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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Alasdair Clark

Creepy underground tunnels in Edinburgh and the Lothians that you probably haven't heard of

If you've ever wondered how film crews find those beautiful Edinburgh locations that have starred in so many blockbusters, then you probably didn't know Edinburgh Council has its own dedicated film office, called Film Edinburgh.

They are experts in Edinburgh, and help directors and producers from all over the world find the perfect location to shoot their film or TV show.

Avengers: Infinity War, Outlander, Fast and Furious 9, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga and Outlaw King are just some of the productions which have used iconic locations around Edinburgh and the Lothians as their backdrop.

Film Edinburgh offer free advice to productions, using their expert knowledge and brilliant location library, promoting Edinburgh to the world.

But their expert local history knowledge and location library aren't just of interest to film crews, with their galleries an excellent resource to get lost in and discover things you never knew were hidden around you.

Amongst their collection are some hidden tunnels and cave you might not have known existed, scattered around Edinburgh dating back centuries.

Neidpath Tunnel, located just outside of Peebles, is an abandoned train tunnel. At nearly half a mile long, at some points in the tunnel you can see neither the entrance or the exit. With no natural light, it isn't for the faint hearted.

Easter Hailes Tunnel, or the Colinton Tunnel, runs along the Water of Leith. Part of an old railway tunnel, it's currently decorated with some brilliant art work as Scotland's longest community mural.

Fascinatingly, 140 metres of the tunnel features a poem writing by Robert Louis Stevenson, and the group hope to keep the tunnel as a living link to the communities heritage.

Join our nostalgic Facebook group Edinburgh Back In Time for more fascinating facts about Edinburgh's history.

One of Scotland's oldest stone castles dating back to the 1200s, Hailes Castle in East Lothian features some fascinating subterranean areas, including an old kitchen.

Check out our gallery for some spooky pics, and let us know in the comments which one you'd like to visit first.

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