Game of Thrones 2-Day Private Tour from Belfast
Northern Ireland is officially The Home of Thrones. Fabled castles, haunted forests and now a stunning, hand-woven tapestry – Game of Thrones® – has become a part of Northern Ireland’s epic story.
Westeros might feel like another world, but the Seven Kingdoms are very real. The dramatic landscape of Game of Thrones® finds a home in Northern Ireland. As one of the key filming locations for the hit television show, this is a place where fantasy comes to life.
You can imagine White Walkers roaming the forests, direwolves howling in the night and dragons soaring overheard. So be brave, and take your first steps down the Kingsroad to discover the wonders of Westeros.
Quick view
Locations
A. Belfast
B. Titanic Quarter / Season 8 Kings Landing set
C. Carncastle / Lands North of Winterfell
D. Cushendun Caves / Storms End
E. Murlough Bay / Storms End
F. Fair Head / Dragonstone
G. Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
H. Larrybane Quarry / Renly Baratheon’s Camp
I. Ballintoy Harbour / Lordsport
J. Giant's Causeway
K. Dunluce Castle / House Greyjoy
L. Mussenden Temple / Dragonstone
M. Binevenagh Mountain / The Dothraki Grasslands
N. The Dark Hedges / The Kingsroad
O. Shane's Castle / The Red Keep tourney grounds
P. Corbet / Riverrun
Q. Mourne Mountains / Vaes Dothrak
R. Tollymore Forest Park / Lands around Winterfell
S. Inch Abbey / King Robb's Camp
T. Castle Ward / Winterfell
Experience
This fully guided two day tour takes in the best Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland. See first-hand the stunning scenery featured as the backdrop in the HBO’s series when you join us for an unforgettable tour.
This tour is over two days. Day one covers the the North Coast filming locations in Antrim with a visit to Titanic Quarter to see the Season 8 Kings Landing set – the largest and most expensive set in TV history and to see the location of the main filming studio. Day two covers the southern locations in Down, including Winterfell, the haunted forest and much much more!
DAY ONE
Titanic Quarter, Belfast
A quick stop to visit to the hub of productions for the show – the famous Paint Hall Studio. Once part of the most famous shipyard in the world that built the Titanic, the Paintball is now one of the biggest tv and film studios in Europe and is the location of the Iron Throne itself. You will be able to catch a glimpse of the new Kings Landing set that has been constructed for season 8. It is the biggest and most expensive tv set ever built and will be retained after filming finishes in summer 2018 to be kept as a tourist attraction!
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach / Dragonstone Beach
Mussenden Temple overlooks one of the North Coasts most beautiful beaches, Downhill Beach. Stretching for over 11km this beach provides the perfect location for Mussenden Temple. This Classical round temple was built to be a summer library, while today it stands dramatically on top of a cliff, with views of the Northern Irish and Donegal coast.
Both the Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach were used in Game of Thrones as the location for the Dragonstone exterior. This is the spot where the old gods burn on the beach, where Stannis pulls the flaming sword and Melisandre chants: “For the night is dark and full of terrors” in ‘Lightbringer’.
Ballintoy Harbour / Pyke, The Iron Islands – Lordsport
Ballintoy Bay is the real-world location of Lordsport (the port of Pyke in the Iron Islands). This picturesque little fishing village and its harbour are one of the most beautiful parts of the coast of Antrim. The production team of the series chose this wonderful place to be the port of Pyke, where Theon Greyjoy sets foot back on the Iron Islands, admires his ship and has some trouble with his crew.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge & Larrybane / Renley’s Camp
Suspended almost 100 ft (30 m) above sea level, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge was first erected by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. Today it is a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of thrill-seekers (and birdwatchers!) to the North Coast every year. If you are bold enough to cross the 65 ft (20 m) bridge, stretching from the mainland to ‘Rocky Island’, you will be rewarded with fantastic views of Rathlin Island, Scotland and the Causeway Coast. Get a bird’s eye view of the clear, green water flowing around the ancient caves and caverns far below – if you dare to look down. Larrybane was the dramatic spot chosen for Renly Baratheon’s camp in Season 2.
Murlough Bay / Storms End
Located in North East County Antrim, Murlough Bay is an awe-inspiring location. Murlough is best known for its outstanding beauty, remoteness and views across the sea to Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre. Plus the cows that sometimes graze along the sandy dunes.
Murlough Bay becomes the Iron Islands in Season 3. This is the spot where Theon Greyjoy rides on the horse with his sister Yara. It’s also the spot where Davos Seaworth is shipwrecked after the battle of Blackwater Bay.
