Coldwater is a psychological thriller series written by David Ireland, starring Andrew Lincoln, Indira Varma, Ewen Bremner, and Eve Myles. It follows John, a middle-aged man, who after a traumatic incident in London, moves with his family to the fictional Scottish village of Coldwater. What begins as a fresh start becomes darker when John meets his new neighbour, Tommy, uncovering unsettling secrets within the idyllic surroundings.
After failing to act during a violent altercation in London, John and his wife Fiona seek a new life in the countryside. They move to a peaceful-seeming Scottish village, hoping to heal, but things spiral as John and his new neighbour, Tommy, draw closer and secrets surface.
Coldwater premiered on 14 September 2025. It is broadcast on ITV1 and available to stream on ITVX in the UK.
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When and Where Was ITV’s Coldwater Filmed?
| Series Name | Coldwater |
|---|---|
| Genres | Psychological thriller, Drama |
| Filming Locations | Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Filming Dates | Filming began in July 2024 |
| Production Designed by | Tom Sayer |
| Release Date | 14 September 2025 (United Kingdom) via ITV Studios |
Although Coldwater is set in a fictional localized village “Coldwater,” the production used multiple real locations around Glasgow and further afield in Scotland. The intention was to create a place that feels aspirational, beautiful, but also lived-in and slightly strange. Key scenes (village exteriors, church, forest, lakeside views) are shot across different locales to build this composite rural-Highland atmosphere.
đź“ŤDunlop, East Ayrshire (Dunlop Kirk, Church of Scotland)
Address: Springfield, 90A Main St, Dunlop, Kilmarnock KA3 4AG, United Kingdom
In Dunlop, many of the village exteriors were filmed: the church (Dunlop Kirk) plays a central role, used especially in a funeral scene in episode 3. The village hall and primary school are also part of Dunlop’s contributions. This place anchors the sense of community in the show.
Dunlop is a village and parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland, situated on the main A735 road between Stewarton and Kilmaurs. The village is known for the Dunlop cheese, a traditional Scottish cheese with a distinctively sharp and creamy flavor. The area is largely rural, characterized by rolling hills and farmlands, with the Glazert Water flowing through the village. It has a rich history, with connections to Robert Burns and the Covenanters.
đź“ŤSouth Lanarkshire / Strathaven
The exteriors of John & Fiona’s house, and also Tommy & Rebecca’s house, are filmed in a town south of Glasgow (Strathaven) in South Lanarkshire. These houses are inspired by two real homes that sit “side by side … sort of on each other’s shoulders,” reinforcing the themes of proximity, privacy, and voyeurism.
South Lanarkshire is a council area in Scotland that borders the south-east of the Glasgow City council area. It contains a mix of suburban towns and rural villages. Strathaven is a historic market town within South Lanarkshire, known for its medieval castle ruins and the annual Strathaven Balloon Festival. The town also features the picturesque Powmillon Burn, which runs through its center, and a historic common green.
đź“ŤBlanefield, Stirling
Some communal scenes, especially in episode 3, like the wake after the funeral, were filmed in Blanefield (Edmonstone Hall), giving a more rural and historic feel to certain events.
Blanefield is a picturesque village in the Stirling council area of Scotland, situated at the foot of the Campsie Fells. Historically, it was a hub for industry, notably for its large calico printworks in the 19th century, which employed hundreds of workers. Today, the village has a rural feel and primarily serves as a commuter settlement for nearby cities like Glasgow and Stirling.
đź“ŤPollok Country Park, Glasgow
Forest scenes in episode 1 are filmed here. The park’s woodlands provide the kind of secluded, moody setting that helps contrast with the more “settled village” scenes.
Pollok Country Park is Glasgow’s largest park and the only country park within the city limits. This green haven, gifted to the people of Glasgow in 1966 by the Maxwell family, is a peaceful sanctuary for both visitors and wildlife. It’s home to some of Scotland’s most famous attractions, including the world-renowned Burrell Collection and the historic Pollok House.
