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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Sean Murphy

The paradise-like Highland Village used as the background for Hamish MacBeth and the Wicker Man

Heading along the beautiful and dramatic northwest coast of Scotland, up and around the Kyle of Lochalsh, past the famous Skye Bridge you'll eventually come to a wonderful little village that's known as the "Jewel of the Highlands". Plockton is a hugely popular tourist destination with thousands of visitors heading there every year.

It's so popular that many people will take time to divert off the popular North Coast 500 route just to visit it and though you might not have been there you will definitely recognise it. Particularly if you are a fan of the TV show Hamish Macbeth or the 70s folk Horror film the Wicker Man.

This idyllic west coast Highland village has been used as a location for several films due to its incredible scenery and quaint little cottages. Considered to be the ideal base camp for a Highlands trip, due to its close proximity to not only the islands of Skye and Raasay but also the NC500 and the Applecross and Torridon hills and mountains.

Look at that scenery (Getty)

Read more: The stunning seaside village that was used as a background for one of Scotland's greatest films

But it's as the setting for the hit TV show Hamish Macbeth that it's perhaps most famous, with Robert Carlyle starring as the eponymous bobby. Plockton doubled as the fictional village of Lochdubh (pronounced Loch Doo) – meaning loch black – where Hamish and his dog Wee Jock patrol the village keeping the peace and trying to avoid doing any serious police work. The BBC hit was loosely based on a series of mystery novels by M. C. Beaton (Marion Chesney).

You can visit many of the locations from the show, including Rory Campbell’s shop, the Stag Bar and even Hamish's Police Station but it's worth noting that many of these were used exterior shots only and you can't actually go inside.

The Village is also famous for featuring in the famous Wickerman film, where it doubled as the harbour for the fictional Summer Isle where Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) first lands his plane.

Plockton is popular with tourists (Getty)

Found on the shores of the beautiful Loch Carron, the area's climate is warmed by the Gulf Stream meaning the paradise feel of the place is enhanced by the warmer climate and palm trees you'll find dotting its streets.

The area's status as a tourist attraction was recently enhanced when a nationwide search to find Britain’s Best Holiday Let, by Sykes Holiday Cottages, saw unique Plockton accommodation The Sheiling take home the crown.

Plockton is on the banks of Loch Carron (Getty)

A haven for outdoor activities, the village is renowned for its plethora of options when it comes to getting out and seeing this stunning corner of the country including boat trips, sea kayaking and paddleboarding.

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