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Have you been to the locations in Local Hero?

posted 19 years ago by lucymocha
43 replies | jump to latest

Hello everyone,

I am researching a study about film tourism, on behalf of the UK screen agencies, and am trying to find out how people discover where films have been shot. Local Hero, for instance, was shot in the village of Pennan in Aberdeenshire, and also at a beach in Morar, on the West coast of Scotland, and both places have become places of pilgrimage for fans of the film. I'm interested in how those who wish to visit the places seen in the film find out about the locations of shooting. Has anyone been to Pennan, or Morar, on the back of seeing Local Hero? If so, how did they find out the film was shot there? Was it through the internet, or newspaper articles, or friends?

Any help you can give me would me much appreciated, and will help villages such as Pennan benefit from their starring role on screen.

Many thanks,

Lucy

[–] marko_magoo 18 years ago

I am currently in Glasgow for the week of official work business. I am renting a car on Friday and going to stroke 2 items off my "Things to do before I die" list. They are: visit the single malt region of scotland, in particular the Macallan distillery which is my favourite, and to visit Pennan, the location where my favourite movie of all time was filmed. This is going to be quite the weekend. I'll update you on how it turns out.

[–] pounce44 18 years ago

Sounds like a fine way to get a taste of Scotland and a large gulp of Local Hero.
::raises glass::
Enjoy!

[–] Scottishsage 18 years ago

Well I live about 30 miles from Morar so yes :)

[–] kathhauck 18 years ago

Haven't been to these locations but after visiting Scotland for the first time in late August, a tour guide recommended we rent Local Hero if we started wondering if we'd ever really been. I had seen it before, but really enjoyed seeing it after visiting the country. Watched it for Peter Reigart the first time. Lovely, lovely locations. Charming movie, didn't really like the way it ended.

[–] spook 18 years ago

Yes, I went to Pennan in 2000; yes, the roads are hair-raising to get there. I can't say I found the locals friendly, as there were none to be seen! (Mind you, this was in a late autumn Sunday. I was there as my partner was based at RAF Buchan just up the coast, an air defence radar site now closed (well, automated). Hence all the jet noise. There was a Cinema 100 plaque on the wall of the bar/hotel commemorating Pennan's part in British cinema history. Glad I went. We were heading back south, so a trip to Morar was out of the question...

[–] brtarnoff 18 years ago

I too found information out from:

http://www.scotlandthemovie.com/

We were travelling North of Aberdeen to mate our Welsh Springer Spaniel (from Southampton). Planning the Kennel Club names for the litter I wanted to use Scottish themed films and found that useful website. Realizing that we weren't far from Pennan, I dragged my wife over there. A year later Local Hero was on television so I could show her what the fuss is about.

I applaud your efforts to improve location tourism for these fantastic places.

[–] Critical Eye UK 18 years ago

Prospective customers of The Burlington Hotel at Whiting Bay on the Isle of Arran were assured on the hotel's website that it overlooked the very beach where 'Local Hero' was filmed. Visitors really did believe they were walking in Burt Lancaster's footsteps.

Following complaints about the spurious 'Local Hero' claim-to-fame, the hotel's website has been "revised" so that there can be no further confusion. It now reads:

"By day, the beach provides a fascinating playground for old and young alike. By night, you can enjoy the stars as much as Burt Lancaster in "Local Hero", but you don't need to buy the beach!"

Stand by for a further addition to The Burlington Hotel's website about enjoying the winding coastal road "as much as Cary Grant and Grace Kelly did in 'To Catch A Thief', but you don't need an open-topped sports car!"

[–] adamo729 18 years ago

I saw the movie in the theater and it has been my favorite since. I have been to Pennan twice (1987 and 1999) and Morar and the west coast once (in 1999). On my first trip, in 1987, I spent 4 days in Pennan and got to meet the whole town. Back then, there were still mostly year round residents (by the time I returned in 99, most of the houses seemed to be rentals that people stayed in for a two week holiday). Two highlights of that trip were being invited to the going away party for two retired teachers who were going to Dresden (East Germany back then) to volunteer as teachers. Also, I met two older residents who took me to the Ship's Inn in Banff (this is the location used for the hotel bar in the movie). The great thing about that was when I returned 12 years later, I ran into one of the two men (unfortunately the other had passed away) and he remembered me. We went back to the Ships Inn and had a few pints. The bartender even let me behind the bar. As I have always felt - I would have made a great Gordon, Gordon!!

[–] dogcoopie 18 years ago

I must have been to Camsudarrach beach half dozen times this year. Love that place. The last time was mid October when the weather was still fairly mild and it was 17degrees according to the car. I’ve even driven up there just to take the dog for a walk so there must be something about the place to justify the 4-hour drive from Glasgow. It’s a shame really coz he’s always burstin by the time we get there. Seriously though, I usually let him out at Bridge of Orchy (Or Bridge of Orgy as a Dutch guy we met there once kept callin it) and again at Glenfinnan monument (the boat scene in Highlander was filmed there).

