Monarch Country

Coordinates: 56°57′04″N 4°27′13″W / 56.951°N 4.4535°W / 56.951; -4.4535

Ardverikie House after the May 2006 Open Gardens Day

Monarch Country refers to the area of the Scottish Highlands featured in the BBC One drama series Monarch of the Glen. The filming locations were predominantly in Badenoch and Strathspey. Fans of the series refer to themselves as Boglies and to the area as Monarch Country.

Overview

Monarch of the Glen had many locations in the area, with the Ardverikie Estate, near the small village of Laggan, being the focal point. Ardverikie House, in the middle of the estate, doubled as the MacDonalds' residence - Glenbogle House (or The Big House) in the show. The estate also boasts the croft of the ghillie Golly MacKenzie and the local pub, the Ghillie's Rest. The entrance to the estate, Kinloch Laggan, was often seen in the show, as was the bridge that gives access from Kinloch Laggan to the actual Ardverikie Estate. Loch Laggan surrounds the estate, and its beach was used many a time in the show. Ardverikie opens its gardens on the last Sunday of May each year.

Laggan appeared as the village of Glenbogle, and was home to Glenbogle Primary School, the croft of its headmistress Katrina Finlay, and the village stores. The village of Newtonmore features the funeral directors, post office, and various other minor locations. Kingussie hosts the Glenbogle Town Hall, whilst Carrbridge has the Village Hall, and Broomhill Station in Strathspey doubles as the Glenbogle Station.

Kilwillie Castle, aka Balavil House

The River Pattack just up from the Ardverikie Estate was used several times for different romantic scenes as well as when family member Paul fell in the river. Shepherdess Iona's croft is just up from the Pattack, while farmer Isobel's farm is just down the from the estate at the village of Moy and the Glenbogle Church is in fact the Cille Choirille Church near Roy Bridge. Lord Kilwillie's Castle is actually Balavil House, off the A86 road near Kingussie, while Ruthven Barracks, Loch an Eilein and Loch na h'Earba appeared during Ewan's stolen-car scenes, where Katrina found her real father, and where the clay-pigeon shooting contest appeared. Meanwhile the shop in Kincraig was the location of the motorcyclists in season one.

Gallery

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  McKechnies, aka Laggan Stores

External links

• Official Monarch Country Website
• Scotland Movie Guide's Monarch of the Glen listing
• Cairngorms National Park Website where most of the filming was carried out
• Ardverikie Estate
• Village of Laggan
• Village of Newtonmore