Scottish Fiction: Real locations that inspired my debut thriller novel.
- Mayghan Wison
- 32 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Scotland: whisky, kilts and people who know how to have a good laugh.
On the darker side, our long-forgotten, moss-covered ruins, steep cliff faces with gale-force winds, and thick, foreboding forests create an ideal setting for a thriller novel.
Writing characters with quick Scottish wit and sardonic humour is, of course, an added bonus. Several locations inspired pivotal scenes in my novel, and I would be remiss not to mention them. So, here are six real locations that inspired my novel...
#1 - Aberdour
The wee town where my protagonist lives. Depicted in my book with narrow streets lined with little shops and spots to grab a coffee, Aberdour is pretty much as described (without all the deadly crime).
"It's small enough that you know everyone; but not small enough that you know everything about everyone"
On my first visit to this small village, I fell in love with it. With Aberdour Castle standing tall to this day and two glorious beaches on its doorstep, Aberdour was the perfect setting.
#2 - Silver Sands.
In my novel, Freya meets a certain someone on a rock at the far end of the beach. This rock exists in real life, on Silver Sands. As a matter of fact, I have sat on this rock to envisage all of the senses that Freya would feel at that exact moment, at the exact time of day. Dedicated? Yes. Dramatic for a debut novel? Probably also yes...
"Once I grabbed that hefty rock and sank to the bottom, I was able to relax."
#3 - Edinburgh - Old Town.
Edinburgh, oh my goodness, I could go on about how Edinburgh inspired me for an entire book. But I'll summarise quickly, without giving too much away: the architecture, winding streets and hidden gems all add to the enchantment of the city.
"The dim market lights and narrow passages make finding our favourite nighttime spot – The Raging Bull - all the more exciting."
#4 - Lewis Castle
Can I preface this one by saying I began writing this scene before I ever laid eyes on Lewis Castle? Would you even believe me? Well... it's true.
I got the shock of my life when I was exploring the Outer Hebrides and came across this gem of a banquet room. It was almost exactly how I had described the room, in which a life-changing event happens for my protagonist.
"...and we step into an extravagant banquet room. It is lit by only a few candles flickering softly, so I can’t see all the features clearly. From what I can make out, it doesn’t look much like a restaurant. The place looks more like somewhere you would anoint a knight rather than order a pasta."
#5 - St Cyrus Beach
Below Aberdeen and above Montrose lies my favourite beach on the east side of Scotland. St Cyrus caught my eye, as most things do in 2025 – on Instagram. I implored my family to take a trip there, and once we arrived, I knew that for once, Instagram wasn't exaggerating the raw beauty of this place. Green rolling sand dunes surround it, waterfalls are scattered along the beach, and the stretch of sand without footprints was so impressive that I knew instantly that it was the right spot.
"...a cave embedded in the sharp coastline, definitely big enough for someone to hide in."
#6 - Fife (in general...)
While my novel is fiction, I wanted it to be pragmatic and realistic; therefore, accuracy was extremely important to me. I needed a location that was a stone's throw from cities like Edinburgh and Dunfermline. Nature, forests, and most importantly, the North Sea were also critical elements; for that reason, Fife became the perfect county for this.
Not to mention, it's somewhere I know in depth and adore. St Andrews, Dalgety Bay, Burnt Island, Falkland, Culross, Kelty, Kirkcaldy, and Kinghorn all influenced my novel immensely, and I hope I did the area proud in how I have described its beauty.
"I always wanted to live like this; I never wanted to be stuck in some city with a million people. Now, I'm wondering if that was the right decision."