Floors Castle in the movies

Films from all around the world have shot been in Scotland. Its rich array of film locations include ancient mountain ranges, mysterious stone circles, lush green glens, deep lochs, castles, stately homes, and vibrant cities complete with festivals, bustling streets and colourful night life. Little wonder the country has attracted filmmakers and cinemagoers since the movies began. This guide provides an introduction to just some of the many Scottish locations seen on the silver screen.

Scottish Borders

The inimitable landscape of the Scottish Borders always looks fantastic on screen, with a number of film-makers drawn to its sweeping valleys and rolling hills. And with the opening of the new Borders Railway in September 2015, its movie locations are more accessible than ever.

Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1912 novel, Tarzan of the Apes, Hugh Hudson directed a pre-Highlander Christopher Lambert as he grappled with the role of literature’s most famous loincloth-wearing vine-swinger in the snappily titled Greystoke – the Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (Hugh Hudson, 1984).

Having been raised by primates in the African jungle following the death of his parents, the re-christened “Jean” is shipped over to his family’s stately home in England. In reality, the stately home was actually in Scotland, with the magnificent 18th-century Floors Castle in Kelso being used for the exterior and ballroom shots of Greystoke. Home to the tenth Duke of Roxburghe, the five-star attraction has welcomed more than a million visitors since it first opened to the public in 1977. The castle, which dates back to 1721, boasts beautiful grounds, including walkways along the River Tweed, a vast array of outstanding outdoor activities, stunning architecture and, perhaps most importantly, a coffee shop.

As well as a stately home in Scotland masquerading as a stately home based south of the Border, a number of other things in the film weren’t quite as they seemed, with the distinctive southern drawl of Jane (Andie MacDowell) being dubbed over in post-production by Glenn Close – truly a breathtaking performance.