Fort William, Glencoe & Lochaber: In The Movies! (Part 1)

Well it’s no secret how beautiful the Highlands of Scotland are, in particular Glencoe and Glen Nevis near Fort William and Ben Nevis offers some truly stunning scenery which picks you up by the scruff of the neck and says “Look!  Just look how beautiful I am!” before dropping you down in The Grog & Gruel for a pint and a dram.  Of course this fact has been long recognised by the international film industry who have chosen Lochaber and surrounding areas time and time again for some memorable moments on the silver screen.  So we thought over the coming weeks we’d give you a wee rundown of some of the most famous and some not so famous (which even the locals may not know about).

Many folk would be surprised to know that Alfred Hitchcock used a little poetic license in his film ‘The 39 Steps’ (1935) when his main character hops aboard The Flying Scotsmanwhich promptly shoots over the Forth Bridge immediately into….nope not Fife but Rannoch Moor in Glencoe with the Police hot on his heels.  If you’re in this area you should check out The Clachaig Inn for some fine grub, tunes and cracking ales (not necessarily in that order right enough!)  If you want to ride the west coast line in style you should check out The Jacobite Steam Train which will take you on a whistle-stop tour of some breathtaking sites between Fort William and Mallaig.

Now who hasn’t seen ‘Braveheart’?  You?  Right stop reading immediately and get to Blockbuster!  Go on, get!  Now the rest of you however I’m sure couldn’t help but be romanced by the unquestionable beauty of the setting for Mel Gibson’s 1995, famously inaccurate, Braveheart.  The americanisation of the tale of Sir William Wallace saw his true home of Lanark changed for the haunting yet beautiful Glencoe and Glen Nevis, a few miles outside Fort William. I remember auditioning as a child to be an extra in the film only to be told I lived too far away and it wouldn’t be practical.  If you ask me I think they were just worried about a podgy ginger kid sticking out like a sore thumb in impoverished 13th century Scotland!  Alas my career as an actor wasn’t to be.  Anyway If you’re looking for somewhere to stay a stones throw from where all this was filmed you should check out  our page here.

We’ll be bringing you more soon so keep your bloggin’ eyes peeled!