Skyfall & James Bond

Ever wondered about 007's bond with Scotland? Aside from beautiful women and ingenious gadgets, stunning locations are a key ingredient in James Bond films and Sam Mendes' Skyfall (2012) is the fourth film to feature Scotland's jaw-dropping landscapes.

Starring Daniel Craig as 007, Skyfall sees the secret agent returning to his Scottish roots, with the main part of the action taking place at Bond's family home, Skyfall Lodge, which is located in awe-inspiring Glen Coe.

James Bond's Scottish heritage

It's no accident that Bond's family estate is located in Glen Coe. Ian Fleming, James Bond's creator, was reportedly so impressed by Sean Connery's portrayal of his most famous character in Dr No (1962) that he gave Bond some Scottish heritage.

In the novel You Only Live Twice Fleming reveals that, as a boy, 007 attended Fettes College - a private school in Edinburgh - whilst the iconic setting for Bond's family estate in Skyfall comes directly from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - the film in which Bond reveals that his father is originally from Glencoe.

James Bond film locations in Scotland

Skyfall locations

Stob Dearg, Buachaille Etive Mor

Scenes from Skyfall were shot in Glen Coe as well as in nearby Glen Etive. In a driving sequence filmed in the Highlands on the A82 near the striking peaks of Buachaille Etive Mor (pictured) and Buachaille Etive Beag, the secret agent's iconic Aston Martin DB5 manages to get upstaged by the stunning atmospheric scenery. The Scottish setting continues to play a leading role in the exhilarating events which follow.

Other Bond locations

Gare Loch

In The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde, located on the eastern shore of Gare Loch in Argyll, is the setting of a key moment in the movie. In one of the few occasions he is seen wearing full navy uniform, Commander Bond (Roger Moore) discovers that the loss of British submarines is no accident, but a sinister plot by the evil Stromberg (Curd Jurgens).

Eilean Donan Castle

Eilean Donan Castle (pictured) has an unforgettable cameo in The World is Not Enough when it serves as the Scottish headquarters of MI6. The film's producers fully embraced the Scottish connection, with Q (Desmond Llewelyn) giving Bond (Pierce Brosnan) a demonstration of bagpipes that double as a machine gun. Edinburgh-born Shirley Manson, the lead singer of Garbage, also performed the theme song The World Is Not Enough.

Loch Craignish

From Russia With Love (1963) saw Bond (Sean Connery) and beautiful Russian agent Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) being pursued by sinister SPECTRE agents in a speed boat in Turkey. Unbeknownst to the vast majority of cinema goers, due to filming difficulties, the final boat chase scene was actually shot on Loch Craignish, near Crinan, Argyll.

Duart Castle

Though not featured in the Bond franchise directly, Duart Castle (pictured) on the Isle of Mull is the seat of Clan Maclean. The World War II hero, Fitzroy Hew MacLean is a descendant of the clan and is widely believed to have been one of the main inspirations for Bond himself.