11 Real Star Wars Locations You Must Visit
8. Puzzlewood (UK)
When writing The Lord of the Rings this grassy location was apparently one of Tolkien's inspirations for Middle Earth which has since featured in an episode of Merlin and two episodes of Doctor Who, so it's no wonder JJ Abrams selected it for his first Star Wars adventure.
In 2014, a leaked letter sent to the cast and crew working on Episode VII A Disney film crew read:
“From the deserts of Abu Dhabi, to the Forest of Dean, to the stages of Pinewood, you have risen to every challenge and been as wonderfully kind as you are brilliantly talented.”
What were Disney shooting at Puzzlewood? It's a bit of guesswork at this point but it could very well be Dagobah, first seen in The Empire Strikes Back, or even Yavin 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL4zcZ7I6A8
Even more intriguing is the idea that in The Force Awakens Luke Skywalker is apparently living on a tiny green island in the sea, meaning Puzzlewood could be doubling as the interior.
Regardless, despite the lack of confirmation from the production team or staff on-site it hasn't stopped fans flocking to the location over the past twelve months and when the new movie hits in December, expect the Forest of Dean to be awash with broken lightsabers, Wookie masks and inflatable BB8 balls stuck in trees.