PEMBERLEY, Roastings, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park. Sound familiar? They will if you've been watching Masterpiece Theatre's The Complete Jane Austen.

They are the quintessential locations for some of that author's most popular novels. And it seems each time one of them is filmed or refilmed, yet another new site is chosen for locations.

In an attempt to simplify things, let's start with one of the most sensationally popular of her books and the estate she actually had in mind while writing it.

Jane travelled to Derbyshire in 1811 where she stayed at the Rutland Arms Hotel in Bakewell. Three miles from town is Chatsworth House, an 11,000 acre estate dating to 1686 with gardens partly designed by famed Capability Brown and Joseph Paxton.

Home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, it has long been considered one of the great country houses of England. It can best be described as lavish, with 175 rooms. The most elaborate are open to visitors, as are its exceptional gardens, restaurant and some of its farm areas.

It's theorised Jane arrived there in a manner not unlike the scenes depicted in Pride and Prejudice. There, Elizabeth joined her aunt and uncle on holiday, visiting what is now the Peak District National Park in the Midlands between Nottinghamshire and Statfordshire.

Very much what's seen in the production, this is a region of hills and dales, quiet moorland and lush valleys with an abundance of waterfalls.

It's reported Jane immediately settled into her Rutland Arms Hotel Room and began rewriting segments of Pride and Prejudice using Chatsworth as the model for hero Darcy's impressive Pemberley.

The book was originally written in 1797, but reworked and reintroduced in 1813.

Those anxious to recapture the authentic mood of the setting can ask for the room where she actually stayed. She chose a corner room in the centre floor of the three storey hotel which was built in 1804.

It overlooks Rutland Square in the village she labelled 'Lambton' in her book. From its windows she could observe everything happening from a good vantage point.

Visitors will want to allow ample time to tour Chatsworth House, open again to visitors after its traditional winter closing. Guides will tell you how Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were entertained here in 1843.

You'll also learn that Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned on this land on orders of Queen Elizabeth I, before the current house was built.

Not far down the road is Buxton, developed as a spa intended to rival Bath. Thermal waters there had originally attracted the Romans. It comes complete with an elaborate Crescent and Pump Room.

After watching weeks of Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Emma and Persuasion, the idea of seeking out some of their production locations will be very tempting.

But travellers will have to narrow it down somewhat because enough beauty spots were utilised to keep one seeking them out for months.

You'll need a score card to keep track of some of them. For example, Basildon Park in Berkshire, an 18th century Palladium mansion, was Mr. Bingley's home in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. Belton House, Lincolnshire became Rosings in the same production when Lizzie dined at the estate of pompous Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Lyme Park, Cheshire was used for Pemberley exteriors in 1995 and Sudbury Hall for its interiors. In another production Edgecote Hall was Netherfield and Lacock became Meryton.

Lacock, that time capsule village where vacant-minded Lydia and Kitty Bennet shopped for bonnets in "Pride and Prejudice" actually exists in Wiltshire. It's a National Trust Village easily reached from Bath.

Adding to its genuine unspoiled character are a 13th century abbey ruins, 16th century houses and 14th century inn. All perfect for filming and visiting.

When film fans view a production, they often have no idea of the hopscotch world of movie making. Celluloid guests arrive in all their finery for a gala dance at an estate like Mr. Bingley's.

Carriages pull up to a grand entrance and minutes later they're sipping punch in a gilt edge ballroom glamorous beyond imagination. But its very likely those locations may actually be hundreds of miles apart and filmed at very different times.

Scouting out these very stunning locations is a full-time profession for some in the movie industry. In Britain they're especially lucky since there's such a treasure of National Trust properties. And lucky for film fans, those properties are all open to visitors.

Obviously the arrangement is beneficial for all concerned. Studios come away with incomparable settings, and those historic properties so expensive to maintain receive welcome financial compensation.

Normally it works out quite well, but not always. I'll never forget sitting around a pool at the Westward Look Ranch outside Tucson, Arizona during on-location filming of Dirty Dingus McGee starring Frank Sinatra.

John Dehner, an instantly recognisable character actor with a distinguished voice, kept us entertained with anecdotes of his favourite western film experiences.

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