Outlander Locales: Stirling

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Janet Canning

Castle Stirling

Stirling has been a hotbed for filming these past few years. Filled with history, Robert the Bruce Country, and amazing forests and hillwalking opportunities and many woods and exterior opportunities make it a great place to film. Although crews work tirelessly at all hours and under weather conditions from snow and ice to heat and full on midge attacks, the beauty and hospitality of the area make it a fantastic shoot. Not to mention the fabulous Stirling Castle, with some of the best living history examples I have seen at an estate. Stirling and the surrounding area boast several locations for Outlander filming, including recent filming for Season 5. Oh, and then there are a few films, like the recent Netfix film, Outlaw King, that have filmed in the surrounding areas.

Doune as Castle Leoch

Fall is one of the most spectacular times in Scotland. The tourist numbers go down a bit, and with recent climate changes there have been Indian Summer days a plenty. However it’s still a country of four seasons in a day, so pack accordingly. Stirling is a great place for hillwalking, and locations like Mine Woods, where some of Season 5 has been filmed, is just one such area to have a peaceful ramble.

Doune Castle as Winterfell

And if you are a fan of great series and film, why not check out the surrounding areas for your favorites. And many other Outlander and other filming locations are within an hour of the city. The city is reachable by train and there are some public buses and touring companies that can get you to these sites.

Doune Castle – You know it as Castle Leoch, has also been Winterfell in S1 of Game of Thrones, and Monty Python’s The French Castle.
Dunblane Cathedral – Near Doune Castle. S4 Kirkyard burial.
Drummond Castle Gardens – S2 Gardens at Versaille Outlander GREAT FALL COLORS!
Abercairney Estates – Creiff S4, S5 Plantation River Run
Bridge of Allan (Mine Woods) – Wolfs Hole Quarry S5 Regulators camp
Cambusbarron – Stirling Outlying village and woods area.
Touch House, Touch Estate, Stirling S2 Culloden House Outlander
Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling S2 Roger and Bree meet Geillis Duncan

Links

Stirling Films and Map

12 Movies Filmed in Scotland by Hillwalk Tours

Outlander Locations Listing

Outlander Lallybroch Filming Rescheduled for September?

Cambusbarron, Stirling Area Night Shoot August 9, 2019

Outlander Season 5 Bridge of Allan Night Shoot May 6, 2019

Game of Thrones Tours 2019 Northern Ireland

Posted on May 12, 2019 by Janet Canning

One of our most beloved television series, Game of Thrones, is concluding it’s 8 season run this coming week. To celebrate, fans from around the world are flocking to Belfast and Norther Ireland for touring. I’ve written about the joys of touring based on film and television fan travel in the past. This year even more places abound, with fans of Game of Thrones completing the journey. The current and final season now showing, with only two episodes left, were filmed in Northern Ireland, Croatia, and at the studios of Titanic Studios, located in the harbor of Belfast in the Titanic shipyards. Now that production is done, you can tour the studio area as well as take some tours to the filming locations.

Titanic studios are also hosts to two great attractions, The Titanic Belfast Museum, and the SS Nomadic. And if you travel to this wee ship, the last of the Star line, you may catch a glimpse of actor Duncan Lacroix (Outlander, GOT) shoveling coal in one of his earlier acting gigs.

Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition is now open in Belfast through September 2019. An amazing costumes and props exhibition encompassing the series 8 seasons, highly recommended. It goes on tour again in October and may hit a city near you. Some tours from Dublin are including this in their itinerary. Check if you need to purchase viewing separate from tour.

Tours

Want to dress up a bit? Visit filming locations and totally geek out? Here are a few companies just for you:

Game of Thrones Tours

Winterfell Tours

Stones and Thrones

Kings Landing is filmed in Croatia. Tours are here https://www.kingslandingdubrovnik.com/game-of-thrones-tours

Keep in mind that the tours with smaller vans will be better at getting into places and more intimate. The Dark Hedges may be blocked soon, as the beech trees are getting more damaged with tourism, and the trees themselves are coming to an end of life. Park in the actual car park and don’t ruin the view for others. Please check tour review sites for feedback. Since this is the season after the last season of GOT, many of the tours are booked through fall, and it is recommended that you book early online if possible.

Self Guided GOT Tours

There are several resources for finding locations by yourself for a much more quiet and intimate experience.

Self Guided Tours

Croatia King’s Landing Map

Game of Thrones Doors Map

These unique doors were created as a result of a couple of the Dark Hedges trees coming down in a storm. Now you can travel N. Ireland and visit many locations where the doors, each uniquely carved, have been put to use.

Northern Ireland GOT Map

Fandom filming locations article, links to episodes information

These Fangirls are diehards. Read their locations guide here.

Article on sites

The Gregory: Belfast Accommodations

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Janet Canning

The Gregory Bed and Breakfast, Belfast Northern Ireland

30 Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, BT9 6DX, United Kingdom ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ £ £ £ Moderate

One of the best, most comfortable accommodations I had on this last trip was The Gregory in Belfast. I had a quick 48 hour stay and needed a safe place to stay and be able to walk or bus from where I was. I found a place in a great neighborhood by the university, and plenty of local entertainment, including The Cuckoo club around the corner, owned by a GOT alum (Nairn).

I was going on a great tour for one of my days on the trip, a Game of Thrones Tour that would encompass one whole day. I needed a safe, quiet space to rest from travel and get plenty of sleep the night before. This was just the place. Large, spacious room, good flooring and carpet. The decor was not too loud, fairly neutral. The bathroom was very good, plenty of room to turn around in. The heaters were great, yeah summer in Northern Ireland. The bed was very comfortable, one of the few I didn’t have to use the duvet as padding for. The meals in the restaurant were okay for breakfast, accommodating for early departures if you order the breakfast.

The shower was well kept and the at the source heater worked well with a good flow. My room faced the back, with a side window that looked on a nice red brick next to the hotel with a good garden space. The restaurant was very accommodating in the am for early departure on tour.

Local food was very good, being by Queen’s University there were plenty of restaurants to choose from and since school was out for the summer, seating was quick. Remember student restaurants equals great foodie fun and portions. Not all are equal so check the local apps and Yelp.com for reviews. I ate at Molly’s Yard with a huge curry chips I could never finish.

Great price for the comfort, private and crashable after a day long tour. Would definitely stay again.

If you have more time, take the Art Walk Tours of the political murals and community murals in Belfast. Great insight to the wonderful city and it’s history.

Links

https://irishtourtickets.com/game-of-thrones-tour-from-belfast/

Belfast Blast: 48 Hours in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Movie Tourism: Infinity War and Star Wars Last Jedi ReDoux

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Janet Canning

Infinity War

Just a heads up, if you haven’t already read or heard, the Marvel’s Avengers series latest installment is filming in Edinburgh, Scotland this month. Lucky enough to be traveling there this month? Keep eyes peeled in Old Town. Lucky bystanders have already seen a few characters in the streets and their stunt doubles. If you missed out on the hit series Outlander that finished filming there just recently, you can check out this film crew and if you are lucky you may spot some stars. Plus, if it’s like all the Trainspotting 1 and 2 unofficial signage I found, someone will put up a posting on some pole telling you what scenes were filmed there. Last summer I walked the unofficial Trainspotting walk. Sadly my next trip is in summer and I won’t get to see souped up spandex running around, sigh.

So how do you get to know where filming is taking place and when? In previous posts I have told you that most counties have film boards and if you keep up with checking their sites before you go, you can find out ahead of time. The country or specific city you are traveling to just may have a film or series being shot there. It’s film tourism, and a lot more people are doing it.

Many people visit a country or place after seeing it in a film or series. Movies are great tourism boosters. Countries can benefit from fees charged for filming locations and permits, in the millions with permits. Plus it’s one very big tourist advert they didn’t have to pay for. Local papers will run stories and yes, many people love to be extras. You can travel the world and be an extra if you have the right CV and set up. Great way to tour by working your way through extra work if you can line up enough gigs and have the right visas. But this film tourism can have some drawbacks for your everyday traveller. If you had planned you visit well in advance and suddenly something you had wanted to cross off your bucket list was being used for filming, you may be really unhappy when you show up. A castle you planned on seeing may be covered in movie set. I happen to think this is fun, and many do. Oh, and don’t forget the housing. When a production rolls into town, they have to house actors and many extras if the extras aren’t all local. Some extras know local “extra” friends and well, bunk up. But suddenly you have hundreds needing housing for a film and there’s no room at the inn. Book ahead.

But if you are a purist, you should check any historical site you plan to visit prior to going. So, check with local film boards and filming locations websites. Do a query on filming in “blank” country or city and see what you can pull up before your trip. Most people love watching the filming and hoping to catch a glimpse of the magic world of entertainment. Hey, you may get lucky and get an autograph if you collect those.

But if You Are a Star Wars Fan…

Danger there is…

So the new installment of the franchise, The Last Jedi, has wrapped on filming in Summer 2016 and in production. However… there are reshoots! What’s a reshoot? Just like it sounds. A film in production decided it needs rework or extra work to get it just right. So that means you actor tourists can get another chance at this one. Filming for the reshoots begins in May-June in both Ireland and Scotland, so check out. If you are a theatre major or just thought you would have fun, try getting on at https://www.universalextras.co.uk/.

And always wear your super suit, I do.

Star Wars Last Jedi Reshoots and Extras (May-June 2017)

Avengers filming to generate £10m for Edinburgh (Now)

Spider-Man’s Tom Holland Talks Filming Avengers: Infinity War

On Location Vacations Caters to those who like to know where filming is taking place for big films and future release news. Keep in mind that smaller or non-blockbuster American films may not get mention here so still check with a country’s film board.

British Films Directory

Irish Films in Production

Scottish Films Film Bang Directory. If you are curious how companies film in a general area, check out film directories like this to give you a glimpse in the industry.

Film Studios also list what is in production and have press releases. Check them out:

Pinewood / Shepperton / Teddington Studios

Ealing Studios

Elstree Film Studios

Wardpark Studios, Scotland

Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden

Longcross Studios

3 Mills Studios

Wimbledon Studios

Ardmore Studios (Ireland)