While iconic cities like Paris, New York and LA often dominate the big screen, Wales has begun to command attention as a top-tier filming location. With its rugged coastlines, towering mountains and historic castles, Wales provides an ideal backdrop and has been featured in numerous films and streaming successes.

The latest TV series to spotlight the stunning Welsh landscapes is a new star-studded thriller from Sky Originals, Under Salt Marsh. This limited series, due for release on 30th January, comes from the pen of writer, creator and executive producer Claire Oakley.

The six-part drama stars Kelly Reillyof Yellowstone fame (known for her role as Beth in the hit series) and is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen, with all filming taking place in Wales. The cast also includes Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce (The Crown), Naomi Yang (Nightsleeper) and Harry Lawtey (Industry).

Sky's synopsis reveals that the series explores tragic events within a close-knit community nestled between towering mountains and an encroaching sea, a place where beauty and danger coexist.

As a once-in-a-generation storm begins to brew far out at sea, tragedy strikes. Jackie Ellis (Kelly Reilly), a former detective now working as a teacher, discovers the body of her eight-year-old pupil, Cefin, who appears to have drowned.

This discovery sends shockwaves through Morfa Halen and reopens an old wound: the unsolved disappearance of Jackie's niece Nessa three years earlier – a case that cost Jackie her career.

The tragic demise of Cefin draws Jackie's former partner, Detective Eric Bull (Rafe Spall), back to Morfa Halen to spearhead an investigation in a town where he previously fell short.

Convinced that the two cases are intertwined, Jackie and Bull find themselves revisiting their shared history as they hunt for answers. With a storm looming and the sea threatening to erase vital evidence, they must unearth Morfa Halen's hidden secrets before it's too late.

Eagle-eyed viewers might recognise some of Wales' most stunning locations, such as Salt Marsh, filmed in Anglesey and across Gwynedd. The BBC has reported sightings of filming along Barmouth promenade in October 2025, with additional scenes captured in Fairbourne and Llanbedr.

The picturesque coastal town of Fairbourne serves as the backdrop for the fictional Morfa Halen, its seaside features reflecting the show's narrative.

Nestled south of the Mawddach Estuary and flanked by Snowdonia National Park, it's famed for its beautiful golden beaches and the narrow-gauge Fairbourne Railway, which extends to the beach's edge.

The show's storm theme is somewhat poignant for locals, who were once predicted to become the UK's first "climate refugees", due to rising sea levels.

As reported by Wales Online, this heartbreaking label was first used when Cyngor Gwynedd announced in 2014 that it wouldn't indefinitely maintain flood defences in the face of globally rising sea levels.

Some initially predicted the village had three decades left, with Natural Resources Wales pinpointing 2054 as a potential turning point.

Fairbourne's "curse" lies in its vulnerability to flooding from the sea, the nearby Afon Mawddach, and groundwater due to the low-lying land.

However, recently, the community's resolve has strengthened, and they are adamant about shedding their undesirable reputation, believing that the coastal village has a future beyond 2054.

Since Sky arrived for filming, Fairbourne has welcomed the production: it not only brings in income during the off-season but could also boost future tourism prospects.

Meanwhile, Anglesey, Aberffraw, known for its vast dunes, serves as one of the drama's filming locations and features in the show's trailer, following filming in the village in early 2025.

The stunning Newborough Forest was another filming location, home to Newborough Warren, one of Britain's largest and most impressive dune systems. Alongside Ynys Llanddwyn, it was declared the first coastal National Nature Reserve in Wales in 1955.

The towering Corsican pine trees that constitute Newborough Forest were planted between 1947 and 1965 to supply timber and stabilise the shifting sand dunes. You can explore the forest and the island via a 3.5-mile circular route starting from the Newborough Forest car park near Niwbwrch.

The path to Llanddwyn is quite simple as the island is only about 1km long, so it won't be long before you spot the remnants of Santes Dwynwen's chapel on your stroll.

Key features of the route include lush forests, sandy beaches and the enchanting Tŵr Mawr lighthouse. Seals are a common sight around the island, and if you're lucky, you might even spot dolphins or harbour porpoises frolicking in the turbulent waters.

As a Sky Original, Under Salt Marsh will be accessible for viewing on Sky and streaming service NOW from 30 January.