Cushendun Caves / Storms End – Melisandres cave
The caves at Cushendun were formed over a period of 400 million of years and are a product of extreme weather conditions. They can be found just beyond this beautiful coastal village next to the Cave House. In Season 2, Cushendun is where Melisandre gives birth to the shadow baby after being brought ashore by Davos Seaworth.
Fair Head / Dragonstone
Fair Head – or Benmore, from the Irish an Bhinn Mhór, meaning ‘the big cliff’ – is one of the dramatic new GOT locations in Co Antrim and right smack on the Causeway Coast which, along with Belfast, is the Lonely Plant’s ‘best region to visit’ in 2018. Northern Ireland’s tallest cliff face appeared in season 7 peaking interest in the area around the globe. The impressive Fairhead rises 600 feet above sea level near Ballycastle on the Causeway Coast and it’s believed to be the biggest expanse of climbable rock in Britain or Ireland.
HBO filmed parts of season seven at Fairhead, forming the backdrop for much of episode three ‘The Queen’s Justice’ – which saw Jon Snow finally meet Daenerys and her dragons at Dragonstone, and reunite with Tyrion Lannister. Fittingly, given that GOT is a TV adaptation of the fantasy novels A Song Of Fire And Ice by George RR Martin, much of Fair Head’s stunning landscape was created by ‘fire’ from volcanic activity, then later sculpted by ‘ice’, from the ice ages, to leave its mark over time.
The Dark Hedges / The Road from King’s Landing
The Dark Hedges might possibly be the most beautiful avenue of beech trees in the world. Planted by the Stuart family in the 18th century to impress their visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion – Gracehill House. It is one of the most photographed sites in the country. In Westeros, the Dark Hedges are the Kingsroad, north of King’s Landing. Disguised as a boy, Arya escapes from the city with Yoren, Gendry, Hot Pie and the other prisoners who are to join the Night’s Watch.
Cairncastle / Lands North of Winterfell
From standing high atop Cairncastle, where Ned Stark beheaded the Night’s Watch deserter in Season 1 Episode 1, we travel to Glenarm, one of the Nine Glens of Antrim. Thought to be the oldest chartered town in Northern Ireland – still retaining its historic street pattern – Glenarm has over 50 listed buildings and is home to Glenarm Castle, the ancestral home of the McDonnells, Earls of Antrim, and the perfect place to stop off for an afternoon tea. Here you can visit Steensons Workshop, creators of some of the jewelled artefacts used in the series.
Binevenagh / Dothraki Grasslands, North of Meereen, Essos
Binevenagh mountain – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Area of Special Scientific Interest. With its line of dramatic basalt cliffs dominating the surrounding countryside, the panoramic views from the mountain top take in Roe Valley, the Sperrin Mountains, the North Coast and across Lough Foyle to Donegal. Binevenagh is the shooting location in the Season 5 Episode 10 when Daenerys and a wounded Dragon have landed on a clifftop and Daenarys is then surrounded by a Dothraki horde.
DAY TWO
Shane’s Castle / The Red Keep tourney grounds & the Summer Sea
The picturesque ruins of Shane’s Castle on the shores of the pretty Lough Neagh is a working estate consisting of over 1,000 acres of peaceful forests and farmland, habited mostly by sheep and cows. The ruins, though hard to trace their origins, date back to the 16th century. In Westeros, Shane’s Castle serves as the backdrop for the royal jousting tournament in order to honour Ned Stark, as well as the dungeons of King’s Landing.
Nearby Lough Neagh became the Summer Sea where Ser Jorah commandeers a vessel on which to transport a captive Tyrion Lannister. It also was where Brienne of Tarth fought a group of bandits on her quest to take Jamie Lannister to King’s Landing.
Tollymore Forest Park / Lands around Winterfell
Tollymore Forest Park, which was featured in the first episode of Season 1, covers an area almost 630 hectares at the foot of the beautiful Mourne Mountains. This romantic forest is home to trees, woodlands, streams, grottos and caves – and offers panoramic views of the sea at nearby Newcastle. Tollymore Forest was the first state forest park in Northern Ireland, established in 1955.
The Forest appeared in the first season of Game of Thrones as the lands around Winterfell when Ned Stark comes across the orphaned direwolves – the symbol of House Stark. You might also remember this as the Haunted Forest. It was the very first scene in which a member of the Night’s Watch rides through the snowy forest and stumbles upon dismembered Wildling bodies and are hunted by Wights.
Sandy Brae in the Mourne Mountains / Vaes Dothrak
The hauntingly beautiful Mourne Mountains have some of the most beautiful hiking paths in Ireland. Vast landscapes and broad foothills go on as far as the eye can see. Cutting through the desolate Mourne Mountains is the 35km-long Mourne Wall, built to enclose the Silent Valley Reservoir, though it does little more than enclose the remote summits and vast valleys of the Mourne Mountains.
