The Dark Hedges / The Kingsroad

The Dark Hedges looked like a place straight out of a fantasy novel long before it became the backdrop of The Kingsroad in Game of Thrones. The interlocking canopy of trees covering the road naturally creates a sense of magic and mystery.

James Stuart originally planted the beech trees lining this road in 1755. He wanted them to grow and line the entranceway to his home, Gracehill House.

According to local legend, a ghost named the Grey Lady haunts the Dark Hedges. Some say she is the spirit of James Stuart’s daughter, or possibly a housemaid who died mysteriously. Others speculate that the Grey Lady is a spirit from a nearby abandoned graveyard. People say that on Halloween night, her fellow graveyard residents join in on the haunting fun!

While James Stuart originally planted 150 trees, only around 90 are still standing. In 2016, Storm Gertrude fell two trees and damaged a third. The timber from these trees made 10 bespoke doors. Each one features a Game-of-Thrones-inspired design. You can find them throughout Northern Ireland.