Yorkshire plays a leading role, but this one area in particular is the star of the film
It’s no secret Wuthering Heights was set within the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, and so when it came to filming the latest adaptation, they returned to the classic novel’s homeland.
While Emily Brontë’s novel was set predominantly within the Yorkshire Moors, close to where she lived, this on-screen intense love story was set within the Yorkshire Dales.
In fact, there was one Dale in particular that was the real star of the show, making multiple appearances throughout the film.
Audiences are desperate to incorporate the world of Wuthering Heights into their 2026 travel plans, and Swaledale is the perfect place to immerse themselves.
From the very first glimpses of the film to some of its most dramatic scenes, the backdrop of this dale arguably plays the leading role.
One of the prime filming locations within Swaledale is the ruins which can be seen throughout the film. These particular ruins are, in fact, remains of Yorkshire’s early 19th-century lead mining industry, featuring tall chimneys that are free to roam for the public.
At the very beginning of the film, when a horse-drawn carriage moves through the green fields, it passes the Old Gang Smelt Mill, which can be seen in the background.
It’s also captured again in other clips, when leading actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are strolling through the misty moors.
Just down the road from the Old Gang site, sitting in the moorland above Langwaite village, is a winding road, known as Bouldershaw Lane. That area features in the film substantially during a dramatic scene when Robbie can be seen in a huge wedding dress.
Where she is seen trudging through an open field fiercely carrying a bouquet while wearing a white veil and gown – that scene took place in the field across the road.
The land itself is private, but it can be viewed from the lane, and many people walk past it without even realising whilst completing the circular walk from Surrender Bridge and around Reeth High Moor.
A short drive away from Swaledale is a grand hall and residence, which is believed to have been used as accommodation for the Hollywood actors themselves and director Emerald Fennell during filming.
The owners of the property have claimed both the cast and crew rehearsed lines here during the day and shot post-production interviews onsite.
Owner Jake Dinsdale shared with Condé Nast Traveller: “They had some great meals together, a Sunday roast. We did some walks with them, and they enjoyed the outdoor fire pits on our terrace late into the night, chatting and laughing…they really enjoyed those and having a flavour of the countryside.”
Also sitting within Yorkshire Dales National Park is the Melbeck Moors, which acted as the backdrop to a number of beautiful scenes throughout the film.
One of the spots where you see the characters wandering the fields is thought to have been along here, as it was an incredibly remote location in the upper part of Swaledale.
The area is dotted with a number of disused buildings and old roads from a time when it was once a hub for lead mining, and one of the ruins was also used for filming.
The National Park’s communications manager, Mark Sadler, explained how these locations were further brought to life for the film through special effects and props.
He said the area is pretty much “open moorland”, which takes over five miles to get to.
He added that, in line with respecting the natural elements of the land, the cast and crew needed to be aware that quite lengthy walks into “very, very remote moorland” were required, with absolutely nothing surrounding it.
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