Scotland has recently been voted the best film location in the World by readers of USA Today, ahead of both New Zealand and Jordan.

Scotland has featured in a number of high-profile movies in recent years, including the Harry Potter series (2001 to 2011); Skyfall, Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises (all 2012); World War Z (2013); and the upcoming films Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender, and Victor Frankenstein, starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe. Scotland also plays a starring role in the hit US television series Outlander, which is now being shown in the UK on Amazon Prime.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “This is a fantastic accolade for Scotland, which has beaten some of the world’s most iconic film locations to take this award.

“Given our country’s incredible and unique scenery, our range of spectacular buildings, as well as the warmth of our welcome, it is no wonder that it continues to attract some of the top film-makers from all over the world.

“Set-jetting, where people visit their favourite filming locations, is hugely popular and Scotland’s victory in this USA Today poll is further testimony to this country’s growing reputation as one of the world’s greatest film sets.”

Picture: the Jacobite steam train passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.