Have you been to the locations in Local Hero?

I've been to both places, though about 7 years apart (1987 & 1994).

I found Morar by accident. My wife and I were planning a trip to the Isle of Sky and the travel guide (Fodor's or one like it) mentioned that Morar is where the beach scenes were filmed. Being big fans of the film and since it was on the way (we took the ferry from Arisaig - this was pre Skye Bridge) we HAD to go see it.

We knew from the credits that Pennan was the village, so when we planned our tour through the eastern part of Scotland, we made sure to make a stop there. I think a few travel guides of the region mentioned it as well. As I recalled, we used the internet some to plan this part. We did it as a detour from the distillery/castle tours of the region.

While were in Pennan, RAF fighters were doing target practice offshore, just like in the movie!

Hope this helps.

Hi Lucy,

I visited both places last year in fall, and loved it, though the roads are treacherous.

Actually my impression is that if you're there as a tourist, especially in late fall when tourism in both places is at a low, you're almost automatically put into the "Local Hero fan" box. I was asked twice by local inkeepers if I was another of those into the movie, and I got to see some of their memorabilia of the shooting, bleached old photos, autographs etc.

I'm not sure how touristic those villages are - not much, by my impression - and my guess is that most of their total touristic traffic is pilgrimage for this movie. Maybe a tour operator should put together a tour, I think there might be more fans visiting if there's an organized tour.

Philipp

I did make my "pilgrimage" to Pennan a few years ago. I think I found out about the location by doing some basic research - probably the internet, but I really can't remember. It was somewhat out of character for me - but there is something rather magical about the film and I just wanted to see the actual place. I had a drink in the hotel bar, called my friends from the phone box, and - best of all - almost got run down by a motorcycle! I was disappointed to see on the news that the hotel was recently painted blue - just so wrong... Pennan is a lovely village - if a bit hard to get to - and any Local Hero fan would enjoy a visit.
Mary Bowers

About 20 years I was travelling with a boyfriend and we were going to mind the house of a friend's sister who lived in the town where Local Hero was filmed. Or so we thought. We were most disappointed when we got to our friends address in Peterhead that it was NOT where the movie was made, but not far from the village. So instead of minding a house for a week in a picturesque coastal village, we were staying in a housing estate in a bleak industrial city. Luckily it was only for a week and from there we made a pilgrimage to the delightful Pennan. As this was before the internet and we were travelling from Australia, we had very poor information before we went there. I learnt to research our destinations a bit better after that.

Great to hear that people are still making the trip to Pennan and Morar so many years after the film was made. It was always one of my favourites. I remember driving through the scottish hills with the soundtrack blaring.

A little obsessed, I have been to Mallaig, Pennan and Morar (the shining sands), and have even called home from the red telephone box (it's a heritage item now). I can't remember how I found out where it was, I think I just freeze framed the video during the credits.

I walked from Banff to Pennan, and it rained all the way back, but I got a lift by a local on a tractor!

We went this weekend. Pennan is easy to find and is full of very friendly locals. We arrived on motorcycles & the owner of the Pennan Inn chatted with us for quite a while about the filming & where to find accomodation further along ther coast. It is a remarkably claustrophobic place in Summer - full of cars & nowhere for them to park. The phone box is not in it's original filming location & while we were there lots of people were taking pictures of it.
Bens beach is much harder to find - there are directions on the internet but it takes a bit of a leap of faith when there. That said the beaches at Morar were by far the most beautiful I have ever seen. The sun was out on a calm peaceful very early morning when we got there - the beach(s) were deserted & the whole place was mesmerising. They are easily the best part of a LH tour in Scotland. Incidentally, neither location shouted about its involvement in the film. I feel this is a mistake. I would like to have seen some kind of recognition made but maybe the locals are sick of it by now ....

I was in Pennan in Summer of 2004. I too walked to the village and had to hitch hike out. There is a bus service, but it only goes on Saturday, I think. I didn't find the village touristy, but it is not really a working village anymore. Like several other villages on the same coast, the houses are now vacation homes. You don't get the sense that the village is full of tourists, but it just doesn't feel like a real working village-- almost like a movie lot! It's beautiful. The only place to stay is the inn, and since I couldn't afford it, I slept on the beach. I felt a little like old Ben in the movie. The phone box is still there, although in its original location (it was moved for the film). I called home of course, shouting into the phone, "Mr. Happer, this is MacIntyre!" I have to say it's nice to see that I'm not the only one crazy about this movie. Having visited Pennan, I would also say that the film creates a place that really doesn't exist. It is a piece of magic really, existing in Forsyth's imagination, and I'm so glad that we are lucky enough to visit the place anytime we pop in the DVD or tape.

The beach scenes were filmed near Arisaig and it is more beautiful than portrayed in the film. You have to go there to believe it.Peace and tranquility abound and you can walk for miles.