The North Korean authorities are not known for being sociable at the best of the times, so understandably they weren’t going to plump for the idea of a James Bond film setting up shop there. So, the spectacular opening scene in Die Another Day where Pierce Brosnan surfs into the Korean demilitarised zone on a giant wave was actually filmed at the legendary Break Jaws in Maui. The island is widely regarded as the most beautiful in Hawaii, with two looming volcanoes and great beaches. Popular activities include watching humpback whales and mountain biking down Mt. Haleakala.

Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Whilst set in Wyoming, cheaper production costs lured Brokeback Mountain’s cast and crew north of the border. Director Ang Lee, usually a bit of a stickler for being in the exact location, decided that Canadian Rocky Mountains were so close to the American ones that there wasn’t a problem. Since the film was released, this area, an hour west of Calgary, has seen a huge upturn in tourism. Anyone wishing to camp out where Ennis and Jack did can do so, at Upper Kananaskis Lake, Elbow Falls and Canyon Creek. There’s a scene by scene location list at www.travelalberta.com.

The Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia
Along with the Greek Islands, the Whitsundays are arguably the greatest place in the world to go sailing. With world-class beaches, tropical islands and diving on the Great Barrier Reef, the area is a yachtsman’s paradise. Therefore when the makers of Dead Calm – the story of a couple’s get away from it all sailing trip going badly wrong when they come across a psycho – needed a cheap double for the South Pacific, the choice didn’t take too long to make. Incidentally, this was the film which brought Nicole Kidman to the attention of Hollywood casting agents.

The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland
Ironically, for a film all about Scottish patriotism, most of the big scenes in Braveheart were filmed in Ireland, after the Irish government offered Mel Gibson the use of its army reserves as extras. The big battles were filmed, therefore, on the Curragh Plains and at Ballymore Eustace in Kildare, which is traditionally known as Ireland’s horse country. The National Stud, the Irish Horse Museum and the Punchestown race course. For non-riders, golf and fishing are also regular tourist pastimes. County Kildare is just southwest of Dublin.

Pagsanjan River, The Phillipines
The Pagsanjan stood in for the napalm-drenched Mekong River in Vietnam during the notoriously chaotic filming of Apocalypse Now. In real life, however, it’s not the compound of an insane American colonel at the end of the line, but a horseshoe waterfall. Boat trips down the river rapids are a very popular option, although not for anyone who doesn’t like getting wet, whilst the pool at the bottom of the falls is a great spot for both a swim and a photo opportunity. Pagsanjan is 60km away from the Filipino capital, Manila.