Merlin

Produced by: BBC

Starring: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson, John Hurt

Year: 2008-2014

Merlin was a popular adventure and fantasy family show which ran for five series, and the show 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.

Throughout its five series, Merlin had the beauty of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley as a backdrop, with our inspiring wild scenery being used to represent the ancient world of Albion. Deep caves, majestic castles, and 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, which is situated on high ground from where it looms down on the River Wye. Clearwell Caves also used in several episodes, while Puzzlewood features in many important scenes. In fact, Merlin was actually the first major TV series to showcase the mystery and wonder of Puzzlewood on screen, and it was used as a filming location in all five 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

Series 1, Episode 7 - "The Gates of Avalon": In this episode, Speech House Lake becomes the mythical Lake of Avalon where Merlin witnesses magical beings being 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.

Series 1, Episode 9 - "Excalibur": Again featuring Speech House Lake, this episode sees Merlin throw the sword Excalibur into the lake, although in the show, CGI shows snowy mountains in the background this time!

Series 1, Episode 11 - "The Labyrinth of Gedref": From the opening sequence of this episode, 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.

Series 1, Episode 13 - "Le Morte d'Arthur": Raglan Castle, in all of its battle-hardened glory, features in the final episode of Series 1 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.

Series 2, Episode 1 - "The Curse of Cornelius Sigan": In this episode, Clearwell Caves features as an area under the castle being excavated to search for treasure.

Series 2, Episode 8 - "The Sins of the Father": Both Raglan and Goodrich Castles appear in this episode, and 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.

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

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

Series 5, Episodes 1 and 2 - "Arthur's Bane": In the beginning of the fifth and final season, Clearwell Caves acted as the setting for the caves below Morgana Pendragon’s citadel, with visual effects enhancing the natural mystique and fascination of the caves.

Series 5, Episode 4 - "Another's Sorrow": Scenes in the episode were filmed at Cannop Ponds, in which Merlin finds Mithian’s message about Morgana by the stream.

Series 5, Episode 5 - "The Disir": In this episode, Clearwell Caves feature in all of their red rock beauty as Merlin ventures to meet with three soothsayer women.

Series 5, Episodes 12 and 13 - "The Diamond of the Day": In the very last episodes of the Merlin TV series, 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, while 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 their behind-the-scenes footage features interviews with the cast on site at Puzzlewood:

You can also watch the trailer for Series 1 of Merlin here: