There’s something about Mary, Queen of Scots: she’s everywhere in Scotland, from her birthplace at Linlithgow Palace, to Craignethan Castle, near Lanark, said to be one of her regular “haunts” (quite literally), Edinburgh, as she hangs quite defiantly on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
With the film Mary Queen of Scots out on January 18, starring Saoirse Ronan as Mary, and Margot Robbie as her second cousin and rival monarch Elizabeth I, there is a new interest in this period of history.
Visit Scotland said the film offers a perfect excuse to explore Scotland and the historical connections to Mary Stuart, as well as some the stunning filming locations used in the film.
Film director Josie Rourke said: “We wanted to do as much as possible in Scotland and to show Mary in that environment and what her journey with it is.
“During the film, she comes to a deeper understanding and love of her country, so she had to be outside in it and witness the epic sweep of that landscape.
“Scotland is an extraordinary country, and it matches the scale of the story and the scale of what happens to Mary at certain points in the film. We just wanted to show Scotland in all of its incredible glory.”
A map of Mary, Queen of Scots locations and historical links to Scotland that fans can visit, including Craignethan Castle, is available online at visitscotland.com/maryqueenofscots.
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