The Princess Bride began as an American romantic fantasy comedy and became a cult classic. It was released in 1987 and directed and co-produced by Rob Reiner. The film is based on the 1973 novel The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

While it didn’t do well at the box office initially, the film gained so much popularity over time that it is now considered one of the best films of the 1980s. In 1988, The Princess Bride won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, and in 2016, it was added to the American Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

The story follows the love between Buttercup (played by Robin Wright) and Westley (played by Cary Elwes) in the fictional kingdom of Florin. Buttercup is a young woman living on a farm, and Westley is her farm hand.

They fall in love while on the farm, and no matter what Buttercup says, Westley always looks at her lovingly and says, “As you wish.” Westley leaves to make his fortune, but Buttercup later hears that he has died after his ship was attacked by the notorious Dread Pirate Roberts. She locks herself away for days and promises, “I will never love again.”

The story jumps ahead five years, and Buttercup is now engaged to the handsome Crown Prince Humperdinck (whom she does not love), the heir to the throne of Florin. To gain an advantage, three kidnappers take Buttercup and plan to ransom her for a large sum of money.

The kidnappers soon realize they are being followed by a masked man dressed in black, who is slowly catching up to them. They think this man wants to steal Buttercup and their money.

Filming Locations of The Princess Bride

Buttercup and Westley on the Moorlands: Carl Wark – Yorkshire, England, UK

About a twenty-minute drive from Lathkill Dale is Carl Wark, a rocky outcrop on Hathersage Moor. This striking area, known for gritstone tors (large piles of rocks), serves as the setting for a tense conversation between Buttercup and the masked Westley, who has not yet revealed his true identity.

Buttercup, thinking she has been kidnapped again, confesses that she does not love Humperdinck but believes he will find and rescue her.

Westley, upset that Buttercup seems to have forgotten him, accuses her of not knowing true love. After a moment where he threatens to strike her, the two continue their run across the moor.

Westley and Fezzik’s Duel: Robin Hood’s Stride – Derbyshire, England

Not far from where Buttercup’s farm scenes were filmed, there is a rocky area where Westley and Fezzik have a hand-to-hand fight. This gritstone rock formation is called Robin Hood’s Stride, and it is a small attraction for locals who like to hike up to the rocks and enjoy the view of the countryside.

Prince Humperdinck’s Castle: Haddon Hall – Derbyshire, England

The interior and exterior of this Tudor-style country house were used for scenes set at Prince Humperdinck’s Castle. After Westley is supposedly killed, leaving Buttercup alone, she is forced to get engaged to Prince Humperdinck.

The engagement is announced, and Buttercup, once a commoner, is introduced as Princess Buttercup at the castle in Florin City. The exterior of the castle is shown again when Buttercup has a nightmare about an old woman scolding her for marrying Humperdinck. Haddon Hall has also appeared in film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.

Buttercup’s Farm: Bradley Rocks – Derbyshire, England

In The Princess Bride, Buttercup’s farm is the first location seen in the fictional country of Florin.

The scenes set on Buttercup’s farm were filmed at the real Bradley Rocks farm, located just outside the small town of Birchover, England. Distant views of the farm were filmed from a footpath near Robin Hood’s Stride, another filming site for the movie.

It is on this farm that Buttercup meets and falls in love with the “farm boy” Westley, who later leaves to make enough money so they can marry.

Cliffs of Insanity: Cliffs of Moher – County Clare, Ireland

The 9-mile stretch of towering cliffs along the central west coast of Ireland is called the Cliffs of Moher. It’s one of Ireland’s most popular tourist spots, attracting millions of visitors each year. With heights reaching 700 feet, these cliffs truly deserve their fictional name: The Cliffs of Insanity.

In the film, Vincini and Inigo kidnap Buttercup and must sneak into Guilder by attaching themselves to Fezzik, played by the late André the Giant, who carries them while climbing a rope hanging over the cliffs. When they reach the top, they cut the rope, but Westley, who has been following them, survives and keeps climbing the dangerous rock face to rescue Buttercup.

The Battle of Wits: Lathkill Dale – Derbyshire, England

At the junction of two small river valleys, Lathkill Dale and Cales Dale, there is a rock shelf where Westley and Vincini have a witty exchange over two cups of wine. One cup is poisoned by Westley, who dares Vincini to choose a cup and drink from it while he drinks from the other. Unbeknownst to Vincini, Westley, who is immune to poison, has secretly poisoned both cups. Vincini drinks and dies, freeing Buttercup.

“As You Wish!”: Cave Dale – Derbyshire, England, UK

Cave Dale, about another twenty minutes from Carl Wark, is the beautiful valley formed by glaciers where Buttercup pushes Westley down a hill, trying to seriously hurt him. Westley finally reveals his identity to Buttercup by saying, “As you wish!” Buttercup, realizing that Westley is alive, jumps down the hill after him, and they are reunited as a couple.