Famous film locations in Devon

For fans of big and small screen productions, visiting a film location offers a tangible connection to our favourite stories. We love the idea of stepping into the scenes where key moments took place, and being transported in our imaginations.

Unsurprisingly, the South West with its stunning landscapes and history, is a popular destination for movie makers from all around the world. Here we delve into just some of the big productions that have been filmed in Devon, right here on our doorstep.

Kingswear

The cinematic version of John Fowles’ novel, The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981) with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons, has its most famous scene on The Cobb in Lyme Regis, however the ‘Exeter’ scenes in the movie were actually filmed in Kingswear on the River Dart. Locations include The Steam Packet Inn on Fore Street being used for the bedroom scenes of The Endicott’s Family Hotel, and the train station.

Exeter

The BAFTA award-winning film The Remains of the Day (1993) starring Emma Thompson and Sir Anthony Hopkins used Powderham Castle for many of its internal scenes for Lord Darlington’s stately home – most recognisable of which being the ostentatious Rococo staircase with its blue walls, and the music room.

Plymouth and Paignton

The 1995 film “Sense and Sensibility” starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslett was filmed at several locations in South Devon, including Efford House, Saltram House, Flete Estate (the Dashwood’s stone cottage), and Compton Castle in Marldon, Paignton.

Saunton Sands

Robbie Williams’ 1997 ‘Angels’ music video saw this beautiful beach being used in black and white as the singer walked on the dunes and along its vast sands.

Operation Mincemeat (2021) – a WWII drama based on a true story starring Colin Firth and Jason Isaacs saw Saunton Sands being used to depict the amphibious landings in Sicily.

Sci Fi film, Edge of Tomorrow (2014) starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt used Saunton Sands for its wider shots of the beach

Clovelly

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018), starring Lily James used Saunton Sands for the Dakota airplane landing scene as well as Clovelly to represent Saint Peter Port, and Bideford as a street in Nazi-occupied Guernsey.

Dartmoor

Dartmoor’s dramatic landscape has made it a popular choice for many movies and television series in the past, the most notable of which being Steven Spielberg’s War Horse (2011) which is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo and stars Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Interestingly, the author’s story was sparked by conversations with a World War I veteran, Wilfred Ellis, in the Duke of York Inn in Iddesleigh – Morpurgo’s home village at the time. Scenes in the movie were shot in various locations around the national park including Haytor, Combestone Tor, Venford Reservoir, Meavy and Ditsworthy Warren House in Sheepstor for the farmhouse.