Top 6 film and TV locations in and around North Berwick

North Berwick and the surrounding area is not only popular with tourists, but with filmmakers too. Revisit these old favourites and see if you can spot some familiar scenery.

• The Railway Man: Starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, The Railway Man is a true story following the life of World War 2 Prisoner of War, Eric Lomax. Filming in North Berwick took place on Milsey Bay and inside one of the houses overlooking Milsey Bay.

• Case Histories: Broadcast on the BBC in 2011 and 2013, Case Histories was based on Kate Atkinson’s novel series about a private investigator called Jackson Brodie. In the first episode of series 2, Jackson (played by Jason Isaacs) walks along Milsey Bay whilst talking to Tracy (played by Victoria Wood) about the guardianship of a child.

• Balamory: The popular children’s TV programme was mainly filmed in Tobermory. However, Fenton Tower, the 16th Century fortified tower which opened as a 5-star hotel in 2002, had an important role to play too. It will be familiar to all of Balamory‘s fans as Archie’s Castle, with the bright pink colour of the castle added in post-production.

• Under the Skin: Not one for the children, the 2013 science fiction film Under the Skin used Tantallon Castle as the ruins climbed by Scarlett Johannson and the quiet man. Adapted from Michel Faber’s 2000 novel of the same name, the film was ranked as number 61 in the BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.

• Shoebox Zoo: Given it’s impressive setting and imposing ruins, it’s no surprise Tantallon Castle has been used in another production. A childhood favourite, Shoebox Zoo was first broadcast on CBBC in 2004 and followed the adventures of 14 year-old Marnie McBride. She lived in Edinburgh and owned a shoebox zoo containing four model animals which came to life. The character of Michael Scot (played by Peter Mullan) stands at the top of Tantallon Castle and uses his magical staff to summon lightning bolts from the sky.

• Mary, Queen of Scots: It’s not just films from the past that include North Berwick and the surrounding area. Filming recently took place at Seacliff beach for the highly-anticipated Mary, Queen of Scots, due to be released in 2018. With Margot Robbie starring as Queen Elizabeth I, Saoirse Ronan as Mary Stuart and David Tennant as East Lothian’s own John Knox, it’s one not to miss.