Lights, camera, action

As well as serving as one of Scotland’s most impressive strongholds, Blackness Castle is no stranger to the silver screen with starring roles in films such as Mary Queen of Scots and Outlaw King, as well as the ever-popular television series Outlander. 

Visitors can enjoy watching arena shows all about life on a film set. Performers will be showing off their weaponry skills and visitors will be able to take part and learn the techniques used in fight choreography throughout the day. There will also be some famous horses to meet who have had starring roles on screen and will be showing off the tricks and skills they use in an exciting arena show. 

Visitors will get to meet some extras and hear all about their experiences on set before going into the makeup chair and getting their own special effects wounds applied. There will be the opportunity to explore a medieval set and meet the production departments that are involved in on-site filming, by yourself or with a dedicated set tour. Stunt directors will also be on site and visitors can try their hand at being a stunt person. Inside the castle itself, visitors can try and spot Blackness Castle in the famous Mary, Queen of Scots 2018 film and get a glimpse of the dresses and make-up that people would have worn during Mary, Queen of Scots lifetime. 

Gillian Urquhart, Events Manager at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said:

“On Location at Blackness Castle is a unique opportunity for visitors to not only find out more about how the castle has featured on film, but also what goes on behind the scenes of a film set on location. Many of our sites are used as filming locations, and it’s incredible to see the amount of work and effort that goes into transforming our historic sites for the big screen. Why not take a peek behind the scenes and see for yourself?” 

On Location will take place at Blackness Castle on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August from 12pm to 4pm. 

Entry is free for Historic Scotland members. Members can also collect History Hunt Cards, a series of seven cards looking at the various types of sites, including fortresses, settlements and towers, when they visit staffed sites. A full set can be exchanged for a pin badge only available through the Hunt. 

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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