Game of Thrones Ultimate 19-Stop Private Tour with Giant’s Causeway

The seaside village of Carnlough plays a pivotal role in the filming of Game of Thrones. On-screen, it transformed into the free city of Braavos.

It is here that we see a lot of Arya Stark’s most significant character development. She comes to Braavos to find Jaqen H’ghar, and learns how to become a faceless assassin. She also nearly meets her end in this city, when the Waif confronts her and she has to fight for her life.

Exploring Carnlough you will find some notable locations from the show. The stone harbour steps leading down to the canal have become iconic among GOT fans. Here we see Arya pull herself out of the water after being attacked. Bleeding from stab wounds, she struggles up the steps in an attempt to flee danger.

Beside the spot now stands a plaque with information about the scene and the filming that went on there.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Exterior shots of Dunluce Castle were used in Game of Thrones for Pyke Castle of 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.

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.