The West Coast on Screen

Over the years, our beautiful nation has been showcased in some of the world’s finest productions of big and small screen. Featuring in the likes of Harry Potter, James Bond, World War Z and many others has helped bring thousands of tourist to the country each year. In fact, according to Visit Scotland, 20% of tourists decide to visit the country after seeing the nation on film or television.

The West Coast on Screen

With the west coast of Scotland’s unique beauty, it’s perhaps not surprising to find that the Hebridean and surrounding islands have been often seen as the perfect location for film and TV production.

Below is a short rundown of some of the great movies and films that have either been made, or are set on the west coast!

First on our list is the multiple award-winning ‘Entrapment’, released in 1999. Headlined by world renowned stars Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Entrapment is the story of an international art thief and an investigator who tries to ‘entrap’ him with a proposition to steal an invaluable piece of art.

With the robbery planned in Duart Castle, viewers get the perfect opportunity to see inside this legendary West Coast castle and its surroundings.

The next on our list is ‘When Eight Bells Toll’, an adaptation of Alisatair Maclean’s novel of the same name. In a similar ilk to Bond, When Eight Bells Toll is based around a British agent determined to locate a ship that has gone missing on the West Coast of Scotland. Throughout his search, viewers can see Mull’s Tobermory lighthouse, Duart Castle and Staffa’s Fingal’s Cave, all of which feature on our Three Isles Tour.

As well as in the film industry, the west coast of Scotland has also featured in several TV productions. The most famous inclusion is without doubt Balamory, a children’s TV showed produced between 2002 and 2005. Predominantly filmed in Tobermory, a small village on the Isle of Mull and renowned for its multi-coloured houses, Balamory was understood to increase tourism to Mull by 15.5% in 2005, 2006 and 2007, according to Visit Scotland.

Another TV show which has helped put the Hebridean islands on the map was ‘Islands on the Edge’, a documentary narrated by Ewan McGregor. The documentary series consists of four episodes which delve into the Hebridean islands wildlife, giving viewers an insight into the truly incredible species that live on these shores.

Nation-wide Scotland has played host to a number of impressive titles and will continue to do so, as the unique beauty and history that is our country provides film and TV producers with the perfect location for their movies and television shows. The titles we’ve looked at feature some of the West Coast’s most famous spots, including Duart Castle and Fingal’s Cave.

If you’d like to find out more about how you can experience these breath-taking locations for yourself, visit our three isles tour page for all the latest tour information.