Whether you're applauding Christopher Nolan's ambitious epic-turned-blockbuster, or siding with classicist Emily Wilson's scathing critique, there's one thing we can agree on unanimously: the scenery is unforgettable.
While The Odyssey's captivating landscapes span from Morocco and Greece to Iceland and Sicily, some of its most arresting sequences were filmed much closer to home. Scotland's rugged Moray coast – with its ruined clifftop castles, secluded beaches and ancient pine forests – more than held its own as the ancient Mediterranean, transporting audiences to Homer's rich, mythological world.
While we don't imagine Homer himself made it over to northeast Scotland in the 7th century, we do fancy checking out some of the spots that made The Odyssey one of Nolan's most lauded films yet.
Read on for locations and stays that are every bit as dramatic in real life as they appear on screen...
Findlater Castle, Moray
Perched precariously on a rocky headland above the North Sea – and with a fittingly enigmatic name – the ruins of 13th-century Findlater Castle make for one of the film's most unsettling scenes: when Odysseus' crew are transformed into pigs by the formidable sorceress, Circe, portrayed by Samantha Morton.
Christopher Nolan chose the isolated fortress for the wild cat-strewn Greek island of Aeaea, where Circe serves her exile in the epic. It's not the Mediterranean, but it sure is atmospheric. The site, reached via a narrow footpath across farmland, has long been one of Scotland's most evocative hidden castles, but The Odyssey is likely to introduce it to a much wider audience.
Sunnyside Beach, Cullen
Just west of Cullen lies Sunnyside Beach, a wide sweep of pale sand backed by dunes and overlooked by rugged cliffs. Nolan used the remote beach for coastal arrival sequences throughout the film, as well as a shipwreck scene.
Visitors can now walk 'The Odyssey Trail': a coastal path starting from Cullen and leading past Sunnyside Beach to Findlater Castle. Unlike many famous film locations, it remains pleasingly uncrowded outside the height of summer.
Culbin Forest
Stretching between Findhorn Bay and the Moray Firth, Culbin Forest is first spotted in The Odyssey when it seems the crew might finally get some reprieve from creepy creatures and bloodthirsty battles. That is, until the coastal pine forest turns out to be the home of the fearsome, cannibalistic Laestrygonians, leading to a battle that showcases the sheer density and vastness of the woodland, in all its glory.
In real life, this impressive forest once bore the brunt of a sandstorm (an alleged witch’s curse) in 1694, but today, it is a place of leisure. Walking and cycling trails weave through the forest and hidden lochs, while wildlife enthusiasts can spot Scotland's world-famous wildlife from red squirrels to ospreys.
Buckie Harbour
The traditional fishing harbour at Buckie played host to part of Nolan's highly accurate maritime shoot, in which genuine, working Viking longships – including the 35-metre Draken Harald Hårfagre and the replica Glad av Gillberga – were used instead of CGI to portray Odysseus's ancient Greek vessel on open water.
Today, visitors can visit the Buckie District Fishing Heritage Centre. Located at Cluny Place, you can learn about local boatbuilding, fishing history and the heritage of the area's fishwives. Alternatively, spot bottlenose dolphins, seabirds and harbour porpoises from the shore.
Where to stay
If you're considering planning a northeast Scotland roadtrip off the back of the film, you're not alone. The good news is, almost all the locations are close to one another, meaning tourists won't need to choose between sights to see – only an ideal base to stay at in the centre of it all.
As far as we're concerned, if it's good enough for Christopher Nolan, it's definitely good enough for us. The Seafield Arms Hotel in Cullen became home to much of the production during filming, hosting Nolan while he shot and edited The Odyssey. The main hotel offers a range of suites and rooms, alongside a restaurant and bar with menus that offer the best of Scotland's land and sea.
BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE SEAFIELD ARMS HOTEL
Alternatively, guests can book to stay in one of three spacious self-catering cottages nearby: Kings Cottage, Stable Cottage or Bow Cottage. Matt Damon – or, as he's known in the film, the rugged Odysseus – stayed in Bow Cottage during filming.
In honour of the hero, The Seafield Arms have since refurbished Bow Cottage with an Ancient Greece-inspired theme. Alongside its classicist-approved décor, the cottage offers four double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a private outdoor space complete with a brand-new barrel sauna.
To help prospective visitors, local Scottish councils have even created a handy map for retracing the film's locations. Check it out below:
Maddy is the Homes Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she can be found writing about the latest interiors news and collating inspiring trend edits. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Classics and Ancient History from the University of Manchester and a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.
