Popular locations for filmmakers

Linlithgow Palace is a major Renaissance ruin and the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. The roofless structure has wide courtyards, stair towers, and lochside views, making it highly adaptable for period or fantasy productions. Its open central square and fountain provide useful natural staging areas, while the surrounding parkland allows good access for unit bases and crew movement. The palace has featured in several large scale shoots, including Outlaw King.  

Located 30 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and one hour from Glasgow, it combines visual impact with practical accessibility. 

Glasgow Cathedral is a complete medieval building with a vaulted nave, stone crypt, and restored stained glass. Situated in central Glasgow, it provides a large, controllable interior within walking distance of production facilities and transport links. Its structure and lighting conditions suit both historical and contemporary filming. The cathedral has been used in features such as Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, as well as factual and documentary work requiring an authentic Gothic setting. 

Hermitage Castle stands in the Borders near Newcastleton, an hour from Carlisle. Its strong medieval design with thick walls and twin archways makes it ideal for portraying fortified or isolated settings. The castle is remote but accessible by road, with open land nearby for crew setup. The building’s intact lower chambers and dramatic exterior have proved valuable for period and historical reconstruction filming and documentaries.  

Tantallon Castle sits on an exposed clifftop overlooking the North Sea, about an hour from Edinburgh Airport. The large outer wall, inner courtyard, and coastal position offer flexibility for exterior filming with open space for equipment and vehicles. Its scale and location make it suitable for battle sequences or character-led work set against a coastal backdrop. The site has previously been used in productions including Under the Skin. 

Blackness Castle projects into the Firth of Forth and has a distinctive ship-like outline. Its mix of towers, courtyards, and water views provides strong visual variety in a compact footprint. The site is 20 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and has long been popular with film and TV productions including Outlander and Doomsday. Easy access and proximity to transport routes make it one of the most serviceable heritage locations in the central belt. 

Located within Edinburgh, Craigmillar Castle offers a wide range of internal rooms, corridors, and open courtyards. Its condition allows for safe and flexible filming, with space for lighting and camera setups across multiple levels. The site’s accessibility and facilities make it a practical choice for large and small crews alike. Drama productions including Outlander and Outlaw King have used Craigmillar for its mix of preserved interiors and atmospheric setting close to the city centre.  

Caerlaverock Castle is a distinctive triangular fortress with a surrounding moat and drawbridge. It lies about an hour from Carlisle and offers extensive exterior space for camera movement and unit setup. Its accessibility and strong visual identity have made it a consistent choice for historical and documentary projects while also featuring in feature film The Decoy Bride.  

Ruthven Barracks overlooks the River Spey, around an hour from Inverness Airport. The site’s elevated position and open setting give clear lines of sight in all directions. Its remains include barrack walls, arches, and stairways suitable for atmospheric or action based filming. The location’s historical association with the Jacobite uprisings offers built-in context for period productions, while its surrounding landscape works well for establishing shots and drone work and is often popular with fashion photography.  

Dumbarton Castle occupies a volcanic outcrop above the River Clyde, 20 minutes from Glasgow Airport. The site contains multiple buildings, courtyards, and defensive walls across different levels, offering a variety of exterior options in one controlled location. The mix of military and natural features makes it suitable for both historical drama and contemporary action scenes. Its close proximity to Glasgow provides easy access to crew, transport, and production facilities. 

Tullibardine Chapel is a preserved medieval structure in a quiet rural setting, about an hour from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. The chapel’s interior and surrounding open ground lend themselves to reflective or small scale scenes. The simplicity of the space allows for flexible camera work and lighting control. Its accessibility and low footfall make it practical for productions needing an intimate, historic location. 

Doune Castle offers large internal rooms, battlements, and a central courtyard that have made it a long-standing favourite for film and TV. It has appeared in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Outlander, and Game of Thrones. The site combines visual authenticity with good access and facilities, sitting under an hour from both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports supporting a wide range of production types.

Newark Castle sits beside the River Clyde near Port Glasgow, around 20 minutes from Glasgow Airport. The building’s exterior stonework and restored interiors make it suitable for both period and modern filming. Riverside lawns provide space for supporting vehicles and equipment. The castle’s accessible location and mix of interior and exterior settings offer strong practical advantages for production planning. 

Dirleton Castle, under an hour from Edinburgh Airport, combines a dry moat, drawbridge, and surrounding gardens. The structure includes a range of intact and roofless areas suitable for interior and exterior filming. Gardens and lawns can support controlled shoots requiring natural backdrops. The site’s manageable size and proximity to the capital make it a convenient option for single day or multi day production schedules.

Located less than an hour from Aberdeen Airport, Huntly Castle features carved stonework, arched doorways, and multi-level ruins with good accessibility. The mix of surviving interiors and open courtyards makes it adaptable for a range of filming styles. The sites features are well-suited to historical or character led productions needing distinctive architecture without major logistical barriers. 

Jedburgh Abbey offers an extensive roofless nave, cloisters, and gardens that suit largescale or atmospheric shoots. The combination of Romanesque and Gothic detail gives visual depth to wide and close framing. The site is around an hour from both Edinburgh and Newcastle Airports, providing strong cross border access. Open sightlines and adjacent public areas allow for flexible camera positioning and control 

Aberdour Castle, one of Scotland’s oldest, includes restored interiors, a walled garden, and usable service facilities. The site provides, parking, and space for crew vehicles. Located 30 minutes from Edinburgh Airport, it offers both practicality and visual range for productions. Its internal layout supports dialogue and period sequences, while the garden and courtyard add flexibility for exterior work. 

Claypotts Castle, in Dundee, is a compact late-16th-century building with an unusual turreted form. Restored interiors allow for controlled filming in small spaces, while its city location gives easy access to crew and support. The distinctive Z-plan design provides strong visual definition for both historical and stylised storytelling. 

Interested in filming at one of our sites? Contact our dedicated team to find out more about using any of our properties as a filming location, or read our guide for more information.

Enquire about Filming

A guide to filming at the sites we manage