Death Valley on BBC One: All the filming locations, including 'gorgeous towns and villages'
By Helen Fear | Sat May 24 2025Death Valley, BBC One's new detective drama with a comic twist, is undoubtedly about to put its filming locations at the very top of your bucket list - so we hope the locals are friendly!
Like Doc Martin before it, which was filmed in the Cornish village of Port Isaac, or McDonald & Dodds' stunning Bath scenes, Death Valley is about to make a beautiful area of the UK a very popular tourist destination.
So where is it set, and where did cast and crew filmed the scenes in the BBC One series? Here's everything you need to know about the filming locations on Death Valley.
Where was Death Valley filmed?
Timothy Spall detective drama Death Valley is set in "various stunning locations" in Wales.
More specifically, filming took place in June 2024 in the seaside town of Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan. Cast and crew were spotted filming on Glebe Street, including a bakery called Brod, which pops up in several episodes.
Filming also took place in Llantwit Major, around St Illtyd's Church and Galilee Chapel on the western edge of the town.
Timothy Spall said: "I'm really looking forward to teaming up with the brilliant Gwyneth Keyworth, and the fantastically talented team of creatives and technicians on this new and unique comedy drama.
"I'm relishing the prospect of getting stuck in as we embark on creating this truly oddball detective duo who develop their unusual combined eccentric skills to hilarious and surprisingly successful effect in beautiful rural Wales and its gorgeous towns and villages."
Meanwhile, Nick Andrews - Head of Commissioning for BBC Wales - said: "Comedy in Wales is in terrific shape! The very best comedians, the very best writers are playing their part in establishing Wales as a very funny place. We always knew this to be true and now the rest of the UK do too."
'Comedy in Wales is in terrific shape!'
Throughout the series, filming took place at John Chapel's house, where young detective sergeant Janie Mallowan implants herself to usually steal his tea and biscuits - and pick his brains.
The exterior of John's cottage was filmed in the village of St Hilary, Vale of Glamorgan. It's actually a pretty small village of around 80 houses, with a population of around 260. The nearest town is Cowbridge.
The exterior of the police station during Death Valley was filmed in Mountain Ash town hall. Mountain Ash is a town within the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.
Meanwhile, the interior of Caesar's fictional police station is St Fagan's museum of Welsh Life. It's an open-air museum in St Fagan's, Cardiff, chronicling the historical lifestyle, culture, and architecture of the Welsh people.
The interior and exterior of the bakery where Chapel gets his fancy coffee (an extra hot long macchiato) from is Brod bakery, which is located in Penarth. Brod is a real bakery.
Death Valley On BBC One filming locations:
Episode 1
The house where victim Carwyn lives with his wife Danielle is in Duffryn, Vale of Glamorgan. Duffryn is actually pretty near the town centre of Barry (about 7.7 km to be exact), which is famous for being the home of Gavin & Stacey.
The building site featured in episode 1 was filmed in Abbey Wood's, Cwmbran.
Episode 2
The waterfall featured in Death Valley episode 2 is Blaen y Glyn, found in the stunning Brecon Beacons.
The interior of the pub where the walkers stop for refreshments was filmed in the Kings Arms, Pentyrch, Cardiff.
The external of the pub is provided by The Old Ford Inn, Llanhamlach, Brecon.
Episode 3
The exterior and interior of the church in Death Valley episode 3 was filmed at St Illtud's, Llandwit Major.
All other exteriors, including the gallery, were also filmed in Llandwit Major, a town on the Bristol Channel coast.
Episode 4
The exterior of the theatre in episode 4 was filmed at Penarth Pier, a Victorian era pier in the town of Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.
The interior of the theatre, however, was shot in Penarth Conservative Club, a 10 minute walk away.
Leonard's House can be found in Ogmore-by-Sea, a seaside village in St Brides Major community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.
Episode 5
The exterior and interior of the stately Home in Death Valley episode 5 was filmed in Insole Court, Cardiff. Insole Court is a Grade II listed mansion house nestled in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff.
Episode 6
The exterior and interior of the school featured in episode 6 of Death Valley was filmed at Brynteg Comprehensive School, Bridgend. Brynteg School is located on Ewenny Rd in Bridgend.
