I can’t believe there’s so many of you! This branch of Merlin Locations has been live for almost a year now and I can’t thank you enough for your support ♥

I hope you find this blog useful, and please feel free to send in any questions you have! Between myself and the rest of the Locations team, we’ll probably be able to answer anything you send us :) 

Thank you once again ♥

Hello! 

I’m afraid we never know ahead of time where they’re filming in Wales. Last series some of the crew twitters occasionally gave out hints as to where they were that day, but it appears that they have been asked by The Powers That Be not to do that this year.

Any information we get tends to be after the event, we find out through official websites for the locations or local newspapers who tend to report any filming that happens in the area.

Sorry we can’t help you <3 best of luck if you go location hunting!

Hi! I really love your hard work and your blogs :3 Wanted to ask regarding (this year’s) Pierrefonds filming… I noticed on the castle’s official webpage, it says they open in May - do you know if it was the same last year? Much love! <3

— merlinknights

Hello! Thank you for your kind words <3

With regards to opening times for the castle, it varies on the time of year:

From 5th September to 30th April it is open every day except Monday, 10 am to 1pm, then it’s closed for an hour for lunch. It reopens at 2pm until 5.30 pm

Then from 2nd May to 4th September it is open every day 9.30 am to 6 pm, no Monday closures or lunch time breaks :) 

The only days of the year the castle is shut (aside from those mentioned) are January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th

As for potential filming dates for this year, we have heard rumours as to what they may be, but we’re going to hold off from saying for certain on here until we’ve confirmed it. Although a lot of other sites have specified certain weeks, we like to be completely sure before we share it on our websites as so many people check it :)

Hope this helps!

Hello to all our new followers! I can’t believe how many of you there are, it’s brilliant ♥

For those of you who have just joined us, you can find our FAQ here, and some filming information just over here. Our submission box is always open, but we’d love it if you read the guidelines first ♥

There’s also the caveat emptor which you might want to take a peek at if you’re planning a visit to any locations.

If you’re looking for the information regarding filming and other events in 2012, you can find it right here, we aim to keep it updated as often as we can.

More information can be found at our main website, and last but by no means least, the ask box is always open! If you have any comments, questions, concerns or just want to chat then feel free to drop me a line! I promise I don’t bite and I will reply to you as soon as I can :)

Jalea Ward has contacted us with the following plea:

‘The local council are making all the staff redundant and leaving the village to “free visits” which sounds fine but means no-one will care for it any more. Please Merlin fans sign the petition to keep it staffed and re-instate events there!

http://www.change.org/petitions/vale-of-glamorgan-council-re-think-their-changes-to-the-way-cosmeston-medieval-village-is-run

thankyou!’

Did you know…?

That the location fondly known as Three Bears Caves was also used in BBC’s Sherlock?

In Merlin we first see the caves in episode 2x04: Lancelot & Gunievere as the Tunnels of Andor, and they were also used later in series 4. Upon watching Sherlock episode 2x02: The Hounds of Baskerville, Julie and I were delighted to notice it was used as the location for Dewer’s Hollow.

The caves are located in Fforest Fawr in Wales, close to Castell Coch. They’re a little tricky to get to, but very impressive to look at by all accounts. You can find out more about them here!

Cave photo | Merlin screencaps | Sherlock screencaps

Fforest Fawr, Wales

Fforest Fawr, Wales

This page lists any public events or conventions at which we know Merlin cast or crew will appear, along with any theatrical appearances.

We’ll keep this information as up-to-date and correct as we can, but of course it’s always worth checking the official sites before making any firm plans. Also, when cast or crew plan to attend events, this is always subject to their work commitments which of course must take priority.

Thanks are forever due to our Research Geek gealach_ros and various Locations Friends for the heads-up.

Read More

Fforest Fawr, Wales.

Over at our main website, Julie has started a re-watch of Merlin to begin systematically recording locations. Below, she explains why:

This website, and indeed the whole Merlin Locations thing, grew quite randomly. For me it all started with a visit to Puzzlewood and Speech House Lake on 25 April 2009; I fell in love with both in different ways. I thought that only a few people might share my interest in these places – not only for their own sake, I mean, but as filming locations for our beloved Merlin. I was astonished and happy to be wrong about that!

From there I investigated the obvious locations such as the Chateau de Pierrefonds, and also other more obscure locations when prompted by clues in DVD extras such as the video diaries or by information provided by fellow Locations Geeks. It was all pretty random. But I always thought we should at some stage start at the beginning, and go through the episodes in a more systematic way. Also, it seemed that people enjoyed my weekly updates on each episode’s locations during the third and fourth seasons. Hence the first of these ‘rewatch’ posts.

You can find it over at the main website. But take heed young warlocks, it’s very image heavy!