The A86 runs beside Loch Laggan for miles before Ardverikie’s turrets appear across the water. That first glimpse explains why the estate became the best known of all Monarch of the Glen filming locations. The fictional Glenbogle looked grand, remote and just troublesome enough to carry seven series.
Fresh interest is justified. Channel 5 has commissioned a new six-part series, with each episode running 60 minutes and transmission expected in 2027, according to the official cast announcement. This route covers the real places behind the original drama, what you can actually visit, and where fans need to keep their distance.
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Where were the original Monarch of the Glen filming locations?
The original series was filmed mainly around Ardverikie Estate and Loch Laggan, with supporting locations in Laggan, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Kincraig and the Cairngorms. Broomhill Station near Nethy Bridge became Glenbogle Station, while Balavil House stood in for Kilwillie Castle.
| On-screen place or scene | Real location | What visitors can see | Access note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenbogle House and estate | Ardverikie Estate, Kinloch Laggan | Loch, woodland and distant house views | House grounds are private |
| Glenbogle loch | Loch Laggan | Shoreline, mountain views and beaches | Use legal parking and public access routes |
| Glenbogle village and school | Laggan | Village setting and nearby River Spey | Public roads and paths |
| Glenbogle Station | Broomhill Station, near Nethy Bridge | Heritage station and seasonal trains | Check the railway timetable |
| Kilwillie Castle | Balavil House, near Kingussie | Private Georgian house from a distance | Not a visitor attraction |
| Glenbogle post office and tearoom | Clan Macpherson Museum, Newtonmore | Recognisable building exterior | Museum opening is seasonal |
| Town and police scenes | Kingussie | Streets, civic buildings and valley views | Public town centre |
| Waterfall and fishing scenes | Pattack Falls | Rocky gorge and forest walk | Stay on the path |
Ardverikie supplied Glenbogle’s heart
Ardverikie House is the Scottish baronial mansion viewers know as Glenbogle House. The surrounding estate supplied forests, tracks, lochans and working-land scenes across the programme’s run. Lochan na h-Earba also appeared in several storylines, including the stranded Land Rover scene with Archie and Katrina.
The estate later appeared in The Crown, Outlander and No Time to Die, linking it naturally with other film locations of the Scottish Highlands.
Badenoch became the everyday world beyond the estate
Laggan played Glenbogle village. Its school, shop and local buildings were adapted for everyday scenes, while nearby roads carried the show’s familiar Land Rovers. Newtonmore and Kingussie supplied shopfronts, civic buildings and street sequences.
Broomhill Station is the easiest screen match
Broomhill Station became Glenbogle Station, including Archie’s arrival from London at the start of the story. The platform belongs to the Strathspey Railway and still has the kind of rural scale that television barely needed to alter.
Steam services are seasonal, so check the operating calendar before building a day around a train. Even without steam, this is one of the clearest Monarch of the Glen filming locations.
Can you visit Ardverikie House and the Glenbogle estate?
You can walk through public areas of Ardverikie Estate, but Ardverikie House, nearby residences and their grounds remain private. Day visitors must park off the A86 and enter on foot. Estate cottage guests may be offered an interior tour, subject to availability.
The estate’s current public-access rules are unusually clear. Park in the A86 lay-by about a quarter-mile west of Gatelodge, grid reference NN 533896. Motor vehicles aren’t allowed beyond the barriers, and drones are prohibited across the estate.
Views of the house are distant, which is exactly as they should be. Bring a longer camera lens and accept that you are visiting a working private estate, not a television theme park.
Blue Badge holders can contact the estate office in advance to discuss escorted access during office hours. From August to March, hillwalkers should also check whether stalking activity affects routes at the western end.
Which filming locations are most worth your time?
Prioritise Ardverikie and Loch Laggan for the defining Glenbogle landscape, then Broomhill Station for the strongest scene match. Add Laggan and Pattack Falls for atmosphere. Newtonmore, Kingussie and Ruthven Barracks work best as short stops rather than destinations in their own right.
Ardverikie and Loch Laggan: Allow two to three hours if you plan to walk. Weather matters, and low cloud can erase the view.
- Broomhill Station: Allow 30 minutes without a train or longer for a booked railway journey.
- Laggan and Pattack Falls: Pair the village with the short woodland stop at the falls. The gorge featured in romantic, fishing and swimming scenes.
