5 Welsh Hotels We’re Booking After Watching Death Valley

The BBC’s new detective drama has gathered rave reviews, with Timothy Spall’s performance as eccentric national treasure John Chapel keeping fans hooked. He stars opposite disarming cop DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) and Sian Gibson, with Gavin & Stacey stars Melanie Walters and Steffan Rhodris rounding out the cast of this cosy crime drama. But the scene stealer has to be the setting: think gloriously verdant valleys, cute villages and breathtaking mountain trails. As we race through the six episodes, it all has us daydreaming of a weekend break. But where was Death Valley filmed? Here’s what you need to know.

Where Was Death Valley Filmed?

Death Valley is set in Wales – and it was all filmed there, too. ‘There is intentionally a real sense of scale and scope to the series,’ says Death Valley’s executive producer Madeline Addy. ‘It was always the ambition of our visionary director Simon Hynd to shoot the series with high production values, like a premium drama, a lot of big sweeping vistas and natural lighting. We establish a strong sense of place with our visuals. Wales is absolutely a character itself.’

Death Valley was filmed ‘across locations in around Cardiff, Penarth, Mountain Ash, Cowbridge, the Brecon Beacons,’ Addy adds. ‘I don’t know anywhere else in the UK that gives us the variety with stunning locations like a manor house, the seaside, and the countryside. It was breathtaking scenery.’

Death Valley is set in a fictional Welsh village, but most of the scenes there were shot in Penarth – including the pier. Because each episode traces a new case, the filming locations vary across the series. However, a few crop up in every episode, including John’s cottage, which was filmed at a real home in St Hilary in the Vale of Glamorgan. Meanwhile, John’s favourite cafe – where he relishes a macchiato – is actually Penarth’s Brød Bakery outlet, which is a Danish bakery chain with venues dotted across Cardiff.

Elsewhere, scenes set in the police station were filmed in a small village called Mountain Ash, hidden just south of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons) – which is coincidentally the hometown of BBC Wales director Rhuanedd Richards. And the second episode utilises the nearby Bannau Brycheiniog as a walking group hike through its stunning beauty, passing by the Blaen y Glyn waterfalls. Star Gwyneth Keyworth cites this as her favourite filming location, calling it ‘a great episode to film’ and adding she ‘always loves being back home’.

‘Wales is extremely beautiful,’ agrees lead star Timothy Spall. ‘We were based in Cardiff, but you are half an hour away from the most exquisite countryside. I have worked in Wales a couple of times, and my wife and I also went all along the coast on our boat. I know every port along the way, so I’ve spent a bit of time there, the coast is so beautiful. Cardiff is a lovely, very friendly, and welcoming place.’

5 Wales Weekend Breaks, Inspired By Death Valley

Looking for some Welsh countryside escapism? Here are five hotels channeling the Death Valley vibe – murder not included…