29 For the Holy Grail, Pythonstyle
In the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 'what is your quest?' was only the second of the three questions 1 on the Bridge of Death. You won't have to fear a follow-up test however, if you go to the site today: a gorge in Glen Coe. It's one of a half-dozen filming locations strung out in a belt across the south-central Scottish Highlands (scotlandthemovie.comlmovieslfpython.html), best explored on a short road trip, and to a Pythonesque modest budget. The trip is bookended by two castles: begin near Stirling, at Doune Castle, which doubled in the film as Camelot and also Castle Anthrax. From there, follow the A84 into the legendary splendour of the Highlands (bring some coconut shells to clop together for added effect). If you have time, get past the guard-bunny at the Cave of Caerbannog (the hard-to-find Tomnadashan Mine on the south shore of Loch Tay) and take the dead-end road into remote Rannoch Moor. All grail quests end at Castle Stalker (aka Castle Aaargh) near Appin - try to pick one of the few days with a tour to this climactic island stronghold (£20;castlestalker.comhttp://castlestalker.com;).
ARRIVE The drive from Stirling to Appin via Glen Coe takes two and a half hours, without stops.