May 30, 2025
On Location in the South West with The Salt Path
The Salt Path © Steve Tanner_Black Bear
The South West coastline has provided a stunning cinematic backdrop for many High End TV Dramas and Feature productions over the years, and with the release of The Salt Path this beautiful landscape is showcased once more on screen.
Creative England’s Filming in England celebrate the iconic and diverse range of scenery shot on location in the South West region.
Where did The Salt Path film in the South West?
The Salt Path is an adaptation of the bestselling memoir by author, Raynor Winn, documenting a heart wrenching story of Raynor (played by Gillian Anderson) and her husband Moth (Jason Isaacs) navigating homelessness and a life-altering illness by embracing nature and setting-out on the 630 mile long South West Coast Path.
The journey starts off in Minehead in Somerset, leading around the Exmoor coastline and the Valley of Rocks in Devon to picturesque village of Clovelly and through to Hartland Quay, Padstow in Cornwall to Land’s End and finishing in Dorset.
Kerry Carpenter, Marketing & PR Co-ordinator within Commercial & Procurement and lead contact of the Dorset Council film-facilitation service was delighted to see Dorset’s unique charm played out on screen:
“We are delighted to see Dorset appearing on the screen in ‘The Salt Path’. Dorset Council is proud to have played a role in facilitating filming of landscape and nature scenes at Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve. This remarkable location beautifully captures the story’s themes of resilience and discovery. We hope this will inspire filmgoers to explore the beauty the South West Coast Path firsthand, immersing themselves in Dorset’s natural beauty and following in the footsteps of Raynor and Moth Winn. With its unspoilt countryside and dramatic coastline, Dorset remains a favourite with filmmakers. We look forward to welcoming more productions to discover Dorset’s unique charm and share their stories with the world.”
A Positive Economic Impact from Screen Tourism
The Salt Path not only depicts the stunning coastline and landscapes of the South West region, but also the residents and businesses who all form part of the towns, villages and communities that rely on the visitor economy.
Screen Devon is the newly formed Film Office service for the county, working with Local Authorities in Devon to support and attract production activity to the region. Claire Horrocks, Screen Devon’s Film Office Manager recognises the importance that productions can bring to the region:
“Screen Devon recognises the opportunities that the release of ‘The Salt Path’ will bring to the region. Exhibitors and cinemas will get a much needed boost and we have been working with partners across the county to make the most of these opportunities so we are ready to welcome more visitors who will be attracted to our beautiful areas. The Salt Path is also a great moment for Screen Devon to showcase what is possible as we gear up our services to respond to more film and HETV productions who wish to film here.”
Screen Somerset, a Somerset Council’s Film Office initiative also supported filming of The Salt Path shooting along the Exmoor coastline in Spring 2023. Although a relatively small section of the overall South West Coast Path, Somerset is showcased a lot in the feature production and forms a substantial part of the scenery captured in the film.
Mark Ford, Screen Somerset’s lead discusses facilitating the production and working with local Destination Management Organisations to encourage sustainable tourism activity to the area:
“The initial focus was on the Minehead area, with road closures along a stretch of the seafront for filming and identifying unit base space and parking in the town centre. We also arranged access along the South West Coast Path at Culvercliffe Walk and North Hill and from there, the crew went on to shoot on Bossington Hill, with its incredible views over Porlock Bay and Exmoor. The whole experience was hugely positive, with the locations team being flexible and understanding throughout. We’ve recognised the screen tourism potential – this is a relatively rare example of a major feature film in which the landscape is itself a central character and is not doubling as somewhere else. In the build up to the release of the film, Screen Somerset has been coordinating work between several key players – including the South West Coast Path Association, the Exmoor National Park and Visit Exmoor and the film’s distributor, Black Bear – to make the most of the opportunity.
Online information is linking the film to accommodation providers, bus and train connections and there is supporting information to make is easier for businesses in the area to use the film in their own promotional materials. We also arranged a preview screening which will bring together various local stakeholders and tourism leaders and inspire them to capitalise on the exposure the film will give the area, as well as running a competition in the local area to win tickets. It’s also been a great opportunity for Screen Somerset to demonstrate the benefits that a film office can bring to the visitor economy.”
Visit Britain have also launched the Starring GREAT Britain campaign around screen tourism, recognising the impact productions have on driving the visitor economy and capitalising on the set-jetting trend.
Spotlight on the South West Local Industry Workforce
From the regional production hub of Bristol, and further afield in Dorset, Somerset and Cornwall the South West region has a wealth of experienced industry professionals who make up the sectors workforce.
Creative England’s production services, manages a National Crew Directory, an essential resource for productions looking to hire regional crew from all skills and backgrounds. Offering free bespoke crewing services across all production classifications and enhancing opportunities for local industry.
Karen Mac, Film Office Manager at Screen Cornwall has overseen the growth and increasing reputation of Cornwall’s production landscape and growing workforce welcoming productions to the region:
“Screen Cornwall was thrilled to welcome ‘The Salt Path’ to shoot in our region, the project highlights Cornwall’s growing reputation as both a visually stunning filming location and a source of highly skilled industry professionals.”
South West based Supervising Location Manager, Poppy Gordan-Clark who worked on The Salt Path added:
“The production had such a positive experience working in the South West region with Screen Cornwall, Somerset, Devon and Dorset Council to bring the life affirming story of ‘The Salt Path’ to the big screen. As a location manager on such an ambitious location heavy film, I could not have succeeded without the collaboration of these teams.”
Creative England also hosts Filming in England Connect: Industry Mixers aimed at uniting regional based crew, supply chain businesses and supporting local partners fostering further opportunities and to celebrate production activity in the regions.
The Salt Path will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 30th May.
For more information on the Regional Filming Partners please visit Dorset Council, Screen Devon, Screen Somerset and Screen Cornwall.
The Destination Management Organisations featured include South West Coast Path Association and Visit Exmoor.
If of interest, please register online to the Filming in England Crew Directory and to be kept updated on Connect: Industry Mixer events.
With thanks to Black Bear for providing access to The Salt Path production stills.
