There are many inspiring and magnificent places in Wales, from green valleys to fairy-tale castles. They don’t just inspire locals and tourists: many filmmakers also were inspired by its epic scenery and have been using numerous views across Wales for filming TV shows, historical dramas, fantasy and sci-fi films, and comedies for decades. Here is the list of five of the most noticeable filming locations in Wales, and you can notch up them all and walk in the footsteps of your beloved British actors.
Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, 2010 and 2011, “Robin Hood”, 2010, “Third Star”, 2011)
Set in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, this beautiful rock beach is a famous surfing destination. In 2002 it featured as a backdrop for Shell Cottage of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour. The purpose-built Shell Cottage was torn, however, the beach also made its appearance in the scene with the burial of Dobby the house elf. Today there is also the Dobby memorial engraved with the original words from the film, “Here lies Dobby, a Free Elf” which is the destination for many Harry Potter fans. This stunning beach was also used in the filming of “Robin Hood”, directed by Ridley Scott. Pembrokeshire is a place of many beautiful filming spots, and Freshwater West is just one of them. British drama “Third Star” starring Cumberbatch also used Barafundle Bay, a small bay in Pembrokeshire as one of the filming locations.
Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, (“The Crown”,2016-2023)
Have you seen the British royal drama “The Crown”? One of the biggest medieval castles in Wales, Caernarfon Castle in Welsh Gwynedd has made its appearance in the Season 3 episode, “The Investiture of the Prince of Wales”. Situated on the banks of the River Seiont and at the southern end of the Menai Strait between north Wales and Anglesey, this medieval fortress dates back to the end of the 13th century and was built by Edward I on the place of a former 11th-century wood castle. Caernarfon Castle is deservedly regarded as a major historical landmark in Wales.
Caernarfon is no less important for the royal family of Great Britain – it is here that the tradition of naming the Crown Prince of Wales appeared. Therefore, it was the perfect location to recreate the scene, in which Queen Elizabeth II handed her son Prince Charles a sword, coronet, and other regalia. If you want to be fascinated by this magnificent historical building, this castle of dreams, you can also visit Caernarfon Castle today.
Snowdonia or Eryri National Park (“Carry on Up the Khyber”, 1968)
The British comedy “Carry on Up the Khyber” is a British comedy starring Sid James and Kenneth Williams. The Watkin Path trail in the Snowdonia National Park made its special appearance in this comedy as a Khyber Pass in Afghanistan, a mountain pass between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Snowdonia National Park, or Eryri National Park in Wales is a magnificent place with picturesque landscapes. The Watkin pass itself dates back to 1982 and is a donkey track between the village of Plas Gwynant and Snowdon Mountain, the highest peak in Wales.
Dinorwic Slate Quarry, Gwynedd (“Clash of the Titans”, 2010)
“Clash of the Titans” is an epic film. In the center of the plot is an exciting battle between monsters and demigods. This was the new reading of the well-known ancient Greek myths. Perseus – the son of the daughter of earthly lord Zeus was caught in the sea by a fisherman named Spears. He brought him up as his son. Years later, Perseus saw soldiers toppling the statue of Zeus. So they declared war on the gods, for which they took heavenly punishment.
Harriet Hole in Dinorwic Slate Quarry in the village of Llanberis was used for various filming locations in this movie. The former slate quarry is one of the biggest slate quarries in Wales and now is home to the Welsch State Museum. Filmmakers of “Clash of the Titans” also used the beautiful tidal island Ynys Llanddwyn Sand Dunes in Anglesey for filming. Enjoying one of the many hiking tours across the quarry is one of the greatest things you can do in Wales.
New Quay in Ceredigion (“The Edge of Love”, 2008)
“The Edge of Love”, starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, and Matthew Rhys is a film about the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. He met in his early forties his first love, Vera Phyllis. Vera remained partial to Dylan, but he was already married. Despite all prejudices, Thomas’s wife Kathleen and Vera became friends. Many scenes of the film, including were filmed in the charming seaside town of New Quay. The highlight among the locations is Gwili Steam Railway in New Quay, surrounded by green scenery.
Do you want to know more about filming locations in Wales? Then continue reading our journal instead of gambling live casino online. In the next article, we will tell you about cinematic backdrops in Penbryn Beach in Ceredigion, Brecon Beacons National Park, and Penrhyn Castle.
Feature image: Caernarfon Castle, showing (from left to right) the Black Tower, the Chamberlain’s Tower, and the Eagle Tower (CC BY-SA 3.0)