T he Game of T hrones™ itinerary not only brings to life the drama of the series, but also provides a front row seat at locations steeped in local myth and legend. So why not step on to a set like no other, where you can indulge your fascination for Game of T hrones, investigate what County Down has to offer, and still have time to enjoy the sort of hospitality that this part of the world is famed? Welcome to the real Westeros!
p Location Ma
Groomsport
BANGOR HOLYWOOD
Clandeboye Estate
BELFAST
MILLISLE NEWTOWNARDS
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Inch Abbey
The 12th century Inch Abbey and its surrounds were used as the setting to shoot Hooster Tully’s funeral.
COMBER
carryduff
Ballywalter
Greyabbey
Kircubbin
ballygowan Whiterock
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Riverrun
saintfield
KILLINCHY saintfield Estate
The setting for Robs victory in Season One.
ARDS PENINSULA Cloughey
Shrigley
KILLYLEAGH PORTAFERRY
ballynahinch
Castle ward 3 4 QUOILE River 2 Audley’s Field STRANGFORD inch abbey 1 DOWNPATRICK
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Winterfell
Castle Ward is home to Audleys Tower which was used during season one as King Robert Baratheon and his retinue arrive at Winterfell.
Ballyhornan Seaforde
Ardglass
castlewellan Robb Stark’s Camp
This is where Rob Stark pitched his camp and where he finds himself first attracted to Talisa.
4
Killough Dundrum Bay
Tollymore 5 Forest Park
Newcastle
newry T he Haunted Forest sandy Brae Warrenpoint
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Tollymore is used for the opening sequence to the series where the viewer is first introduced to the land north of The Wall.
This map is produced by Destination Mourne Mountains&Ring of Gullion, Destination Strangford Lough and Downpatrick - St Patricks Country. It is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with HBO or anyone associated with Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones County Down Location Map
Mourne Mountains
Follow in the footsteps of the stars on this Game of T hrones locator map.
Castle Ward
Locations, locations, locations! Now you too can walk north of The Wall, breathe the same air as the Night’s Watch, stroll in the footsteps of Robb Stark’s soldiers, and pass through the gateway to Vaes Dothrak. This Game of Thrones map is a voyage of discovery that lets you experience the fantasy world of author George R.R. Martin for yourself. Plotting a path through the scenic splendour of the Seven Kingdoms, it takes you to where so many of the pivotal scenes were shot.
For more information contact one of the following Visitor Information Centres: Ards Visitor Information Centre 31 Regent Street Newtownards BT23 4AD 028 9182 6846
Newcastle Visitor Information Centre 10-14 Central Promenade Newcastle BT33 0AA 028 4372 2222
Downpatrick Visitor Information Centre The Saint Patrick Centre 53a Market Street Downpatrick BT30 6LZ 028 4461 2233
Newry Visitor Information Centre Bagenal’s Castle Castle Street Newry BT34 2BY 028 3031 3170
visitstrangfordlough.co.uk info@visitstrangfordlough.co.uk
visitmournemountains.co.uk info@visitmournemountains.co.uk
Mourne Mountains
Depart Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital city Belfast via the A24 towards Saintfield. Travelling along the A7 for just over 10-miles you will come across a sign for Inch Abbey, a secluded spot just off the main road, you will come to the 1st Games of Thrones location in this area. The abbey was built on the site of a previous settlement known as Inis-Cumhscraigh (dating back to 800AD) by Englishman John De Courcy as atonement for his destruction of Erenagah Abbey in 1177. De Courcy, arrived with the plan to wrest lands from the local chiefs, descendants of the Viking King Ullagh. Fortifications became something of an obsession for the knight from Somerset with Carrickfergus and Dundrum Castles his two major strongholds. Although not immediately obvious, Inch Abbey was erected on an island that is accessed by a causeway, with the River Quoile to the south and marshland to the north. Visible in the distance is Down Cathedral, burial place of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. Here , on the shores of the Quoile River, was the setting in Season One for Robb’s victory and capture of Jaime Lannister, and where the bannermen declare Ned’s son King
of the North. He then takes his army to the edge of the Trident, sending his mother Catelyn to bargain with Water Frey in an attempt to cross at the Twins. If you haven’t quite had your fill of historical drama then Downpatrick should satiate even the most voluminous appetite. Spoiled for choice, you can pick from the aforementioned burial place of Saint Patrick at Down Cathedral, The Saint Patrick Centre, Struell Wells (a place of pilgrimage from 1660 until 1840), or even Down County Museum housed in the old county gaol. Departing Downpatrick along the A25 to Strangford your first port of call Quoile River – Hoster Tully’s Funeral which featured in episode 3 of series 3. (‘Walk Of Punishment’). Continuing along the scenic Strangford Road there is likely to be a very real sense of familiarity as you approach Audley’s Tower and Castle Ward. Both were used extensively in Game of Thrones and it isn’t difficult to understand why this area of County Down caught the eye of the Game of Thrones locations manager.
