Film Edinburgh showcases East Lothian on Screen

In recent years, East Lothian’s stunning scenery has played a starring role in film and TV productions alongside the likes of Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Gillian Anderson, Peter Mullan and Colin Firth.

To celebrate, East Lothian Council in partnership with Film Edinburgh has created a new movie map to highlight the region’s top 15 film locations. VisitScotland is working with East Lothian Council to distribute the maps to local tourist offices, attractions and hotels. It is hoped the map will encourage visitors and film-lovers to visit and further explore all East Lothian has to offer.

With VisitBritain reporting that 40 per cent of visitors to the UK are influenced by the images they see on screen, it is hoped the new map will reaffirm East Lothian’s connections to famous films and internationally acclaimed TV dramas such as The Railway Man, Under the Skin, House of Mirth, Outlander and Case Histories.

East Lothian’s rural scenery, golden beaches and historic buildings, combined with its logistical ease of access for production crews, have made it a popular location choice in recent years. Ranging from the grandeur of Gosford House, as seen in Castles in the Sky and The Awakening, to Fenton Tower, playing the role of Archie’s Castle in children’s hit Balamory, to Yellowcraig Beach, the backdrop to BBC’s Case Histories and House of Mirth, footage of East Lothian has been seen around the world by millions of people.

Rosie Ellison, Film Manager for Film Edinburgh, said: "To use the example of The Railway Man, it has been released in 47 countries since the start of the year and grossed over $22m in cinemas so far. That’s a huge number of people who now have seen East Lothian and locations such as Gilmerton House and North Berwick’s Milsey Bay. The new film map is a celebration of the crucial role East Lothian has played in the creation of some of the most acclaimed TV and film productions made in Scotland.

“It’s something to be proud of - the sheer quantity of East Lothian locations that have been seen on screen. It’s my hope that the new map will help alert people to what’s been happening on their doorstep and help anecdotally spread the word of how stunning and important the region is to Scotland’s film industry.”

To launch the new map, This Is Edinburgh is urging people to visit their favourite film destinations in Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders and share their favourite #myfilmmoments. From Renton’s iconic sprint along Princes Street in Trainspotting to the academic detective Robert Langdon of the Da Vinci Code’s visit to Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburgh and the surrounding regions have been the backdrop to some of Scotland’s most iconic scenes. Over the coming months, members of the public will have the chance to upload their social homages to their favourite films and TV shows, with a live screening of the best videos and images during Film in the City in June.

East Lothian Councillor, John McMillan, Spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “It’s always hugely exciting when filming happens in East Lothian. It creates a real buzz locally and helps put East Lothian on the map. Literally in this case! I’m delighted that more and more film-makers and TV production companies are recognising the breadth of locations we have to offer here. We were lucky enough to be able to show an exclusive screening of The Railwayman earlier this year in East Lothian. A very moving and thought-provoking film which featured a variety of locations here and featured Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman. I hope we’ll be doing that again before long! And I hope many visitors will come to East Lothian to see the locations for themselves.”

Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted to be able to support East Lothian on the Screen by stocking it in our VisitScotland Information Centres. It is a fantastic way for film fans from all over the world to follow in the footsteps of the stars and explore the beautiful surroundings of East Lothian. The region has become a firm favourite among film-makers over the years and, with so many stunning locations, it’s easy to see why. Set-jetting, where people visit their favourite film locations, is hugely popular all over Scotland, and maps like this are a really handy way of helping people to re-live important pieces of cinematic history.”