Where was Karen Pirie filmed? The stunning locations in Scotland revealed

The second series of Karen Pirie sees the detective assigned an infamous unsolved case that will put her under intense scrutiny; from her boss, from the media, and ultimately, from sinister forces that would rather the past stayed in the past.

The case of Catriona and Adam Grant has confounded investigators after the mother and son were kidnapped at gunpoint outside a fish and chip shop in Fife.

As Karen does her best to find out what happened, the investigation takes her across Scotland.

Speaking about the locations used and how important place is to the story, director Gareth Bryn explained: "For me, a strong sense of place is crucial, especially because Val McDermid's writing is so specific. It's hard to stray from the world she creates in her books, so I've aimed to stay as true to it as possible.

"Karen's home in the books covers a vast area, which gave us flexibility. In the first series, she was based right in the middle of Kirkcaldy, but for this series, we moved her slightly out of the town. Time has passed, and with her promotion, it made sense for her to be in a slightly nicer area."

He added: "The landscape plays a significant role in police dramas. If you're not careful, you end up with lots of interior two handers, or interview scenes but in Karen Pirie, the landscape acts as a character itself.

"We were spoiled for choice in Fife, with its stately homes and castles. For example, we used two castles: one for exterior shots of the Grant's house, and another for interiors.

"We also filmed some scenes in the caves outside St. Andrews, which turned out beautifully. The weather worked in our favour - it was surprisingly sunny, which made filming much easier."

Lead actress Lauren Lyle added: "It's always amazing to return to Scotland - it feels like a whole character in itself. The landscapes and the people all add so much to the show. I love that we're portraying a modern Scotland with a diverse mix of people and perspectives.

"Scotland's sense of humour, that dry, sarcastic tone, really shines through in the show. I also love that it feels universal - it's not just a Scottish story, but something everyone can relate to. It's a privilege to showcase Scotland as a cool, stylish, powerful place beyond the stereotypes of tartan and hills."

Meanwhile, co-star Chris Jenks who plays DC Jason 'Mint' Murray, said it was "really nice" to return to his home of Scotland.

"Glasgow is such a fun place to film as well - there's loads of stuff going on. Early on, we filmed out in a little cottage in Luss which was a beautiful place to film. I'd love to work in Scotland again," he dished.

Karen Pirie airs Sunday at 9pm on ITV.