IMAGES: GETTY; ALAMY
ON-SCREEN LOCATIONS
Dr No (1962) JAMAICA, CARIBBEAN THE FILM: Sean Connery stars as James Bond in the first film adaptation of Ian Fleming’s spy novels. Here, the suave sleuth is on the fictional Jamaican island of Crab Key, investigating the death of one of his colleagues. THE ICONIC SCENE: Bond wakes up to Honey Rider (Ursula Andress) singing ‘Underneath the Mango Tree’ as she steps out of the ocean. THE LOCATION: It’s no coincidence that Bond finds himself in Jamaica — author Ian Fleming owned a beachfront property on Jamaica’s north coast, which he named GoldenEye. Today, it’s a luxury hotel with the same name, where visitors can relax in private villas, cottages and beach huts amid the iconic Caribbean scenery that inspired so many of his espionage adventures. Aside from its connections to Bond, Jamaica
offers plenty of other delights: stunning beaches, tropical forests, live reggae, knock-your-socks-off rum and delicious jerk cuisine. WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Don’t miss out on a trip to Dunn’s River Falls, a famous waterfall near Ocho Rios. This 600ft-wide spring-water cascade is special as it’s the only waterfall in the Caribbean that empties directly into the sea. Climbing the falls (water shoes are a must) makes for a thrilling adventure worth of any Bond film. HOW TO DO IT: Five nights at the Jamaica Inn in a Superior Balcony Suite from 31 August costs £1,960 per person, including return flights from Heathrow.
ba.com
Mamma Mia! (2008) SKOPELOS, GREECE THE FILM: Mamma Mia! is the tale of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), who lives with her mother Donna (Meryl Streep) on a small Greek island. With her wedding approaching, Sophie goes on a quest to find her biological father before the big day. THE ICONIC SCENE: As the sun sets and waves crash, Donna stands at the bottom of the rocky path leading up to the wedding chapel and belts out a powerful rendition of ‘The Winner Takes It All’. THE LOCATION: The Greek island in the film is Skopelos, part of the Northern Sporades archipelago. It’s a natural beauty, with unspoiled pebbly bays that are perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Skopelos is one of the greenest Greek islands, half covered in pine forests, making it a must for hikers and nature-lovers. The island has two main villages, Skopelos and Glossa, where winding streets climb the hillside between houses painted white and blue. There are dozens of monasteries to explore, as well as plenty of excellent tavernas. Better still, despite its Mamma Mia! fame, the island is relatively peaceful and quiet, even in high season. WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Visit the tiny chapel of Agios Ioannis, perched atop a huge rock overlooking the sea, where the iconic scene takes place. There’s no getting out of the 200 or so steps to the top, but the views are worth the effort. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights’ B&B at Aeolos Hotel Skopelos from 20 May costs £841 per person, including return flights from Gatwick.
tui.co.uk
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) SKELLIG MICHAEL, COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND THE FILM: The seventh Star Wars instalment sees orphaned scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) learn the truth of her identity and try to restore galactic peace. THE ICONIC SCENE: Rey meets Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the final scene atop an emerald- green hill as the camera whirls overhead. THE LOCATION: Skellig Michael, one of the Skellig Islands, eight miles off the Irish coast provided one of the film’s most otherworldly backdrops. Once home to Christian monks, this inhospitable chunk of rock rising dramatically out of the sea is now better known as the hideout of Luke Skywalker. Visitors can see the beehive-shaped huts the monks lived in over 1,400 years ago, as well as the ruins of St Fionán’s Monastery. The number of visitors to the island, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, is capped at 180 per day and only licensed boats can ferry people over. Tours depart daily between May and October from Portmagee Harbour. WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Look out for the colony of puffins that nest on the island in the summer. When the sequel, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was filmed in the same location, the birds were digitally repurposed as a cute fictional species called porgs. HOW TO DO IT: Tour Radar’s seven-day Hiking & Island Hopping — Cork and Kerry costs from £2,101 per person, which covers accommodation, meals and excursions, including a visit to Skellig Michael.
tour-radar.com
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER – ISLANDS COLLECTION 17
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