The Famous Five: Peril on the Night Train filming locations like the Dean Forest Railway, Norchard Railway Station, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Goose and Cuckoo Inn, Abergavenny, Treberfydd House and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park send Enid Blyton’s Famous Five characters from Dorset to the Highlands in a brand new adventure for Easter 2024.
“It is an absolute thrill ride, that doesn’t let go at any point – there are multiple suspects, multiple dangers, multiple adventures! And who doesn’t love a cross-country train?!”
Asis Abassi, Director, BBC
When Quentin’s (James Lance) invention, the Algebra Engine, attracts attention from Mr. Roland (Ed Speleers) and Sabrina Grover (Nora Arnezeder).
With World War II raging in the background, the Famous Five start to wonder if their new acquaintances have something to hide. Before they know it, George (Diaana Babnicova), Dick (Kit Rakusen), Anne (Flora Jacoby Richardson), Julian (Elliott Rose), and Timmy the dog are on the night train to Loch Ness, with Quentin and Fanny (Ann Akinjirin) in hot pursuit.
Peril on the Night Train was released on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Friday 29th March 2024, then repeated on BBC One on Easter Monday 2024.
It’s Episode 2 of Nicolas Winding Refn’s updated BBC Famous Five series, following December 2023’s The Famous Five: The Curse of Kirrin Island.
Where Was The Famous Five: Peril on the Night Train Filmed?
The Famous Five Peril on the Night Train was filmed in Upper Llanover, around the Llanover Estate, Norchard Railway Station, the Dean Forest Railway, Glenfinnan Viaduct and around the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Peril on the Night Train’s filming locations throw in hills and valleys, alongside historic filming locations with plenty of period charm. Look out for vintage locomotives, stunning manor houses and more.
“We shot at an amazing hotel and you feel like you're in another world, like you’ve travelled in time.”
Nora Arnezedor, Sabrina Grover, BBC
Filming for the new BBC Famous Five adventure took place in summer and early autumn 2023. Diaana Babnikova shared an Instagram snap at the end of the Famous Five location shoot in October 2023.
The Famous Five: Peril on the Night Train Locations
Kirrin Cottage
The Kirrin Cottage filming location in The Famous Five 2024 is Ffawydden Cottage on the Llanover Estate, Wales.
In the Enid Blyton series, Kirrin Cottage is on the Dorset coast, but this location is actually surrounded by the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Ffawydden Cottage is only used for exterior shots, with the interiors filmed on set.
Guest star Ed Speleers’ character, Mr Roland, comes to stay with the family at the start The Famous Five: Peril on the Night Train, and the actor praised the set’s convincing layout.
“a lot of what I've been doing has been predominantly on a stage which has been great, I was blown away by the Kirrin Cottages that they built. The details are so well put together as you walk in all of those rooms.”
Ed Speleers, Mr Roland, BBC
Steam Railway
Dean Forest Railway at Parkend by Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0
The steam railway in The Famous Five’s Easter 2024 episode is the Dean Forest Railway. It’s a heritage railway covering four and a half miles of track through the woodland, with five stations along the route.
And here’s exactly which train station was used for the railway platform scenes in Peril on the Night Train…
Train Station
Norchard Railway Station. mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 2.0
The Famous Five 2024 railway station location is Norchard Railway Station in the Forest of Dean.
The Famous Five station is actually divided into Norchard High Level and Norchard Low Level, with two platforms at Norchard Low Level and one platform at Norchard High Level.
It’s the Dean Forest Railway’s main station and this is where you’ll find the gift shop, museum and café.
So yes, you can visit this Famous Five 2024 location used in the railway scenes! Just check the heritage railway’s website to see what’s open and when before you travel.
Steam Engine
Did you know that George and friends are on vintage carriages pulled by locomotive 9681? For the train aficionados, this is GWR Pannier No. 9681 and it was recently overhauled as part of a 9-year project.
You might have noticed from the GWR title that this locomotive isn’t a Scotland-England one. It was built to serve in London, West and South West England, and South Wales. The carriages do carry some convincing maroon livery though, matching some of the trains that run to the Highlands.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
sylvia duckworth / Glenfinnan viaduct, Loch Shiel in the distance
Look out for the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct at the end of the night train’s journey.
Of course, this one’s the iconic railway bridge location from Harry Potter and many more. The surrounding countryside does belong to the Highlands in Peril on the Night Train, but only in these long shots. As soon as we’re back with the Famous Five gang, all the locations are in Wales.
The Goose and Cuckoo Inn
The Famous Five: Peril on the Night Train’s Loch Ness pub location is the Goose and Cuckoo Inn in Upper Llanover, Abergavenny.
Not quite the shores of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, so you may have to look elsewhere for Nessie merchandise. But it does lie below the scenic Sugar Loaf Mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
It looks like the interior of the Highland pub location appears too. Look out for the cosy store fireplace near the end of The Famous Five Episode 2.
Highland HQ
The Army’s Highland HQ location in The Famous Five: Peril on the Night Train is Treberfydd House, a Grade I-listed mansion in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Built in 1852, the privately owned Gothic Revival property offers B and B accommodation – and acts as a striking filming location.
Treberfydd House has appeared in Doctor Who Episodes ‘Human Nature’ and ‘Family of Blood’, from the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) era.
Of course, in The Famous Five it’s home to the army division who want to make use of Quentin’s Algebra Engine.