Disney’s Scottish inspirations

Over the years, Disney has dressed Scotland in fiction, overlaying its land and cityscapes with films and fables, and the nation has delivered a magical performance every time. Its varied landscapes, the architectural design of its largest cities, and the drama of its wildernesses have allowed filmmakers to create almost any world they choose within Scotland’s borders. From medieval fantasies to gritty sci-fi to tickertape parades in the Big Apple, the decades-long relationship between Scotland and storyteller has resulted in some of the most striking images in Disney’s deep catalogue.

Live action or animated, countless Disney film favorites are inspired by spirited Scotland, etching the country into the history books as the home of movies and meaning. Inspired by their favorite Disney characters, visitors can follow in these imaginative footsteps and craft their own magical tales.

Indiana Jones’s date with destiny in Glasgow

Glasgow has been dressed as several American cities in recent years, but no project spent quite so long transforming the city center as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. An elaborate parade and chase sequence saw it draped in stars and stripes to play a 1960s New York City. The ever-popular St Vincent Street, George Square, and Cochrane Street are all clearly visible if you know what you’re looking for—and aren’t distracted by seeing Dr Jones on horseback. As well as its photogenic mix of Gothic and Victorian architecture, Glasgow is the home of Scottish film making and hosts its own film festival every spring.

Thor thunders into the Scottish Borders

When we see the ordinarily chiseled God of Thunder in the village of St Abbs, his own abs are ironically buried deep under a beer belly. For Thor, his time in “New Asgard” is a low point during his fantastical story arc, but for viewers, seeing the blonde superhuman appear flabby and dissolute in the Scottish Borders aptly makes for one of the funniest moments in the Avengers franchise, the scene’s humor well received by Scots. St Abbs, a 250-year-old fishing village was selected as it appears hewn from the rugged coast, but when not dressed as a Norse settlement, its natural bay and clifftop buildings at the edge of the North Sea offer an extremely pleasant aesthetic.

A brave Princess in Aberdeenshire

Unlike with many other projects, Scotland got to play a version of itself in Pixar’s sumptuous 2012 animation, Brave. Flame-haired heroine Princess Merida and her clan were drawn from several real-world Scottish sources, especially their home of DunBroch, which was based on Dunnottar Castle. Perched just south of Aberdeen, on Scotland’s northeast coast, the oldest parts of this clifftop fortress date back over 600 years, though it has largely stood in ruin since the mid-1700s. While Scotland’s rich Gaelic culture provided further framing—and Pixar even commissioned the design of three new tartans for the film—some of Brave’s most magical scenes were inspired by the Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis. Located in the Outer Hebrides, a group of islands sitting off the west coast of the mainland, this ancient circle of monoliths is thought to predate Stonehenge.

Andor alters Perthshire and Argyll & The Isles

Much of the moody countryside that was the backdrop for the anti-hero exploits of Andor in the Star Wars spin-off were shot in suitably dramatic landscapes in both Argyll & The Isles and Perthshire, which is known as Scotland’s Big Tree Country. Argyll’s Cruachan Dam near Ben Cruachan (often referred to as the “Hollow Mountain”) became a central plot point at the heart of the first series, while the misty valleys and lochs which appear as the rebel hideout of Aldhani are, in fact, found in Perthshire’s majestic Glen Tilt. Besides becoming the setting for a complex work of gritty sci-fi, the glen also has a deep history with visits from Scottish nobility—including Mary Queen of Scots—and today is a popular place for hiking. With lush grass carpets and gushing rivers, both regions become a playground for adventure, perfect for family-friendly fun or thrilling outdoor activities.

Beloved Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh

Though many Disney projects reach for high fantasy, the story of Scotland’s most famously loyal dog is drawn on the very real exploits of this 19^th-century terrier, which is now cast in bronze near the National Museum of Scotland. Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar, located near the popular statue in Edinburgh, has also become a favorite among visitors. While the dog's own grave at the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard has become an attraction of its own, with some visitors even leaving a stick for the loyal pup! The real dog, the inspiration for Disney’s 1961 film Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog, stood guard over his master’s grave for 14 years after his death, and has come to be an international symbol of canine loyalty.

Captain America connects with Culross, Fife

While he may be the quintessential American hero, Captain America’s debut film, The First Avenger, saw his story briefly pass through the village of Culross, on the Fife side of the Firth of Forth (Edinburgh is on the south bank of the River Forth), which was standing in for a Norwegian town at the time. Much later, in Avengers: Infinity War, Cap’ would return to Scotland, this time for some spectacular fisticuffs in Edinburgh’s grand Waverley Station in the heart of the nation’s capital. This first quick visit was actually cut from the cinematic release, but Culross remains a popular place—with almost 1,000 years of history, its idyllic location has seen it listed by The Times as one of the best places to live in Scotland.

Recognized as one the coolest places to explore on our annual Best Of The World travel list, you can be sure to find your next big adventure in Scotland.

Embark on your own Disney inspired journey across Scotland here or plan your break at VisitScotland.com.