Beyond Paradise Filming Locations: Across Devon and Cornwall

Article by Jane
March 29th, 2024
Beyond Paradise Filming Locations: Across Devon and Cornwall
Picture via TMDB API

Death in Paradise spinoff Beyond Paradise filming locations like Looe Bridge, Looe Guildhall, Calstock’s Fore Street and Weir Quay, The Weary Friar, The Reservoir Cafe and Pentillie Castle and Estate cross the Devon and Cornwall border. Find out which locations are which in the Devon-set drama series.

DI Humphrey Goodman (Kris Marshall) has relocated to Shipton Abbott after his stint on the Caribbean island of Saint Marie. The moment he arrives in the Devon town he’s starting his first case with DS Esther Williams (Zahra Ahmadi), Margo Martins (Felicity Montagu) and PC Kelby Hartford (Dylan Llewellyn). We also meet Anne Lloyd (Barbara Flynn), the mother of Humphrey’s partner, Martha (Sally Bretton), as Humphrey and Anne start their new life.

Where Was Beyond Paradise Filmed?

Looking for Beyond Paradise Series 2 Filming Locations?
Discover the locations from series 2 of Beyond Paradise in our latest article; Beyond Paradise Season 2 Filming Locations: The Real Shipton Abbott

While Devon and Cornwall have their own distinctive personalities, Beyond Paradise is set in Devon and filmed in Cornwall. The show has created its own fictional town of Shipton Abbott in Devon, but most of Beyond Paradise’s key filming locations are in Looe.

“It's brilliant to be down in Cornwall, I absolutely love the area, I know this area very well as I used to live down here and used to have a place down here. I did a lot of surfing in Cornwall and I think this part of Cornwall, Looe, and the areas around Looe doesn't get seen enough in good drama.”
Kris Marshall, BBC Radio Cornwall

Beyond Paradise Locations

Shipton Abbott Bridge

Looe Bridge Looe Bridge. Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The bridge in Beyond Paradise is Looe Bridge, which was built in 1854 to replace a medieval crossing. It passes from East Looe to West Looe across the harbour. The bridge appears in numerous scenes from various angles.

Shipton Abbott Town

Calstock Quay Calstock Quay. Martin Bodman / Calstock: quay at Danescombe
Shipton Abbot town street scenes were filmed around Calstock in the Tamar Valley. Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton filmed around Calstock’s Fore Street and quay – even making time to stop for an ice cream.

The Tavistock Times Gazette also reposted on filming at Bere Ferrers and around Weir Quay back in 2022. Weir Quay sits on the Devon side of the River Tamar – lending a real Devon location to Beyond Paradise.

Shipton Abbott Police Station

Guildhall, Looe Guildhall, Looe by Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Beyond Paradise’s Shipton Abbott Police Station filming location is Looe Guildhall, also known as the Town Hall. The building with its distinctive clock tower is seen throughout the series, as the action shifts back to Humphrey’s new team. It’s on Fore Street in East Looe, and is home to a regular market.

Shipton Boat Yard

The Beyond Paradise Shipton Boat Yard filming location is Weir Quay Boatyard. Look out for it in Episode 2 as Humphrey and Esther ask Marvelous Harris (Phil Daniels) if he has any information about the hit and run. During their visit, Humphrey takes an interest in a boat for sale.

Weir Quay Boatyard stands on the Devon side of the River Tamar, surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Weary Friar

The Weary Friar The Weary Friar. Mick Lobb / The Weary Friar - Pillaton
The pub where Kelby shares his theory with Humphrey and Esther is The Weary Friar in Pillaton.

This Beyond Paradise filming location is a 12th Century coaching inn, and it’s located near Saltash in the Tamar Valley. The pub’s team shared their experiences of hosting Kris Marshall and co, with the cast taking time out for a snapshot or two.

Reservoir Cafe

The Reservoir Cafe is the Beyond Paradise location where Humphrey pieces the clues together (literally, to Esther’s exasperation). In the Episode 2 scene, Kris Marshall and Zahra Ahmadi are seen walking to an outdoor table in front of this University of Plymouth cafe.

The Reservoir Cafe is situated on campus beside Drake’s Place Gardens and Reservoir.

Estate Grounds

Pentillie Castle Rod Allday / Pentillie Castle
Pentillie Castle and Estate is another Beyond Paradise filming location in Cornwall that shared news of their upcoming appearance. The estate’s Lime Avenue, tenanted cottages and riverside quay all feature in the BBC show.

Pentillie also shared news of other local places where filming took place, including Port Eliot House and Gardens and Werrington Park.

Humphrey and Martha’s Cottage

Humphrey’s house in Beyond Paradise is in the riverside cottage on the Pentillie Estate in the Tamar Valley. It looks out onto the River Tamar from the Cornwall side, with Devon on the opposite banks.

The family-owned castle and estate has appeared onscreen a number of times since Channel 4’s Country House Rescue changed its fate.

Pentillie Castle and Estate shared a few behind the scenes recollection from the shoot with Visit Cornwall - including what it’s really like when a film crew takes over your home for the day.

Humphrey’s Quay

The quay near Martha and Humphrey’s cottage is the riverside quay on the Pentillie Estate. In Beyond Paradise Season 1 Episode 2, this is where the boat is moored when Humphrey joins Martha. The Beyond Paradise house filming location is close to Weir Quay Boatyard, so you wouldn’t have to sail far to bring a boat from one to the other.

House and Gardens

Look out for Port Eliot House and Gardens in the Death in Paradise spinoff. You can visit the gardens during set hours, and you can even peek inside the Grade I-listed house by pre-booking a tour.