đź“ŤLoch Lomond
The house of John’s therapist (Williams) overlooks Loch Lomond. This location gives a sense of the sweeping, beautiful landscape that John and Fiona might have had in mind when dreaming of life outside London.
Loch Lomond is the largest inland body of water in Great Britain by surface area, located in the south of Scotland at the geological boundary between the Lowlands and Highlands. It’s a popular recreational hub for boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking, with the iconic Ben Lomond and the scenic West Highland Way trail along its eastern shore. The loch is also famous for its numerous islands, and is a centerpiece of Scotland’s first national park, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
đź“ŤThe Lade Inn, Callander (Highlands area)
Address: The Lade Inn, Callander FK17 8HD, United Kingdom
Nighttime scenes including scenes in the pub and car park were filmed at The Lade Inn in Callander, on the edge of Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. It contributes to the more remote, Highland-adjacent feel of some parts of Coldwater.
The Lade Inn in Callander is a traditional Scottish pub and restaurant. It offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, serving a variety of classic pub fare and local drinks. Situated in the heart of the Trossachs, it is a popular spot for both locals and tourists exploring the scenic area.
đź“ŤDennistoun, Glasgow
Apart from the locations mentioned above, some scenes of this series were filmed in Dennistoun, Glasgow. Dennistoun, located in the East End of Glasgow, is a vibrant residential neighborhood with a unique character.
Known for its Victorian tenement buildings and conservation areas, the district blends historical architecture with a modern, thriving community. The area is increasingly popular with students and young professionals, attracting a range of independent businesses, including trendy cafes, pubs, and restaurants.
Behind the Scenes of Coldwater
To make your search for ITV’s Coldwater filming even more interesting and enjoyable, we shared a behind-the-scenes photo here.
The series stars and fans also shared some behind-the-scenes glimpses on their social media account, Instagram:-
Creating Coldwater’s setting involved blending multiple real locations to form a fictional village that feels both beautiful and slightly uncanny. Director Lee Haven Jones said the production wanted the place to feel aspirational (because John & Fiona are escaping from London) but also “very real.”
Writer David Ireland has remarked that the fictional Coldwater was born partly out of his love for small towns in Scotland, and that it’s an idealised version with friendly locals, a picturesque church, coffee shops, and shops that feel quaint—but with underlying tensions.
The filming locations were chosen not just for aesthetics but for how they support the story: e.g., the closeness of neighbouring houses to evoke voyeurism; the church as a locus for community and ritual; woodland for mystery and isolation; the lake and hills for escape and reflection.
Is there any trailer available for Coldwater?
Yes. The official trailer was released, which you can see here:-
You can also find it on ITV’s platforms or their official YouTube channel.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Coldwater filmed?
A1: Although Coldwater is a fictional village, the show was filmed in many real places in Scotland, especially around Glasgow. Key locations include Dunlop, Strathaven, Loch Lomond, Pollok Country Park, and Callander.
Q2: Is Coldwater a real village?
A2: No, Coldwater is fictional. The show combines multiple real locations to build it.
Q3: When did filming start for Coldwater?
A3: Filming began in July 2024.
Q4: What makes the filming locations special in Coldwater?
A4: The locations were chosen both for scenic beauty and for symbolic meaning. Woodlands, lakes, isolated houses juxtaposed with communal buildings like a church or pub, all help to evoke mood: the tension between escape and entrapment, isolation and community, beauty and underlying threat.
Q5: Where can I watch Coldwater?
A5: It airs via ITV and ITVX in the UK on 14 September 2025.
Coldwater uses its filming locations very deliberately. Though the village of Coldwater doesn’t exist in reality, the blend of real Scottish villages, countryside, and lakeside vistas helps create a setting that feels both idyllic and unsettling. The juxtaposition of natural beauty with growing tension is central to the story—and the locations amplify that dramatically.