On-screen, the mystical Mourne Mountains are the entrance to Vaes Dothrak, the only city in the Dothraki Sea, and capital of the nomadic Dothraki people. Kaleesi, Ser Jorah and the Dothraki visit Vaes Dothrak in the beginning of the series. As with Ballintoy Harbour, the Mourne Mountains are no strangers to fantasy: C.S. Lewis was inspired by their magical landscapes.
Castle Ward / Winterfell
Castle Ward, County Down, is a beautiful 18th century manor house, home to the Ward family since 1570. Castle Ward’s most intriguing feature is its two-faced nature: the front half of the house and facade is designed in classical Palladian style while the back half of the house (interior and exterior) and facade are designed in Georgian Gothic, and seems right out of a Gothic horror tale! It’s also not too far from Tollymore Forest Park.
In Westeros, Castle Ward portrays the outdoor scenes of Winterfell, ancestral home of the Starks. It’s also where the Whispering Wood was filmed, along with Robb Stark’s battle camp, and a few battle scenes.
Inch Abbey / Robb Starks Camp – King in the North
Located on the north bank of the Quoile River, Inch Abbey was founded by John de Courcy in atonement for his destruction of Erenagah Abbey. The buildings are mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries while it is believed the church is older than that at Grey Abbey which was built about 1193.
This beautiful and historical place is where an alliance of Northerners rallied around Robb Stark and crowned him the King in the North.
Corbet village and castle / Riverrun
Corbet is a tiny, rural village in County Down, located not far from Tollymore Forest Park. There are ruins of a castle, a trickling stream, and a lake popular with anglers. It is located in a quiet, unspoilt region of Northern Ireland’s farmlands.
Corbet was a filming location for season 6, where the local ruins were used to film exterior shots of Riverrun Castle in the Riverlands, where the siege of the castle and other exterior shots were filmed. Further northeast of Corbet is Saintfield village, where the iconic Battle of the Bastards was also filmed in County Down.
Tour details
Locations (20)
1. Belfast
2. Titanic Quarter / Season 8 Kings Landing set
3. Carncastle / Lands North of Winterfell
4. Cushendun Caves / Storms End
The Cushendun Caves helped to create some of the eerie settings near Storm’s End. These 400-million-year-old caves provided the perfect rocky, coastal landscape to represent the Baratheon homeland.
In the GOT TV series, the Cushendun Caves feature in one of the show’s most famous and mystical scenes. Here, Melisandre gives birth to the Shadow Assassin, much to the amazement of Davos Seaworth. This smokey spectre travels through the air to find Renly Baratheon, killing him in his tent. For viewers, this was the first time they saw how powerful Melisandre could really be. It also showed how far Stannis Baratheon would truly go to sit on the Iron Throne.
But the Cushendun Caves are more than just the backdrop for Storm’s End. They are a thing of natural beauty and undeniable proof of the picturesque qualities of the Northern Irish coastline. When visiting the cave featured in the show, make sure to take the time to soak up the verdant green landscape, and breath in some fresh Irish Sea air.
5. Murlough Bay / Storms End
6. Fair Head / Dragonstone
7. Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge is a unique feature along the Northern Irish coast. With the original bridge dating back over 350 years, it is a proud piece of local history.
Coming to a length of 20m, and hanging 30m above sea level, it connects the mainland with Carrickarede island. The name of this island roughly translates as “The Rock of the Casting”, as it was a casting-off point for salmon fishermen. Now it is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Walking along the bridge, you are treated to breathtaking views of the Northern Irish coastline. You will also be able to spot the nearby Sheep Island and the inhabited Rathlin Island. On a clear day, you might even be able to make out the outline of Scotland, on the other side of the Irish Sea. That is, of course, if you have the guts to make the crossing.
8. Larrybane Quarry / Renly Baratheon’s Camp
Larrybane Quarry served as the setting for an important Game of Thrones scene when it was used as Renly Baratheon’s Camp in the TV series.
The old chalk quarry was transformed into a tourney site for an episode in Season 2. It’s rocky landscape and coastal features made it a great location to recreate part of The Stormlands, where Renly set up his camp.
Here, Renly and his new queen, Margaery Tyrell, watch from the sidelines as Loras Tyrell battles an unknown opponent. After defeating Loras, the challenger lifts off their helmet, introducing us to Brienne of Tarth for the first time. As a reward for winning, Brienne asks to join Renly’s Kingsguard. It is also here that Renly meets with Catelyn Stark, who warns him to take the upcoming war more seriously.
Without the sets and props from the show, Larrybane Quarry holds little resemblance to Renly Baratheon’s Camp. But it’s towering rock faces and sea views still make it a site worth visiting.
Close by is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, another popular tourist destination in the area.
