Castle ‘renamed’ Winterfell in honour of television series
● Doune was used in first series of Game of Thrones
A Scottish castle has been “renamed” in honour of its role in hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones.
Doune Castle in Stirlingshire will temporarily be known as Winterfell in honour of the final season of the show.
The temporary takeover has been staged to coincide with the screening of the last episode of the programme.
Doune Castle is one of four locations across the UK transformed into the World of Westeros as anticipation surrounding last weekend’s finale reached its peak.
The medieval stronghold, which was first built in the 1200s and then rebuilt following the Scottish Wars of Independence, acted as Winterfell during the first season.
The thick walls and courtyard of the castle, which has royal connections and was built by the Duke of Albany, the son of Robert II, King of Scots, was considered a fitting setting for the fictional seat of power.
Gillian Macdonald, head of business development and enterprise at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be involved with the Game of Thrones takeover.
“Doune Castle was featured as the location for Winterfell in the pilot episode so it’s fantastic to be chosen as the much-loved Westeros lo cation now that the TV series is coming to an end.
“We hope fans of Game of Thrones across the country will visit Doune Castle and enjoy walking in the footsteps of Jon Snow and the Starks.”
It is not the first time that Doune Castle has appeared on screen.
Visitor numbers to the castle have soared since it played a lead role in Outlander as Castle Leoch, 18th century home to Clan Mackenzie, in the time travelling romance. Doune’s appeal has long been noted by location directors.
It was used in the 2018 film Outlaw King and the classic British comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1974. Today, the castle’s audio tour is narrated by Monty Python’s Terry Jones.
The link between Doune Castle and Game of Thrones was, however, shortlived.
Due to the lack of studio space and infrastructure, the crew re located to Northern Ireland with the show using a global list of locations – from Spain, Morocco and Croatia – for the production.
Having appeared in Game of Thrones, Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this particular Scottish “celebrity” should probably be even more famous than it already is.
Doune Castle in Perthshire has starred as Winterfell – home of the “King in the North” – in a pilot for Game of Thrones, played the fictional Castle Leoch in Outlander and was given at least three parts – Camelot, Castle Anthrax and the Castle of Aarrgh – in what Python star Terry Jones later described in an audio guide for visitors as a “very
silly film”. “I have very fond memories of Doune Castle, it’s a fascinating place and the setting is absolute - ly spectacular,” Jones said in 2009.
Scotland is a modern country with thriving economic sectors in cutting-edge industries like fintech, biotech and some of the other techs too. It is important that our economy doesn’t simply rely on our stunning scenery and fascinating history to attract millions of tourists eve - ry year. However, when it comes to castles, we definitely do a good one – or six. Edinburgh, Stirling, Dunnottar, Caerlaverock, Tantallon, Eilean Donan... the list goes on.