North Wales’ Filming Legacy
While filming in North Wales isn’t especially new, it does seem to have taken off in the last ten years.
As we anticipate this summer’s release of Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, most of which was filmed in Snowdonia, we look back at the many films that have used a chunk of North Wales landscape for their cinematic glory.
The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness (1958)
In this bizarre film, a tall Swedish actress plays a short Cockney and Wales stands in for China. The location scenes filmed in Nantmor near Beddgelert are transformed into a Chinese village.
Pretend you’re on the Orient Express with a ride on the Welsh Highland Railway which calls at Nantmor station.
The Prisoner (1967)
We’ve talked before about how The Prisoner was filmed in Portmeirion. The bright, colourful buildings worked as an excellent contrast to the nefarious plot, and Portmeirion’s surreal, out-of-this-world nature made the perfect setting for a disturbing and mysterious penitentiary.
The Prisoner appreciation society, Six Of One, hosts an annual event called Portmeiricon in which they celebrate their favourite cult show.
Carry On…Up The Khyber (1968)
This classic Carry On movie used Snowdon as a replacement for the North West Frontier, and the Watkins Path up the mountain was used as the titular Khyber Pass.
In 2005 a plaque was installed at Electric Mountain, a hydro-electric plant visitor centre – you can visit it and explore the visitor centre for free!
Willow (1987)
The huge former slate quarry at Llanberis has been used for a few films, but here it is used for the great siege on the castle scene.
The slate quarry is actually quite an interesting place to visit – it has the National Slate Museum, as well as a rock-climbing and diving centre.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Just a smidgen of Wales comes through in this film: when Pierce Brosnan’s Bond and Denise Richard’s Dr Jones travel through the Azerbaijan oil pipeline, the exterior shots are of a pipeline for Cwm Dyli’s hydro-electric power station in Snowdonia.
You can see the pipeline from The Pinnacle Club’s Hut.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
Several scenes of the Tomb Raider film were shot in North Wales: filming occurred in Pen Y Pass, Ffynnon Llugwy, and Alexandra Slate Quarry, where a 100ft drop down a cliff-face was filmed.
Later in the film, Pen Y Pass is transformed into The Great Wall of China for an epic motorbike race.
Get advice from the local mountaineering experts at Clwb Gorphwysfa.
Half-Light (2006)
The island of Ynys Llanddwyn, home to the ruins of St Dwynwen’s Church, was used for Demi Moore’s romantic thriller Half-Light.
The seaside village’s Tŵr Mawr lighthouse was used, with special effects employed to help it shine again, and the rugged scenery and remoteness of the place adds to the overall effect of the film.
Unfortunately, this is Wales masquerading as Scotland.
This whole area is beautiful, and you can find wild ponies and hares in this natural landscape as well as the ruins of St Dwynwen’s Church.
The Colour Of Magic (2008)
The film version of Terry Pratchett’s first Discworld novel used exterior shots of Anglesey and Snowdonia prolifically for the horseback travelling scenes.
If you’d like to see if you’re a better horseback rider than Rincewind, why not visit the Anglesey Riding Centre?
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Over two hundred members of cast and crew descent on the Dinorwic Quarry in Llanberis for ten days – to film a four minute sequence.
The film is based on the myth of Perseus and this scene in particular is part of a huge battle between Perseus and the God of the Underworld, Hades. They used the steep inclines, mountains and valleys of The Harriet Hole, which were used again in the volcano sequences for the sequel, Wrath of the Titans.
Luckily there’s a lot to do in Dinorwic Quarry, including the Quarry Hospital museum with gruesome equipment.
Retreat (2011)
Cillian Murphy’s British horror-thriller uses Llandecwyn and the Llyn Peninsula extensively as doubles for Scotland. Shots of the cabin were filmed at Plas Llandecwyn, a grade II listed farmhouse near Harlech.
The nearby Harlech has the imposing Harlech Castle, built on the oldest known geological rock formation.
World War Z (2013)
Some filming for Brad Pitt’s epic zombie movie, based on the book of the same name, was done in Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd – although unfortunately it was used as a double for the outskirts of Cardiff!
Test your survival skills just like Brad Pitt at Go Below – try out zip-lining, cave climbing, boating and abseiling!
The Last Dragonslayer (2016)
This TV movie adapted from Jasper Fforde’s book of the same name used Snowdonia as its only filming location: the otherworldly mountains must have made the perfect backdrop for this fantasy adventure.
Get that fantasy-adventure feeling by exploring King Arthur’s Labyrinth in Powys and hear Wales’ best dragon tales…
The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
Another background role for the Llanberis Dinorwig Quarry, filming of Alexander Skarsgård’s shirtless starring role briefly shut down a public footpath through Chwarel Dinorwig.
If you’re visiting, the Llanberis Lake Railway is a must-see!
King Arthur: Knights of the Round Table (2017)
This origin story for King Arthur, directed by Guy Ritchie, uses Snowdonia as its scenery: specifically in the Nant Gwynant area.
Get yourself some adventure with activities from the local Llyn Gwynant Campsite.