The hit ITV crime drama Karen Pirie brings the novels of Val McDermid to life, with its gripping cold case investigations set against the atmospheric backdrop of Scotland. The show’s setting is not just a passive background; the Scottish landscapes, from historic university towns to dramatic coastlines, play a key role in creating the show’s mood and driving its narrative.
The Scottish Setting of Karen Pirie
Karen Pirie is set primarily in Scotland, with the historic town of St. Andrews serving as the main backdrop for the first season. The production also filmed extensively across the country, using the unique character of Scottish locations to enhance its storytelling. The show is a part of the “tartan noir” tradition, using the often cloudy, grey settings of Scotland to add a somber and eerie feel to the plot.
For the second season, the story expands its horizons. While still rooted in Scotland, a significant part of the investigation leads Karen and her team to Malta. Filming for these international scenes took place in Malta’s capital, Valletta, with its historic 16th-century buildings and coastal views providing an idyllic contrast to the harrowing murder case.
Key Filming Locations in Scotland
The makers of Karen Pirie have utilized a variety of specific Scottish locations to build the world of the show.
St. Andrews and Fife
The first season used the ancient university town of St. Andrews as its central location. Key exterior scenes were shot at the town’s famous Cathedral ruins and harbour, as well as at St Andrews University. The medieval centre and seaside scenery of St. Andrews provided the perfect atmospheric and eerie backdrop for the decades-old murder investigation of barmaid Rosie Duff. Additional filming in the Fife area included Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing, and Dysart.
Kinghorn and the Coast
The second season opens with a dramatic kidnapping scene filmed in the coastal town of Kinghorn, Fife. The characters grab fish and chips and take in the views from Kinghorn station before the heiress Catriona and her infant son are abducted. The scenic coastline and small-town feel of Kinghorn were crucial for building the mood for this storyline.
Luss Estate on Loch Lomond
The Luss Estate on the banks of Loch Lomond is a key location used across both seasons. This Highland estate provides a remote and isolated setting. It is featured as the remote cottage where Catriona and her son were held hostage. The estate’s outstanding landscapes have also been featured in other productions like Black Mirror and Netflix’s The Outlaw King.
Glasgow and Urban Life
While the coastal towns provide the mystery, the city of Glasgow represents the everyday life and internal workings of the police force. Many interior episodes were set here, including scenes at The Citizen bar and restaurant, where Karen and her colleague Phil have a romantic date. The legendary music venue, the Barrowland Ballroom, also appears in flashback scenes. Furthermore, the Glenrothes Police Station was used for filming the realistic police station scenes.
Caiplie Caves in Anstruther
The Caiplie Caves in Anstruther were used for dramatic scenes as the series reaches its climax. In the present day, Karen and her colleagues inspect the caves and find a vital clue. In flashbacks, the caves are the site of a tense showdown between Catriona’s abductors and her family members.
Why Scotland is the Perfect Backdrop
The choice to set and film Karen Pirie in Scotland is intentional. The landscape, urban settings, and dark aesthetic are signature elements of British crime dramas. The weather and location often aid the narrative, setting a somber mood—the cloudy, often rainy, grey settings add to the eeriness of the plot.
Lead actress Lauren Lyle, who is Scottish herself, highlighted the profound connection to filming in Scotland, noting its “dark, mad history” involving witches and wars. She said:
“I find that Scotland, I really believe, being from there, that it just can’t be replicated anywhere else… There’s something quite profound about being from a place that has such a dark, mad history — witches and wars and all these amazing things that have been around for thousands of years — and to shoot something in places that harbour all of that can be quite dark and spooky and exciting. And I think you sort of effortlessly receive it from the place without trying too hard.”
Why the Setting Matters for a Crime Drama
In crime dramas, setting acts as more than just a backdrop; it functions as a character in itself. The locations in Karen Pirie follow the conventions of the genre, using low-key lighting and urban and isolated locations to create a specific tone. From the historic streets of St. Andrews to the remote cottage on Loch Lomond, each location is chosen to enhance the feeling of suspense and realism.
The show balances its time between the quiet, sometimes bleak, outdoor scenes where crimes are discovered and investigated, and the internal, professional settings like the police station where the logical puzzle is pieced together. This contrast is a common and effective technique in crime storytelling.
The second season of Karen Pirie, which is based on Val McDermid’s 2008 novel A Darker Domain, started airing on ITV on July 20, 2025. The three-episode series is available to stream on ITVX.
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