The best Buccaneers filming locations to visit in Scotland
The Apple TV series Buccaneers is a raucous period drama of five American friends who travel from 1870s New York to London to join English high society. Fancy visiting the Buccaneers filming locations? Then this is the guide for you!
Whilst the Buccaneers series was set in New York, London and Cornwall filming took place entirely in Scotland in some of our most stunning stately homes, country parks and coastlines across the country.
The relationships and adventures of Nan and Jinny St. George, Conchita Closson, and Lizzy and Mabel Elmsworth as they become debutantes plays out across a backdrop of clashing social customs and romantic encounters.
For Buccaneers fans, Series 2 has just started filming, let’s hope we see more of fabulous Scotland! Here’s how to visit my favourite Buccaneers filming locations in Scotland:
Culzean Castle & Country Park, Ayrshire
Standing in for the home of Theo, Duke of Tintagel, one of the series love interests, the instantly recognisable Culzean Castle perches high on a cliff above the edge of the beautiful Ayrshire Coast.
The castle makes an appearance throughout the TV series, including many shots of the spectacular balcony at Culzean which has views of the mighty Ailsa Craig out to sea. Designed by famous Scottish architect, Robert Adam, the castle is surrounded by a 260-hectare country park including its own beaches.
VISIT: Entry to the Culzean Castle and Country Park is free for National Trust for Scotland members or £20 for adults.
Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
On a 90,000 acre estate in South Scotland sits one of Scotland’s biggest castles, Drumlanrig Castle. With 120 rooms, four towers and 17 turrets and packed full of historic interiors and old masters, the ‘Pink Palace’ is a perfect Buccaneers filming location! The grand entrance to the castle was used as the front of Tintagel Castle. Did you know that Drumlanrig Castle was also used as a one of the Outlander filming locations too?
VISIT: Drumlarig Estate is open to the public for tours (£18) and entrance to the magnificent Victorian gardens and adventure playground (£8 adults, £6 children).
STAY: Fancy becoming one of the Buccaneers? Well you can stay at Drumlanrig Castle in their apartments – Stableyard Studio, Stableyard Apartment and Laundry Cottage.
Hopetoun House, West Lothian
Hopetoun House, a grand stately home near Edinburgh with an untouched Georgian interior, is one of the finest examples of 18th century architecture in the UK. Surrounded by 6,500 acres of parkland, the Hopetoun House sits on the River Forth and has incredible views to the Forth Bridges and Blackness Castle.
VISIT: Hopetoun House was used as the interior rooms of Tintagel Castle and both the house and grounds can be visited. Tickets to the grounds are £5.50 per person. Tickets to the house and grounds can be booked together. It is worth booking in advance. The house and grounds are open Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday.
Buchaneers filming locations in Glasgow and Edinburgh
The TV series didn’t just use country homes, there are lots of shots filmed in Edinburgh and Glasgow too.
- Educational Institute of Scotland, Moray Place – becomes the facade of the Brightlingsea family home in London.
- Cochrane Street, Glasgow – becomes New York in episode 1.
- Glasgow City Chambers – becomes the scene of the Debutante’s Ball including the staircase down which the debutants descended.
- University of Glasgow Cloisters – is used for the Duchess’s Private Ball.
The Chapel of St. Anthony the Eremite, Murthly
The Buccanners wedding (no spoilers!) takes places at the Murthly Estate in Perthshire in the lovely chapel of St Antony.
VISIT: The estate is private however access is available to the public as long as you follow the Outdoor Access Code and there are lots of paths through the estate including a lovely walk alongside the River Tay.
The Murray Star Maze, Scone Palace
Scone Palace has been home to the Earls of Mansfield for over 400 years, but is most famous as the coronation site of the Scottish kings who were crowned and inaugurated on the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny.
The Maze shown in episode 5 on Guy’s Thwarte’s estate is located within the grounds of the palace and is made out 2,000 beech trees and is designed to resemble the Earl of Mansfield’s family tartan in in the shape of a five pointed star.
VISIT: You can visit the Maze as part of a visit to Scone Palace – tickets are £18.50 for adults.
St Abb’s Head, Berwickshire
Next to the pretty village of St Abbs village is St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve where paths run along dramatic cliffs formed by volcanic eruptions. The cliff tops of the nature reserve were a Buccaneers filming location where Nan, Conchita, Lizzy and Mabel drank a toast before Nan’s wedding.
VISIT: From the village climb up above White Heugh Bay for views of the St Abbs harbour through rock turrets before following the cliffs past the lighthouse to the viewpoint. Visit: St Abbs.
Cove Harbour at Cockburnspath, Berwickshire
The Berwickshire coast stood in for Cornwall as Buccaneers filming locations and you can see the main character Nan St George arriving on the coast from London at the tiny harbour at Cove in Berwickshire.
Seacliff, Bass Rock & Tantallon Castle, East Lothian
Nan and Theo’s first meeting on the beach at Tintagel Castle was not filmed in Ayrshire, instead the scenes took place at Seacliff Beach over looking the mighty Bass Rock. In some scenes you can also see the ruined Tantallon Castle up on the cliff face above the beach. Make sure find cross the rock pools to The Gegan, Scotland’s tiniest harbour, blasted out of the rock in 1890.
VISIT: Seacliff to the north of Tyninghame in East Lothian. Parking is £2 (coins)
Buccaneers filming locations at stately homes in Scotland
- Newhailes House & Gardens, East Lothian – The National Trust for Scotland’s Newhailes House at Musselburgh becomes the Brightlingsea family Townhouse, where Conchita and Richard’s move to from New York. The house is free entry for NTS members or £15 for adults.
- Gosford House, East Lothian – The interior of Conchita’s family home in New York were filmed in the south wing of the neoclassical Gosford House in its stunning marble hall. Gosford House is now a wedding venue but tours of the house are available.
- Arniston House, Midlothian – designed by William Adam in 1726 for the Dundas Estate, Arniston House was transformed by Conchita for a spectacular new years party in the episode ‘First Footing’. Guided tours of the house are available.
- Touch House, Stirling – The home of Guy Thwarte, Touch House is now a business centre. The building is occasionally open on Doors Open Day.
- Preston Hall, Midlothian – a lovely estate in Midlothian, the grounds were used for many Buccaneers filming locations at Guy Thwarte’s estate including the temple for the bonfire scenes and the walled garden with its pretty glasshouse shown in episode 5. You can visit the Estate during events held throughout the year.
- Manderston House, Scottish Borders – a stunning Edwardian country house, Manderston’s interiors became the St George family home. The cabin in which Mabel and Honoria’s had their romantic afternoon is also on the estate. Manderston holds open days each year.
- Carolside House & Gardens, Scottish Borders – the raucous scenes at Conchita’s girls weekend at Runnymeed were filmed at Carolside House, and 18th-century mansion. The gardens are open Saturday and Sundays 11-5 pm, 1st May – 1st September each year.
- Ardverikie Castle at Kinloch Laggan – a 19th-century Scottish baronial house on the shores of Loch Laggan in the Highlands, the castle was the scene of the Tintangel christmas party. A popular filming location in Scotland, Ardverkie is also the setting for Monarch of the Glen and Balmoral Castle in The Crown. You can visit the grounds of the estate all year round, and stay on the estate in their holiday cottages.
Map of Buccaneers filming locations in Scotland
Love the Buccanners? You might also like my guide to Outlander filming locations.
Love from Scotland x
Kate Hopper
The blogger behind Love from ScotlandLove from Scotland is your guide to how to travel Scotland like a local. My name is Kate and on my site you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip to Scotland – from destination guides to the best places to stay.