- Newtonmore and Kingussie: Use both towns for lunch, museum time and quick exterior checks. Newtonmore’s Highland screen connections extend beyond Glenbogle.
- Ruthven Barracks: The ruined fort appears in a later-series driving scene, but the real reward is its open view across Badenoch.
How can you visit the main locations in one day?
Start near Broomhill, then follow the A9 south through Kingussie and Newtonmore before turning west to Laggan and Loch Laggan. The route is roughly linear, but an Ardverikie walk makes it a long day. Leave Inverness early and keep meal stops simple.
| Time | Stop | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Inverness | Leave before commuter traffic builds |
| 09:00 | Broomhill Station | Photograph the platform or meet a booked train |
| 10:15 | Kingussie and Ruthven Barracks | Short town stop and valley viewpoint |
| 11:30 | Newtonmore | Museum exterior, coffee and supplies |
| 12:30 | Laggan | Village walk and lunch |
| 13:45 | Pattack Falls | Short forest walk if paths are safe |
| 14:45 | Loch Laggan and Ardverikie access | Park legally, walk and keep clear of private grounds |
| 17:30 | Return | Continue west or retrace the route east |
Inverness is the easiest base if this day sits inside a longer trip. The comparison of Highland bases for road trips explains when Aviemore or Fort William makes more sense. Drivers who want fewer logistics can also adapt a Cairngorms day tour around Broomhill and Badenoch.
What is confirmed about the Monarch of the Glen reboot?
Channel 5 and MASTERPIECE PBS have confirmed a fresh six-episode reimagining for 2027, led by Julia Brown as lawyer Isla Campbell. Production took place in Scotland and Northern Ireland. No official announcement has confirmed Ardverikie as the new family’s estate or Glenbogle’s return.
Calling it a reboot is useful shorthand, but “reimagining” is the broadcaster’s word. The lead family and premise are new. Until production releases precise location credits, claims that the cast has returned to Ardverikie are speculation.
That distinction matters when planning. Visit the original Monarch of the Glen filming locations because they shaped the programme people loved, not because a 2027 episode is guaranteed to show the same gateposts.
When is the best time to follow the filming route?
May, June and September offer the best balance of daylight, quieter roads and workable walking conditions. July and August bring heavier traffic and midges. Winter can look wonderfully dramatic, but short daylight, ice and seasonal closures make a full filming-location circuit less dependable.
Pack a waterproof shell, grippy shoes, midge repellent and an offline map. The best day trips from Inverness can fill a second day if cloud hides Ardverikie, while the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie is a sensible family alternative.
Respect the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: leave gates as you find them, avoid fields with livestock where requested, control dogs and take litter away. Screen tourism only works when residents don’t have to dread it.
What should visitors know before setting out?
Expect a scenic road trip, not a studio tour. The strongest locations are spread across working estates, villages and public landscapes. Check opening times, railway dates and estate notices shortly before travel, then leave enough slack for weather, livestock and slow Highland roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Glenbogle House in real life?
Glenbogle House is Ardverikie House at Kinloch Laggan in the Scottish Highlands. The mansion stands on the south side of Loch Laggan within a privately owned working estate.
Can you tour inside Ardverikie House?
General day visitors cannot tour the house. Guests staying in an Ardverikie holiday cottage may be offered a guided visit to reception rooms, subject to availability and estate arrangements.
Was Monarch of the Glen filmed in Newtonmore?
Yes. Newtonmore supplied street and building locations, including the Clan Macpherson Museum as Glenbogle’s post office and tearoom. Nearby Kingussie and Laggan also appeared frequently.
Which railway station was used as Glenbogle Station?
Broomhill Station near Nethy Bridge played Glenbogle Station. It is part of the Strathspey Railway, and seasonal steam services make it one of the easiest original locations to recognise.
Is Balavil House open to visitors?
No. Balavil House, used as Kilwillie Castle, is a private home rather than a public attraction. View only from lawful public areas and never enter the drive without permission.
Will Ardverikie appear in the 2027 reboot?
No official source has confirmed that Ardverikie will appear. The broadcaster has confirmed filming in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but precise estate locations have not been announced.
Emma is a solo traveler and freelance travel writer from New Zealand who spent three weeks exploring the Scottish Highlands. With a deep appreciation for history and landscapes, she booked a series of day tours and a private chauffeur journey with Scotland Highland Trip. From Loch Ness to the Cairngorms, she documented her experience through vivid blog posts and drone footage.
