Monty Python fans in pilgrimage to Scottish castle

Monty Python fans from around the world are preparing to make a special pilgrimage to a 14th century Scottish castle to mark the 35th anniversary of a cult movie.

Fans of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, based on the legend of King Arthur, have been visiting historic Doune Castle in Stirling since the movie was filmed at the site.

The cult fans are estimated to account for around a third of the 25,000 visitors to the castle each year.

Historic Scotland's First Farewell Monty Python Day, on September 12, will be the latest special event staged at Doune Castle for fans since the first in 2004.

Nick Finnigan, Doune Castle events manager, said: "For this year's Python day, we're returning to the less structured, more spontaneous format of our early events, and of course, loads of fun and games.

"We've got some of the most popular comic sketches being recreated, prizes for the best costumes, a trail, Monty Python and the Holy Trail, highlighting the various filming locations of scenes from the film, a quiz with prizes, singing, and of course, lots of coconut shells."

Coconut shells have been a fixture at Doune since the Holy Grail film became a cult hit. Visitors use them to mimic horses' hooves, just as King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his faithful servant, Patsy (Terry Gilliam) did in the film's opening scene.

Python team

Gilliam and Chapman starred in the film along with Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Terry Jones.

Jones made a vocal return to Doune last year when he recorded the castle's new audio guide.

The tape begins: "Welcome to Doune Castle. I'm Terry Jones, and in 1974 some friends and myself made a very silly film here called Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

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