The remote settlement of Carsaig on the Isle of Mull is home to a small but remarkable piece of Scotland’s film and telecommunications history. A traditional red K6 telephone kiosk stands beside the waterfall on the road to Carsaig Pier, where it has remained part of the landscape for decades. Its connection with the classic 1945 film I Know Where I am Going has made it a destination for film enthusiasts visiting Mull.
Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the film used locations across Mull and remains closely associated with the island. The telephone box and the nearby waterfall feature in the film, giving the otherwise ordinary K6 kiosk a lasting place in British cinematic history. Historic Environment Scotland also recognises its importance, with the structure holding Category B listed status since 2007.
The Threat of Removal
The future of the Carsaig telephone box recently came into question as BT continued to review public telephone kiosks that receive little use. Across Britain, many traditional telephone boxes have disappeared as mobile phones have replaced public telephones for everyday communication.
The prospect of losing the Carsaig kiosk caused concern among people with a strong connection to I Know Where I’m Going. Film enthusiasts contacted Argyll and Bute Council after learning that the famous landmark could disappear. The response showed that the kiosk has developed an importance that extends well beyond its original purpose as a public telephone.
Council Intervention and Preservation
Argyll and Bute Council responded to the concerns raised by film enthusiasts. Its Economic Development Service gathered information about the cultural and tourism interest surrounding the Carsaig kiosk and used this information when making the case for its retention.
The council announced on 13 August 2026 that the famous telephone box had been saved. Film enthusiasts from around the world had contacted the council, while some visitors had already been planning trips to Mull to see locations associated with the 1945 film. The decision means that visitors will continue to find the red kiosk beside the Carsaig waterfall for years to come.
A Piece of Mull’s Film History
The Carsaig kiosk has an interesting history of its own, even without its connection to cinema. It is a K6 telephone kiosk, designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935. The General Post Office introduced the design in 1936, and thousands of these distinctive red kiosks appeared across Britain.
Historic Environment Scotland lists the Carsaig kiosk as a Category B structure under reference LB50858. Its listing recognises both the architectural importance of the K6 design and the kiosk’s connection with I Know Where I’m Going. The structure received listed status in 2007, long before its future came under renewed scrutiny.
A Location Remembered on Film
The telephone kiosk occupies an unusual position beside the Carsaig waterfall, making it instantly recognisable to those familiar with the film. The rushing water provides a memorable backdrop to the location and helps explain why the scene has remained popular with visitors.
The actual telephone sequence was filmed at Denham Studios, rather than with the actors inside the Carsaig kiosk. Powell and Pressburger used footage of the real location to establish the setting, linking the studio sequence with the waterfall and telephone box on Mull. This makes the surviving kiosk an important part of the original film location, even though the complete scene was not filmed there.
Film Fans Continue to Visit Mull
The continued interest in the Carsaig telephone box demonstrates the lasting appeal of I Know Where I’m Going. The film appeared on cinema screens in 1945, yet enthusiasts still travel to Mull to see the places that featured in the production.
The Carsaig kiosk provides an especially tangible connection with the film because it remains in its original landscape. Visitors can stand beside the same waterfall and see the same red telephone box that appeared on screen more than 80 years ago. The surrounding landscape has changed little enough to make the connection particularly powerful.
Promoting Argyll as a Filming Location
The campaign to retain the Carsaig telephone box has also highlighted the continuing value of film locations across Argyll and Bute. Argyll and Bute Council operates the Film in Argyll service, which promotes the region to film and television productions and helps connect producers with suitable locations.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council and Policy Lead for Economic Development, welcomed the successful effort to protect the kiosk. He highlighted the way memorable film locations can continue attracting visitors and creating interest in an area long after filming has ended. The council is also encouraging owners of homes, land and commercial properties to register their locations with Film in Argyll for potential future productions.
The little red telephone box at Carsaig may have started life as a practical piece of communications infrastructure, but its story has taken it much further. It now forms part of Mull’s film heritage and remains an important surviving feature of the landscape used by Powell and Pressburger in 1945. For visitors following the trail of I Know Where I’m Going, the kiosk beside the waterfall will continue to offer a direct connection with one of the most famous films ever made on the island.
Click this link to view “I Know Where I’m Going” on Amazon prime.
