Merlin

When: 2008-2014
Produced by: BBC
Starring: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson and John Hurt

Merlin was a popular adventure and fantasy family show which ran for 5 series and continues to be extremely popular around the world today. Produced by the BBC, the series revisited the saga of King Arthur and his wizard Merlin who discovers that magic is his destiny, amidst the company of friends and foes.

Merlin had the beauty of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley as a backdrop throughout its 5 series, our inspiring wild scenery being used to represent the ancient world of Albion. Deep caves, majestic castles, mysterious woodlands, lakes and paths feature in the series including notably Raglan Castle, Cannop Ponds, Speech House Lake, Clearwell Caves, Goodrich Castle and Puzzlewood.

Raglan Castle appeared in several episodes and scenes were also filmed at the striking sandstone structure of the Wye Valley’s Goodrich Castle, situated on high ground from where it looms down on the River Wye. Clearwell Caves was a location used in several episodes and Puzzlewood features in many important scenes. Merlin was actually the first major TV series to showcase the mystery and wonder of Puzzlewood on screen and it was used for filming across all 5 series of the show. In the series, Albion is a nation where magic is a part of everyday life and Puzzlewood certainly enhanced this feeling of otherworldliness.

Highlights of Merlin Episodes Filmed in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Include:

In Series 1, Episode 7, "The Gates of Avalon", Speech House Lake becomes the mythical Lake of Avalon where Merlin witnesses magical beings conjured by a man who he suspects to be dangerous. Arthur is almost drowned in the lake and Merlin must come to his rescue. Speech House Lake's natural beauty is enhanced with visual effects elements that show tiny flying creatures and Castle Camelot towering in the background over the seemingly placid water. Episode 9, "Excalibur" also sees Merlin throw the sword Excalibur into the same lake, although in the show CGI shows snowy mountains in the background this time!

In Series 1, Episode 11, "The Labyrinth of Gedref", from the opening sequence there is no mistaking the mystical Puzzlewood as Merlin, Arthur and his knights carefully stalk their prey hiding behind scowles and peering over mossy rocks. Their prey ends up being a beautiful unicorn whose death unleashes a terrible curse on Arthur.

Raglan Castle in all of its battle-hardened glory features in the final episode of Series 1, "Le Morte d'Arthur" as the secret hiding place of Nimueh, with plenty of smoke adding to the mysteriousness of the scene as Merlin arrives by boat into the moat surrounding the castle. Both Raglan and Goodrich Castle also appear in Series 2, Episode 8, "The Sins of the Father". In this episode the grandness of the setting creates just the right tone for the appearance of a great enemy of Merlin and his allies: the warrior and sorceress, Morgause.

In Series 3, Episode 5, "The Crystal Cave", Merlin encounters Morgana at a mysterious cave which is of course Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean.

Another highlight includes Episode 8 of Series 3, "The Eye of the Phoenix", where Warwick Davis plays Grettir, a gatekeeper and the guardian of a mystical path who helps Arthur, Merlin and Gwaine. The unmistakeable winding paths, wooden bridges, lookouts and gnarled trees show Puzzlewood off in all its glory. Warwick Davis also appeared in Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) filmed in Puzzlewood!

In several Series 5 episodes of Merlin, Clearwell Caves feature in all of their red rock beauty; notably in Episode 5 entitled "The Disir", in which Merlin ventures to meet with three soothsayer women. The caves also feature in Series 5, Episodes 1 and 2, entitled "Arthur’s Bane" as the setting for the caves below Morgana Pendragon’s citadel. Visual effects enhance the natural mystique and fascination of the caves.

Also in Merlin Series 5, the crew filmed part of Episode 4 entitled "Another's Sorrow" at Cannop Ponds for a scene in which Merlin finds Mithian’s message about Morgana by the stream.

In the very last episodes of the Merlin TV series, Series 5, Episodes 12 and 13, "The Diamond of the Day, Parts 1 and 2", there are scenes featuring Morgana and Mordred that were filmed in Puzzlewood. In "The Diamond of the Day, Part 1", their mission to a forest valley sees Merlin and Gwaine travel to renew Merlin’s powers at the Crystal Cave. In "The Diamond of the Day, Part 2", Gaius and Merlin attend to Arthur who has been wounded by Mordred. Under the cover of Puzzlewood’s trees and rocks, Merlin reveals his magic powers to the wounded Arthur.

BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat visited in 2010 and this behind the scenes footage features interviews with the cast on site at Puzzlewood:

Watch the trailer for Series 1 of Merlin here: