TRAVEL SPECIAL.... King in the North

King in the North

Northern Ireland offers you some stunning sights and an opportunity to relive the epic series, Game of Thrones

Unless you’re completely disconnected from the world, you would have heard of Game of Thrones (GOT). Based on A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of epic fantasy novels by the American novelist and screenwriter George RR Martin, the television series made waves for its breathtaking shooting locations. Some of the prominent shooting locations are in the rocky shores and stunning castles of Northern Ireland. Of course, a lot of editing happens at the Titanic Studios in Belfast, too. What’s not to miss are Game of Thrones doors. In January 2016, a storm brought down two trees along the Dark Hedges (one of the filming locations). The wood was used to carve 10 wooden doors; each of which tells the story of a season 6 episode. These doors are on display all around Northern Ireland, in old-fashioned pubs, bars, cafes and inns that sit near a filming location from the show.

Whether you wish to don a fur cape and strike a few poses, learn to shoot a bow and arrow just like Bran Stark did or transform the fictional world of the seven kingdoms into a reality, here are a few must-visit locales.

THE DARK HEDGES

The most photographed spot in Northern Ireland, Dark Hedges is one of the best known GOT filming locations in the region. The avenue of beech trees, with its other-worldly look, was used in season 2 — when Arya Stark travels down the King’s Road to escape from King’s Landing, disguised as a boy. The iconic trees were planted by the Stuart family in the 18th century to impress guests as they approached their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House. Although it looks like a quiet country lane, it’s often tough to get a decent photograph of the trees, courtesy mad tourist rush. If you believe the locals, this road is reputedly haunted by a spectral Grey Lady who appears at dusk among the trees.

CARNLOUGH HARBOUR

Popular as the perfect place to have fish and chips, the Carnlough Harbour is where Arya Stark was repeatedly stabbed by the Waif. Arya then jumps into the freezing water to escape and crawls up the steps into the streets of Braavos. The steps are very prominent in the scene. Situated at the foot of Glencloy — the second of the nine beautiful Glens of Antrim, the attractive 18th century Carnlough village is a paradise for someone who simply loves to walk around. Carnlough was founded as a small fishing settlement in the early seventeenth century. The current harbour was built of limestone around 1850 by the Marchioness of Londonderry, who owned the quarries to the west of the village.

DUNLUCE CASTLE

Don’t forget to halt at the turreted ruins of Dunluce Castle, sitting on a basalt outcrop, high above the waves. In the epic drama, the castle represents the House of Greyjoy, ruler of the Iron Islands. The castle that has many inspired artists and writers through the centuries was originally built in 1500 by the McQuillans, who came from Scotland in the 1200s as hired mercenaries. One of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish castles, Dunluce has an air of eeriness and melancholy. A defended site from at least 500 AD, the ruins is home to many secrets and ghost stories. There is a tale about the ghost of a sad and troubled woman sweeping the prison tower, lamenting her lost love. During World War Two, the site was occasionally used as a lookout to monitor ships.

CUSHENDUN CAVES

Made famous as the Shadow creature’s birth site in GOT season 2, Cushendun Caves were formed over 400 million years, due to extreme weather conditions. The caves are easily accessible by foot along the coast from the quaint Cushendun village. Centuries before the village was built, Cushendun was used as a harbour by people commuting between Ireland and Scotland. Designed in the style of a Cornish hamlet by eminent architect Clough Williams-Ellis, Cushendun’s picturesque coastal setting in the heart of the Antrim Coast along with its unique character, architecture and folklore gave it the designation as a Conservation area in 1980.

BALLINTOY HARBOUR

Ballintoy Harbour, meaning Town of the North, is the setting for Theon Greyjoy’s return to the Iron Islands. This is where he is seen meeting his sister Yara and admiring his ship, the Sea Bitch. Home to merely 200 people, the small fishing harbour and the surrounding village has hardly changed in hundreds of years.

For those looking to capture a true sense of Irish rural life, this one is a not-to-miss stopover while touring the Causeway Coastal Route. The village is merely 1 km from the harbour and has an array of little shops.

Visit the white Ballintoy Parish Church on the hill above the harbour or spend time observing the Atlantic wildlife, which includes birds of prey and dolphin populations.

Shikha Shah

ETM21OCT18