Press release -
Locations galore!
A map highlighting the locations used in the new film version of Whisky Galore! has been created by VisitScotland.
The movie, which is based on the 1947 novel by Compton Mackenzie and stars Gregor Fisher, Eddie Izzard and Sean Biggerstaff, is released in Scottish cinemas today (Friday 5 May) and will be out in the rest of the UK on 19 May.
While Alexander Mackendrick’s 1949 comedy was shot almost entirely on location in the Outer Hebrides, where Barra stood in for the fictional islands of Great Todday and Little Todday, Gillies MacKinnon’s version makes use of outstanding locations throughout Scotland, from the Borders up to Aberdeenshire, from Ayrshire to Glasgow and across to the East Neuk of Fife.
Working closely with Whisky Galore’s distributors, Arrow Films, the national tourism organisation’s map shines a spotlight on the principal filming locations, including the Aberdeenshire villages of Portsoy and Pennan, St Abb’s Head in the Scottish Borders and the Central Bar in Glasgow.
The map is available for download today at www.visitscotland.com/films. A printed version will be available in selected VisitScotland iCentres, as well as at some of the locations featured.
Based on the real-life sinking of the SS Politician off the coast of Eriskay in 1941, and the subsequent seizing of thousands of bottles of whisky by locals, Whisky Galore! is a celebration of a nation’s love for the “Water of Life”.
Gregor Fisher, who plays postmaster Macroon, said: “I’ve been in this business for 40 years and I can honestly say this was one of the nicest, if not the nicest, job I’ve ever had. There were no negatives about it. On a seven-and-a-half-week shoot in Portsoy, it rained for half a day – max, and even then it was very light drizzle.
“Normally when you take over a town, which we more or less did at Portsoy, there’s a bit of aggro because you’re closing roads and so on, but there was none of that. We were welcomed with open arms to the point that when I expressed an interest in buying some lobster, four lobsters were delivered to my door the next day, free of charge. I couldn’t believe it. Half the community is in the film. It was a joy.”
Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Scotland is widely recognised as an excellent location for film and TV productions. Whisky Galore! has been added to the growing list of films shot here. This map allows visitors from home and abroad to walk in the footsteps of the actors and actresses that appeared in the film, and they can also enjoy the spectacular scenery that Scotland has to offer.”
Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Since the novel by Compton Mackenzie was published back in 1947, Whisky Galore has been raising laughs for 70 years. Celebrating not only this nation’s love for the Water of Life but also demonstrating the warmth, humour and spirit of our people, this new film shows off Scotland at its dazzling best. Our handy map will allow visitors to explore the Whisky Galore! locations and enjoy a set-jetting holiday around Scotland.”
Jim Savege, Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council, said: “We were delighted to work with the production team on a project of this scale, helping them transform the coastal village of Portsoy into part of the Isle of Todday for a few weeks back in July 2015. Local people became part of the crew and took the production to their heart.
“This is a major production which features Aberdeenshire at its very core, something for us all to be proud of. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the filming locations and of course to try our local whisky.”
Nikki Morris-Laing, Marketing Director of VisitAberdeenshire, said: “The whisky produced in Aberdeenshire attracts visitors from all over the world who come to the region to taste a dram at the source of our eight whisky distilleries. The remake of the classic film will not only introduce a new audience to whisky, but to the stunning scenery here in the North-east of Scotland.”
Locations on the Whisky Galore map:
• Aberdeenshire – Portsoy Harbour; Mill Beach and New Aberdour Beach, Pennan
• Argyll & Bute – Luss Village Hall
• Ayrshire – Beach at Ardeer
• Fife – St Monan’s Parish Church
• Inverclyde – Loch Thom, Greenock
• Dumbarton – Geilston House and Gardens; Central Bar, Renton
• Glasgow – Pinkston Watersports
• North Lanarkshire – Forrestburn Race Track, near Harthill
• Scottish Borders – St Abb’s Head, Berwickshire
To find out more about whisky, go to www.visitscotland.com/whisky
To learn more about the film, go to www.whiskygalorefilm.co.uk
Topics
- Tourism
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
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- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
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- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
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- 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology
- 2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging variety of new and existing activity to drive the nation’s tourism and events sector, boosting tourism across Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology begins on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2017. It will build on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Creative Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is supported by £570,000 of Scottish Government funding.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- For more information visit visitscotland.com/HHA2017 or join the conversation at #HHA2017
