Why Fabulous Fife in Scotland is a great location for filmmaking!

In this BrightWolf Big Five episode our production team look at some of the amazing locations Fife has to offer.

https://youtu.be/dPZAAYhQ60k

Join us as we explore Fife’s stunning filming locations! From the historic Dunfermline Abbey, featured in Outlaw King, to the picturesque village of Culross, a favourite in Outlander, Fife offers a rich tapestry of cinematic backdrops. Discover St. Andrews’ iconic spots seen in The Crown, and Falkland Palace, a versatile royal residence. Plus, don’t miss Aberdour Castle and the charming fishing village of Crail. These locations are perfect for any production seeking authenticity and history.  🎥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

A huge thanks to Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland for allowing access and for supplying footage of various locations.

The full transcript is below:

Hello and welcome to another episode of the BrightWolf Big Five! Once again, we’re out and about, exploring locations, and this time we’re in the fabulous Kingdom of Fife. So stick with us, and remember to like and subscribe!

Today, we’re across the River Forth from Edinburgh, here in Fife. We start with Dunfermline Abbey and Palace, the site of Robert the Bruce’s burial. In the grounds, you can find the ancient palace walls. Inside the nave of the abbey, you’ll see a magnificent columned hallway, which was used in the Netflix film Outlaw King, directed by David Mackenzie and starring Chris Pine. They used it as a stand-in for Westminster Abbey, and you can just see how it could easily double as a throne room or a cathedral. It’s right in the heart of Dunfermline, with great access to parking, transportation, and all the services you could need.

Right next to the Abbey is Pittencrieff Park, gifted to the people by Dunfermline’s most philanthropic son, U.S. steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

Next, we’re off to Culross, a village that feels frozen in time. With its cobbled streets, picturesque houses, and historic abbey, Culross has become a favorite for filmmakers looking to capture the essence of 16th-century Scotland. One quirky feature here is a power substation that’s inside what looks like a 16th-century building! Culross has appeared in the TV series Outlander numerous times and was recently used for the filming of the prequel, Blood of My Blood, coming soon.

Whether you’re working on a historical drama, a fantasy series, or a romantic period piece, Culross provides an unparalleled setting. The cobbled streets and unique houses look just as they did centuries ago. Kidnapped (1971), Captain America: The First Avenger (in deleted scenes), and The Little Vampire (2000) starring Richard E. Grant have all filmed here.

Next, we head to St Andrews, the ancient home of golf. This town was used most recently in the Netflix series The Crown and has some beautiful streets, perfect for depicting 1950s Scotland or even medieval times at the cathedral and castle. These castle ruins provide a rugged backdrop for any film needing a touch of history or intrigue. West Sands Beach, which is just nearby, is famous for being featured in the opening scene of the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire by Hugh Hudson. St Andrews handles big productions and large events comfortably—just look at the women’s golf open that was being set up while we were there.

Venturing inland, we head to Falkland Palace, a royal location with Renaissance charm that was once home to the Stuart Kings and Queens of Scotland. Mary, Queen of Scots, even played tennis here! Falkland itself was used in Outlander and other BBC drama series. Its old Scottish charm, with white-washed walls, made it a perfect stand-in for 1940s Scotland in Season 1 of Outlander and 1960s Inverness in later seasons. The palace has beautiful interiors with incredible period details and lovely gardens, making it a versatile location for many different historical periods. The front of the palace could easily double as a French chateau.

Next, we have Aberdour Castle, a fabulous 12th-century location. With amazing access, right next to a railway station, and only 30 minutes from Edinburgh, it’s ideal for filming. It features a stunning complete house exterior, a dove cot, and a ruined section perfect for a castle or prison scene. It was also used in Outlander for Jamie’s recovery from his imprisonment. It’s one of our favorite spots—hugely versatile and genuinely a lovely space to work in.

And that’s it for our Big Five locations in Fabulous Fife! But wait, we have one extra for you: Crail, a lovely period fishing village. Crail has a dramatic seawall and an enclosed harbor that bump up against steep streets and small alleys. It’s along the coastal route, making it very accessible and definitely worth a look if you’re filming in the area. It’s rich in character, similar to Culross, and has that charming, picturesque vibe that makes it an ideal location for any period film.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this quick tour of Fabulous Fife’s top filming locations. If you’d like us to bring you more, please support the channel by liking and subscribing. See you next time!

Useful Links:

Official Scottish Film Organisations:

Abertay University Viper Room
Screen Scotland
Film Edinburgh
TayScreen and FifeScreen

Other Useful Sites

BrightWolf Films ( our brand, commercials): www.brightwolf.co.uk
Encaptivate Films (drama and broadcast): www.encaptivate.co.uk 
Film Bang (Scotlands Online directory for crew and producers): www.filmbang.com