner.

Beyond the Big Names

The list doesn't stop with Harry Potter, Bond, Marvel, Outlander and The Traitors.

Scotland has appeared in an extraordinary range of productions.

The Batman used Glasgow's gothic architecture to create Gotham City.

Chariots of Fire brought St Andrews to the big screen.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail made Doune Castle part of cinematic history.

And productions including Spiderman, The Flash, Outlaw King, Mary Queen of Scots, The Crown and Sunshine on Leith have all used Scottish locations to tell their stories.

For film and tv lovers, that means there's almost no limit to how specific you can make your journey.

Famous Film and TV Locations in Scotland

This is where we think film-inspired travel gets really interesting.

You can visit Glenfinnan because you love Harry Potter. But while you're there, why not explore the West Highlands?

You can visit Doune Castle because you watched Outlander. But why not continue through Stirling, Perthshire and the Highlands?

You can follow Bond through Glen Coe. But why stop there when you're surrounded by some of Scotland's most spectacular landscapes?

The film location is the reason you arrive. Scotland is the reason you stay.

That's how we approach film and TV-inspired journeys at DFH Scotland Tours.

Our driver-guides know the locations, but more importantly, they know what lies between them.

They can bring the stories to life, share the history behind the landscapes and help you discover places that might never have appeared on screen.

Build Your Own Film & TV Tour of Scotland

Your trip doesn't have to be entirely dedicated to just famous film & TV locations in Scotland.

Perhaps you want a Harry Potter day alongside a few days of whisky and castles. Maybe your Outlander interests sit alongside golf, fine dining and the Scottish Highlands. Perhaps you want to follow James Bond through Glen Coe before heading west to the islands. Or maybe you're travelling with a group where everyone has different interests.

That's exactly where a private, bespoke Scotland tour comes into its own.

At DFH, we can take the films, shows and locations you're passionate about and build them into a wider Scottish itinerary designed around your group.

The best Scotland tours are the one's which bring together the stories, landscapes, experiences and people that make the trip yours.

Tell us which films, television shows or Scottish locations have inspired your trip, and we'll help turn them into a private driver-guided journey through Scotland.

Explore our A Film & TV Lover's Guide to Exploring Scotland or get in touch to start planning your bespoke Scotland tour.

GET IN TOUCH