There’s a wee cove at the back of that beach that I like coz it’s a bit sheltered when it’s windy. Those houses there are amazing. I saw a pair of Great Northern Divers (Or the Loons from On Golden Pond) in October there for the first time ever, brilliant. And some amazing views of Eigg, Rum and Skye.

I have never seen local Hero and came across Camsudarrach beach by accident 15 years ago. Even if I wasn't Scottish that area of Scotland would be one of my favourite places on the planet. Even when I leave it I don't miss it. Just knowing it's there makes me feel contented.

Good to now that so many people appreciates that beach.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

Old thread, I know, but I thought I'd contribute.

My Dad grew up in Pennan (at number 41). On one side of my family, I think there's been about four or five generations who've lived and died there, but the last moved out in the 1960s.

Pennan is a strange place - despite only having 50 houses or so, the village is actually divided into two. Anything east of the burn is also called "St Magnus Haven" (about ten houses and the harbour itself). My Dad loved growing up there, and they were all fit as hell charging about the cliffs or swimming in the sea as youngsters, climbing right to the top of Pennan Brae to go to school every morning.

My favourite memory of Pennan was being there on New Years Day 2005. Even though the pub wasn't technically open, when we peered in through the glass, then let us in to have a drink!

[–] jbrustad 17 years ago

I worked with a married couple who love the movie as I do.

They sent me a voice mail at work from the red telephone booth
at Pennan. It's the best voice mail I've ever received.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

It's also, apparently, the most phoned phone box in Britain (people phoning into it, randomly). Tel: 01346 561210 (according to Google).

[–] gary_painter 17 years ago

I visited Pennan in about 1998, purely on the back of the film. The location of the village is different from how it seems in the film, it's even more remote and crammed right up against the cliffs in real life. Absolutely charming place! Shame about the destructive floods that hit the village a year or two ago, hopefully all is back to normal now.

Took me another few years to find the beach, perhaps around 2006. It's a long, long drive from Glasgow - although the terrifying single-track road is in the process of being upgraded as I speak. Absolutely stunning, the water is blue and clear and the sand golden.

Both locations - I have no idea how I found out. Guess I'd just read about them somewhere over the years.

[–] highlandland 17 years ago

Sadly, the newly-refurbished village hall is still unusable 10 months after the floods, but all the houses are back to normal. Hopefully the hall will be reopened soon, too.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] vimhawk 16 years ago

I've made my pilgrimage to the village and spent a few hours there about five years ago. One day I plan to stay a few days. I was very happy that the place did not disappoint, and I particularly remember lying back in my car for a couple of hours listening to nothing but the gulls and the waves.

[–] alan2001 15 years ago

DID YOU KNOW...?

That the the hotel in the film is not actually the Pennan Inn? The Pennan Inn is on your right as you reach the bottom of the hill, and the hotel in the film is about 3 houses further along to the right.

I lived in the North East of Scotland most of my life, and I've been to Pennan loads of times. Lovely place for a day trip. :)

[–] Sheriff_Of_Nottingham 15 years ago

I just tried calling this number and recieved a recording stating that the number had been changed or disconnected. Too bad, I was hoping to reach Scotland!

[–] TerrierMom 14 years ago

I've been to Pennan. A Scottish friend took me there when I was visiting Scotland in 2008. I saw Pennan before I saw Local Hero, actually. I'd seen Gregory's Girl, also by Bill Forsyth, a few times over the years after watching it on HBO or Cinemax as a teen in the early 1980's. My friend took me to where Gregory's Girl was filmed, then he suggested I might like to see Pennan as well. We were in the area anyway as he was showing off Scotland to me.

[–] rthomp-8 14 years ago

We went to the beach in last August on a gloriously sunny day - not a cloud in the sky. Rhum and Eigg (though obviously no snow on them!) looked magnificent and the sea sparkled in the sun light. The north west coast of Scotland is the most beautiful part of Britain.

[–] vimhawk 14 years ago

I'm finally going to get to stay in Pennan in May. Months back I asked my wife if I could go there (she knows about my passion for the film) "if I got a permanent job", having been out of work for some time. Now I'm in work I'm taking her up on it! I've been there for only a few hours before, but I'm really looking forward to just being there and doing.... nothing.

EDIT
Will be there on Friday (6 May). Really looking forward to it.

[–] vimhawk 14 years ago

I'm there NOW. Wow. Have been looking forward to this for months. I'm typing this in the bar at the Pennan Inn. I will certainly be purchasing my telephone box T-shirt before I go!

[–] 14 years ago

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