You can’t actually visit the castle, but that doesn’t stop you admiring its breath-taking beauty from the road (and snapping a few memorable pictures).Ĭastle Ward, County Down, and its lands were home to House Stark before the Boltons’ seige. High up on the Antrim plateau is Cairncastle, depicted in the scene where Littlefinger took Sansa to Moat Cailin and she made her decision to ally with the Boltons. Lough Neagh was also transformed into the Summer Sea, where Jorah steals a boat, takes Tyrion captive and sets sail to his beloved Daenerys in Meereen. You know the one, where Gregor Clegane beheaded a horse? While not open to the public, the castle and its grounds add to the spectacular scenery around the lough. Built in the 14th century on the edge of Lough Neagh, this ruined castle was the backdrop to the jousting tournament. Dating back to Norman and medieval times, these structures catapult you right into Westeros and have seen a Lannister lion’s share of bloodshed. It served as the practice ground at Runestone in the Vale of Arryn, where Littlefinger and Sansa Stark watched Robin Arryn’s attempt at duelling.Īside from the fantasy landscapes, Northern Ireland's packed with another prolific requirement for Game of Thrones® – its abundance of castles. Known as ‘Queen of the Glens’, it’s considered the most beautiful of the nine Glens of Antrim: a plunging valley surrounded by stunning waterfalls and walking trails. The gorgeous Shillanavogy Valley, beneath Slemish Mountain in County Antrim, recreated the Dothraki grasslands, when the Khalasar departs Pentos and rides to Vaes Dothrak. Part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, it's an extensive maze of underground passages that attracts explorers from distant lands. But captured she was, and dragged to the Brotherhood without Banners’ hideout, otherwise known to us as Pollnagollum Cave in County Fermanagh. It became the Kingsroad, where Arya disguised herself as a boy to avoid capture. Nature was definitely smiling on HBO’s location scouts when they found the Dark Hedges, a haunting avenue of serpentine beech trees near Armoy, County Antrim. Listen carefully, you might still hear their howls. Ramsay, the ‘bastard of Bolton’, hunted Theon here, and it's where the Starks discover the direwolves. These 600 hectares hold ancient redwoods as well as Gothic stone arches – the remnants of an 18th century estate. Tollymore Forest Park, County Down, made its mark as the Haunted Forest, where the White Walkers began their march into the realm of men.

It was here that Sansa and Littlefinger journeyed to the Eyrie, Jorah and Tyrion set sail on the Summer Sea together, and Jaime and Bronn came ashore on Dorne.

The forests, mountains and moorlands around Northern Ireland transformed into the scenic backdrops for Game of Thrones® most memorable moments.

Game of thrones moat cailin