9. Ballintoy Harbour / Lordsport
Ballintoy Harbour, on Ireland’s north coast, is the Game of Thrones filming location for Lordsport, the main port of Pyke. One of the Iron Islands, Pyke is the home of Theon and Yara Greyjoy.
In A Song of Ice and Fire, Pyke is described as an island rich with mines containing iron, lead and tin. Due to its rocky landscape, Ballintoy Harbour was considered to be the perfect location to recreate the island.
We see this location for the first time in Season 2 of GOT. It is to here that Theon returns home after his time as a ward in Winterfell. It is here that we are first introduced to Yara, who Theon does not recognise and mistakes for a commoner, who he then attempts to seduce.
Aside from playing an important part in the world of the Seven Kingdoms, Ballintoy Harbour boasts an inherent attractiveness. Its panoramic coastal views, bustling wildlife, and quaint atmosphere make it a wonderful place for a relaxing visit.
History also abounds in this area. Centuries’ old structures, such as Ballintoy Church and Dunseverick Castle, are just waiting to be explored. Ballintoy’s maritime culture and heritage also runs deep, and is still very much alive and celebrated among the locals.
10. Giant's Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Northern Ireland’s most popular historical landmarks. It draws in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Situated on the County Antrim coast, Giant’s Causeway is the product of two natural forces coming together. It formed when molten lava cooled down as it met with the cold sea water, around 50 to 60 million years ago. The result was a sprawling bed of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, that covers just under 5km of coastline.
Some legends also talk about how Giant’s Causeway came to be. The most popular features the Irish mythical character Fionn mac Cumhaill, who was feuding with a Scottish giant, Benandonner. Fionn built the causeway between the two islands so that they could fight it out.
However, when he saw how big Benandoner really was, he retreated back to his wife for help. She quickly wrapped Fionn in a blanket and laid him across her lap. When the Scottish giant arrived she told him that this was, in fact, the infant son of Fion mac Cumhaill. Seeing how big the toddler was, Benandonner figured that the father must be enormous. So, he ran away, destroying the causeway as he went.
11. Dunluce Castle / House Greyjoy
Exterior shots of Dunluce Castle were used in Game of Thrones for House Greyjoy on Pyke Island. But that’s not the only exciting thing about this 16th-century structure. It has many other claims to fame and tales from within its walls.
Featuring on the HBO TV series wasn’t the first time that Dunluce Castle was shown to the world. In the early 70s, it also featured on the inner sleeve of the Led Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy. It was also the one-time home of the famous Scottish warrior chieftain Sorely Boy MacDonnell. It was during Sorely’s reign that the Girona, a vessel from the Spanish Armada, was caught in a storm and wrecked on nearby rocks. The canons were taken from the ship and installed as the castle’s security system.
A local legend also claims that at one time, due to cliff beneath the castle eroding, the castle’s kitchen suddenly plummeted into the sea. The only member of staff left alive was the kitchen boy. He was sitting on a stool in the inside corner of the room when it fell.
12. Mussenden Temple / Dragonstone
Where Melisandre burns the seven gods effigies – the “Lord of Light”.
13. Binevenagh Mountain / The Dothraki Grasslands
Binevenagh Mountain provides the setting for the Dothraki Grasslands in Game of Thrones. First appearing in Season 5, this is just one of the many spectacular landscapes of Northern Ireland that appear on the TV series.
Fleeing from the Sons of the Harpy, Daenerys Targaryen flies to this mountaintop on the back of her faithful dragon Drogo. Unfortunately, she ends up leaping from the frying pan into the fire. Having just escaped the troubles in Mereen, she meets Khal Moro’s khalasar and is captured.
Molten lava accumulated to form Binevanagh Mountain around 60 million years ago. As a result, it now looms over the county of Derry/Londonderry, and forms part of the Antrim Plateau. The plateau extends nearly 10 kilometres across the Magilligan peninsula. The mountain’s steep rockfaces dominate the skylines of the surrounding villages. Because of these features, this sprawling, rugged landscape made the perfect location to film the Dothraki Grasslands.
The rocky, natural setting draws in many sports enthusiasts. For example, the mountain attracts hillwalkers and climbers throughout the year. Its steep cliffs also make it the perfect location for hang gliding. Soaring through the air, you’ll experience breathtaking aerial views of Northern Ireland’s coastline. And, for those looking for something less dangerous, an artificial lake on the mountaintop is a great place for trout fishing.
14. 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.
15. Shane's Castle / The Red Keep tourney grounds
16. Corbet / Riverrun
17. Mourne Mountains / Vaes Dothrak
18. Tollymore Forest Park / Lands around Winterfell
19. Inch Abbey / King Robb's Camp
20. Castle Ward / Winterfell
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