The movie “Ring of Bright Water” was released in 1969 and is a charming blend of comedy and drama. It tells the story of a man named Graham Merrill who adopts an otter named Mij and moves to a secluded village in Scotland for a life filled with adventures. The key roles in the film were played by Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, and Peter Jeffrey. Let’s delve into where the film was shot and explore some interesting facts and trivia about it.
Where it Filmed?
The filming of “Ring of Bright Water” took place at various locations across the United Kingdom, primarily in Scotland and England. Most notably, scenes were shot in Ellenabeich, Seil, and North Pier, Oban in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Some sequences were also filmed at the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Fort William, Highland, Scotland, and in London, England. The filming dates started on April 22, 1968. 
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Bill Travers | Graham Merrill |
| Virginia McKenna | Mary MacKenzie |
| Peter Jeffrey | Colin Wilcox |
| Jameson Clark | Storekeeper |
| Helena Gloag | Flora |
| Roddy McMillan | Busdriver |
| Christopher Benjamin | London Fishmonger |
| Kevin Collins | Fisherman |
| Archie Duncan | Road mender |
| June Ellis | Barmaid |
| Philippa Gail | Pet stall girl |
| Tommy Godfrey | Ticket seller |
| Walter Hall | |
| Bill Horsley | Timid man |
| Phil McCall | Frank |
| Philip Morant | |
| Michael O’Halloran | Herman |
| John Young | Guard |
| James Gibson | Sleeping car attendant (uncredited) |
| Philip Johns | Man in Bar (uncredited) |
Trivia and Facts
- The movie is based on the true-life story of Gavin Maxwell who actually bought an otter in London and brought it back to his home in Scotland.
- Gavin Maxwell unexpectedly discovered that this otter was a new subspecies not recorded previously and named it after himself as “Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli”.
- An interesting goof in the film is that the lead character, Graham Merrill can be seen wearing wellies while leaving his cottage, but he arrives at the village wearing shoes, and again is seen in wellies.
- The title of the movie “Ring of Bright Water” was referenced in Denis Leary’s 1993 show “No Cure for Cancer”.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: Ellenabeich, Seil, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
- Latitude: 56.294525
- Longitude: -5.650464899999999
- Place ID: ChIJLZpzh2PYi0gRS0VK28TrH2E
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Ellenabeich, Oban PA34 4RQ, UK
- Timezone: Europe/London
- Location Name: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fort William, Highland, Scotland, UK
- Latitude: 56.8762172
- Longitude: -5.4317589
- Place ID: ChIJtaE4NcmzjkgR5z8-41V_s_c
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan PH37 4LT, UK
- Timezone: Europe/London
- Location Name: London, England, UK
- Latitude: 51.5072178
- Longitude: -0.1275862
- Place ID: ChIJdd4hrwug2EcRmSrV3Vo6llI
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: London, UK
- Timezone: Europe/London
- Location Name: North Pier, Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
- Latitude: 56.414738
- Longitude: -5.473597
- Place ID: ChIJF8zTHbRniUgRw_OzF8eNOIg
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: North Pier Office North Pier, Oban PA34 5QD, UK
- Timezone: Europe/London
