So, why were they in Buckinghamshire...?

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

So, during the off-season I'm thinking about the things we haven't covered yet in Merlin Locations, the mysteries we haven't solved... and it suddenly occurred to me to ask why our beloved cast and crew were in Buckinghamshire during season one.

I'm sure we all recall the scene where Colin's cheekbones were kicking right off... It's the opening scene of Colin's video diary in the DVD extras for season one, part two. This seems to have been filmed on Ivinghoe Beacon. Bradley's first guess was right - they were looking at a lion carved into the chalk. Unlike the traditional, historical horses and fully-endowed masculine figures on hillsides, this was actually created in modern times by Whipsnade Zoo.

Hurrah for Wikipedia and Google:

• page on the zoo, including an image of the lion from the same perspective as Bradley's
• page on Ivinghoe Beacon
• location of the Beacon on Google maps

Which is all very cool, and guess where I'll be going soon...? :-D

But the question becomes what were they doing in Buckinghamshire, which is northwest of London? All the English locations I'm aware of that aren't in or near the Forest of Dean (within reach of Cardiff) are all southwesteast of London (Surrey studios, Chislehurst Caves, Penshurst Place). So they were a fair way beyond their usual base, whether that was Surrey or Cardiff.

Anyone have any ideas? I'll go there soon, and have a bit of an explore, but I don't even know what I'm looking for!

ETA: Ooh! I've got a theory... I've got myself all excited which could mean I'm setting myself up for a big disappointment... But what if the Beacon is where they filmed that very first shot of Merlin walking along a white chalk road lined with green grass? And in ep 104 Arthur is seen riding in the same spot on his way to the Forest of Balor? I'd been assuming that was so anonymous a location that we'd never place it, but it kind of fits. Though surely that on its own wouldn't explain why they went all the way to Buckinghamshire... Hhhmmm... I'll report back! Meanwhile, any other ideas and theories would be grand.

Comments

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

Hee! So what are you doing on Monday...? :-D

[robinmarian.livejournal.com]

Have fun exploring Mrs L! <333

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks, hon! I'll take you with me in spirit... ♥

[feilongfan.livejournal.com]

> But what if the Beacon is where they filmed that very first shot of Merlin walking along a white chalk road lined with green grass?

No it was filmed in South Wales. I read an article, I have to look under the "merlin tourism" tag in my LJ to confirm.

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

Ah! I'd be interested if you can track that down for us. I don't tend to think of South Wales as chalky, so I was wandering off along a dead end there... :-D

It's finally twigged, though - the Beacon is near Burnham Beeches, which someone has suggested as the place where Arthur finds Nimueh in the Forest of Balor. So that would explain the whole Buckinghamshire thing. Maybe I'll have a fair bit of exploring to do on Monday! XD

Thanks for the input.

[yavannauk.livejournal.com]

Ahem! As a proud inhabitant of south east London/Kent I should like to restore Chislehurst Caves and Penshurst Place to their rightful setting! ;-)

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

My most humble apologies. Southeast is what I meant, but my fingers were obviously having a senior moment! ♥

[yavannauk.livejournal.com]

Hee!! *g*

[babydracky.livejournal.com]

Sounds pretty good!^^
Let us know when you visit!
♥♥♥

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon! I sure will. :-D
♥♥♥

[ravenflight21.livejournal.com]

I was excited to see the chalk lion in the video diaries, because I've seen it too. But I have no theories on what they filmed there.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you discover. Perhaps one of the model aircraft enthusiasts there (they seem to gather all over that part of the country, along with kite flyers) will turn out to be the one whose plane Colin hijacked. :)

[mrs-leary.livejournal.com]

Morning, hon! That's cool, that you've seen the lion, too. Don't you just love having that stab of recognition? :-D I'm off there tomorrow, but then travelling further afield, so I probably won't post until I get home again.

Wouldn't it be funny if the model aircraft person turned out to be a Merlin fan, and recognised their plane on the video diaries...? XD