17 Places Every “Game Of Thrones” Fan Needs To Visit (34 Pics)

One of the most photographed pieces of nature in Northern Ireland, the Dark Hedges are used in Game of Thrones as the King’s Road leading out of King’s Landing, and are visible in several scenes throughout the series.

It may not look like it from the outside, but Castle Ward plays a huge role in Game of Thrones. As well as playing host to the courtyard at Winterfell, the Castle is also the filming location for the Whispering Wood, and several other key scenes throughout the series. The Castle is currently owned by the National Trust, and they definitely play up to the show’s fans – you can go on Game of Thrones cycle tours, or practice archery in the real-life Winterfell courtyard!

The Tollymore Forest Park in County Down is used throughout the series as the filming location for a lot of the woodland scenes. Two of the most memorable shots from the first episode – the prologue scene, and the scene in which the Stark kids find their baby direwolves – were filmed here.

The harbour in the small village of Ballintoy is used as the filming location for the Lordsport harbour on Pyke, the Iron Island that holds the castle of House Greyjoy.

The beach at Downhill Strand and its surrounding cliffs play host to the beach scenes at Dragonstone Island. One particularly memorable scene is in the first episode of Season 2, when Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon burn the statues of The Seven.

This former quarry – currently being used as a car park for the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge – was used as the filming location for the fight scene between Loras Tyrell and Brienne of Tarth. Though the set is no longer there, you can still see its surrounding area, and the view from the cliff alone is worth the trip.

The clifftops above Murlough Bay on Ireland’s north coast are used in Game of Thrones as Storm’s End. It’s where Theon Greyjoy – ahem – rides a horse with his sister (ew), and where Davos Seaworth is shipwrecked after the battle at Blackwater Bay.

Found near the small coastal village of Cushendun, the Cushendun Caves were used as the filming location for the Season 2 scene when Melisandre gives birth to her shadow baby.

Pollnagollum Cave – part of Fermanagh’s Marble Arch Caves Park – is used in Season 3 as the location for Beric Dondarrion’s hideout.

The clifftops at Carrick-A-Rede – near Larrybane Quarry – are used as the cliffs of The Stormlands in Westeros, where Renly Baratheon’s army camp is located over several episodes in Season 2.

You may not find a Weirwood tree there, but the Rowallane Garden in County Down is where you’ll find the filming location for the Godswood at Winterfell that was shown during Season 1.

The ruins at Inch Abbey were used as a filming location for Season 2 of the show, during the scene where Catelyn and Robb first learn of Eddard’s death. It’s also used later in the same episode, when Robb is declared King of the North.

The grasslands surrounding the Mourne Mountain range in County Down has been used as one of many filming locations for the Dothraki Sea. More importantly, the Mother of Mountains in the show is actually one of the range’s real-life mountains!

The beach at Portstewart Strand appeared in Season 5 as the filming location for Dornish peninsula.

The Magheramorne Quarry has been used extensively in the filming of Game of Thrones. It most notably appears as the interior of Castle Black, but was also used as the walls of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater, as well as the set of Hardhome during Season 4.

Some of the scenery during Season 4 was shot on Binevenagh Mountain and in its surrounding area.