Maps of Movies

Brave (2012)

Where Brave says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A film with no shooting location at all: the castle and the stone circle were drawn, with two real Scottish places as the models

Scenes and places

Merida's birthday at DunBroch Castle

On her birthday, young Merida is given a bow by her father Fergus, to her mother Elinor's dismay. The gift sets up the clash between a girl who wants freedom and a queen who wants a princess.

Set in DunBroch Castle — The royal home of Clan DunBroch, a made-up castle in the Scottish Highlands.

A fictional clan seat in medieval Scotland, drawn by the film's artists with a real clifftop castle as inspiration.

Filmed at Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire — Not a filming location: this is an animated film. This clifftop castle is named by the sources as the inspiration for the look of Merida's home. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: On the coast just south of Stonehaven; open to visitors, check opening times.

The forest, the wisp and the bear

Following a glowing wisp into the forest, Merida leads her parents toward Mor'du, a large demonic bear that attacks the family. Fergus drives it off but loses his left leg doing so.

Set in The forest near DunBroch — A woodland where Merida first sees a glowing wisp, and where the family is attacked.

An invented stretch of Highland forest; the sources name no real place for it.

The Highland games

Ten years on, the clans arrive with their eldest sons to compete for Merida's hand. Twisting the rules, she enters as the firstborn of her own clan and wins the archery contest.

Set in The games field at DunBroch — The meadow near the castle where the clans gather to compete for Merida's hand.

A made-up gathering ground; the film places it near the castle and the sources name no real site.

The tapestry and the burning bow

Elinor confronts Merida about her rebellion in private. Merida furiously damages the family tapestry, and Elinor throws the bow into the fire.

Set in A room in DunBroch Castle — A private room in the castle where the family tapestry hangs.

An invented castle interior; no real room is named in the sources.

The ring of standing stones

Fleeing into the forest on her horse Angus, Merida finds a ring of standing stones. The wisps appear again and lead her on toward the witch.

Set in The menhir circle — A ring of standing stones deep in the forest where the wisps lead Merida.

A ring of standing stones inspired by Scotland's prehistoric monuments, not a single real site.

Filmed at Callanish Stones, Isle of Lewis — Not a filming location: this is an animated film. Named by the sources as one of the prehistoric stone circles that inspired the film's menhir circle. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: On the west side of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides; reached by ferry or flight to Stornoway, then by road.

The witch's hut

Merida finds an old woodcarver who is really a witch, and buys every carving for one spell to change her mother. The witch gives her an enchanted cake, which Merida takes back to the castle and gives to Elinor.

Set in The witch's hut — A cluttered hut in the woods belonging to a woodcarver who is secretly a witch.

An invented woodland cottage; no real building is named in the sources.

The ruins of the lost kingdom

Following the wisps with her mother, now a bear, Merida reaches the ruins of the kingdom from the legend. There she puts the pieces together and discovers that Mor'du was once the prince in the story.

Set in Ruins of an ancient kingdom — Overgrown ruins of a kingdom whose name was forgotten, with a carved stone throne room.

A made-up ruin that appears only in the film; the sources name no real site.

Back at the castle, the clans on the brink

Back at the castle, Merida finds the clans on the verge of war. She stands in front of the lords and tells them their own story of how they once fought for each other.

Set in DunBroch Castle (return) — The same castle, now with the clans quarrelling in the hall.

The same fictional castle as the opening, seen again in its great hall.

Back to the stones

Fergus and the clans chase Elinor to the menhir circle, and Merida races there too, so that mother and daughter meet the same danger together.

Set in The menhir circle (return) — The same ring of standing stones, where the story is settled.

The same ring of standing stones as before.

Filmed at Callanish Stones, Isle of Lewis — Not a filming location: this is an animated film. Named by the sources as one of the prehistoric stone circles that inspired the film's menhir circle. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: On the west side of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides; reached by ferry or flight to Stornoway, then by road.

Filmed at Eilean Donan Castle, Highland — Research trip, not tied to a scene Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Loch Ness, Highland — Research trip, not tied to a scene Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Merida — A Scottish princess who wants to choose her own fate.
• Queen Elinor — Merida's mother, who wants her daughter to be a proper princess.
• King Fergus — Merida's father, a warm and loud king who lost his leg to a bear.