The world-famous Game of Thrones series has taken a lot of people by surprise not just in the plot twists, but also in the fascinating landscapes the show captures. Most of these landscapes are taken in Ireland simply because of the many castles you can find in this country. There are also a handful of medieval-looking places that take it back to the time of kings and queens.
The best thing about travelling to Northern Ireland is that you can take your car from the mainland UK via Dublin or Belfast. This means it’s an easy holiday destination for families and those who like to take their pet dogs on vacation with them. See this guide for tips on travelling with a dog.
Whether you travel alone, with your family or with a four-legged friend, there are a number of unmissable Game of Thrones sites to see in Northern Ireland. If you’re a diehard Game of Thrones fan, then visiting these sites will probably make Northern Ireland the country of your dreams.
Dunluce Castle
Located in Northern Ireland, Dunluce Castle was used as the House of Greyjoy. It rises on top of a cliff just beside the sea. On stormy nights, the water looks dark and gray and the castle casts a dark shadow on the fields. With its facade and location, it has been a perfect fit for the House of Greyjoy.
The Dunluce Castle is only accessible from a narrow bridge and it has been standing since the 16th century.
Mourne Mountains
Another famous filming landscape is the Mourne Mountains. This place was called the Vaes Dothrak, the one and only city existing in the Dothraki Sea. However, the Game of Thrones cast weren’t the only visitors in this area. The Mourne Mountains was also used in filming Narnia.
The Dark Hedges
Among all the places in Northern Ireland, the Dark Hedges is considered to be one of the most popular. This shows a long road with trees lined up on the sides. Although this sounds very ordinary, what makes the Dark Hedges special are the branches of the trees that make the place seem eerie at night. This was the perfect place to film the Kingsroad where Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry were traveling to become part of the Night’s Watch.
Downhill Beach
In the series, this beach brings up bad memories when Melisandre started burning the bodies of people as an offering to the Lord of Light thanks to Stannis Baratheon’s approval. However, in real life, the Downhill Beach is a wonderful stretch of sand and water where tourists can enjoy having strolls and water activities. From this place, you can also catch a glimpse of the Mussenden Temple.
Castle Ward
Of course, you’ll also find the House of the Starks in Northern Ireland. The Castle Ward, one of the must-see places in the country was used as a home for the Starks. This was where they lived and ruled Winterfell. The place has been here since the 18th century and some of the areas have already turned to ruin.
Tollymore Forest
To cap off your trip, you can visit the Tollymore Forest where the Whitewalkers were filmed. This was also the place where Ned Stark found five direwolves that were all given to the Stark children. Although the series portrays the forest as a haunted one, in reality, the forest is full of life.
There are so many places in Northern Ireland where Game of Thrones was shot. But if you are not a fan, you can always visit these places because they are beautiful in themselves.
