Dark Hedges Game Of Thrones

Our trip to Northern Ireland during half term definitely had a Game Of Thrones theme! After visiting the Game Of Thrones Exhibition in Belfast we knew we wanted to explore the filming locations while we were there. One of the most famous and iconic locations is the Dark Hedges.

The Dark Hedges Game of Thrones – History and fame

The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim. They were originally planted over 240 years ago by the Stuart Family to create an impressive and atmospheric approach to their property. It worked!

The Dark Hedges became a tourist attraction after featuring as Kings Road in the Season 2 premiere. You might remember a young Arya and Gendry fleeing Kings Landing during The North Remembers through the tunnel of trees.

The Dark Hedges Game Of Thrones – Our experience

We travelled north from our hotel in Templepatrick following the sat-nav directions for postcode BT53 8PX. I like to plan our trips so I had already done my research! I knew that you’re no longer supposed to drive along the road. The roots can be damaged by the constant stream of cars and coaches wishing to see the famous trees. We therefore looked for alternative parking. You can park on The Hedges Hotel carpark which is literally a couple of minutes walk away.

I had also read that it can become crazily busy with tourists trying to grab the perfect snap. We therefore decided to go early. And I mean early – we were there for 7am! The kids were up at the crack of dawn so we thought, why not? And it was perfect. We were the only ones there so we could take our time.

You might think, how boring, they’re just trees! And I guess technically they are but there is something mystical about them. It’s no wonder there’s so many ghost stories surrounding the area. My seven year old was particularly taken with them and kept talking about the “spooky trees” days later despite not understanding the Game Of Thrones connection.

The Dark Hedges Game Of Thrones – Our Tips

  • Go early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s much quieter
  • Park at the hotel and walk
  • Come quickly – the trees are over 240 years old and dying. See them while you still can!
  • Visit the Giants Causeway afterwards. It’s just 20 minutes away and a must see.

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