Castle Ward, overlooking Strangford Lough, has been home to the Ward family since the 16th century. The 18th century mansion house is a unique blend of both classical and gothic architectural styles, whilst the beautiful 820-acre walled demesne with its gardens and woodland is nothing short of idyllic. Focal point of the vista along Castle Ward’s artificial lake (Temple Water) is Audley’s Tower, a 15th century castle set within a courtyard (originally owned by Anglo-Norman family the Audleys). Audley’s Tower was used during Season One as King Robert Baratheon and his retinue arrive at Winterfell and it was on the surrounding lands that Robert told his old friend during the hunt: “There’s a war coming Ned”. Young Bran Stark’s dream sequence, seen through the eyes of a raven, was also partly filmed here. The Castle Ward lands represented north of Storm’s End in Season Two where Brienne of Tarth swears fealty to Lady Catelyn Stark as they make their way along the road following Renly’s death. The most extensive use of the area, however, was as site for The Riverlands. Audley’s Tower Field was where Robb Stark pitched his camp. It’s also here that he first finds himself attracted to Talisa, although his mother is quick to warn him off and remind her son that he is promised to another (the daughter of Walter Frey). Also filmed near Audley’s Tower was the scene where Ser Alton Lannister brings news that Queen Cersei has torn up Robb’s treaty terms; Talisa approaching
HBO’s award-winning series Game Of T hrones™ has captured the imagination of television viewers across the world. Hooked on the show’s intoxicating mix of medieval warfare, murder, mysticism, and intrigue, they fanatically follow every Machiavellian twist and turn of the storyline. T he battle for the Iron T hrone takes place across the most dramatic of landscapes, with County Down representing everything from T he Riverlands to Winterfell, Craster’s Keep to Godswood.
for more supplies to treat the wounded; and Robb’s invite to her to accompany him to the Crag. The Game of Thrones cameras again rolled into action to record Jamie Lannister’s capture and imprisonment in a stockade by the Starks. Cateyln goes to talk to him and later poor Ser Alton meets his end here when the Kingslayer murders him and a guard in making his escape. Devotees of Game of Thrones will no doubt also recall the scene where Robb and Talisa talk about having to marry a Frey to gain permission for his army to cross the bridge at the Twins; their wedding after a whirlwind romance; and Catelyn’s stark warning to her son that there will be consequences when word reaches the Freys.
rides through the snow and discovers the gruesome sight of dismembered Wildling bodies. He encounters a White Walker and gallops away. This rugged landscape is also where Ned Stark and the boys come across a stag that has been gored and the feral direwolf pups. Not surprisingly given the untamed nature of the landscape, Tollymore was also used for the opening sequence to the series when the viewer is first introduced to the land north of The Wall. The Mourne Mountains are a walker’s nirvana, with staggering panoramic views from points like Eagle Mountain, the highest peak in the western Mournes. From here you can survey Slieve Foye and the Cooleys to the west, the distant Sperrins and
Time now to head south along the Shore Road, through Ardglass and on to the foot of the magnificent Mourne Mountains. It was one of Ireland’s foremost songwriters and entertainers Percy French who penned: “Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea”, and it’s hard not to be inspired by the wonderful vista that greets you. Travel along Newcastle’s Central Promenade before making your way to Tollymore Forest Park, the first state forest park in Northern Ireland (established in 1955). Covering an area of 1600-acres, it boasts a myriad of walking trails that can be traversed to the gurgling accompaniment of the Shimna River. As wild as it is beautiful, the woods of Tollymore provide the setting in Season One Episode One for the scene in which a member of the Night’s Watch
Down Cathedral
Belfast Hills to the north, and east to the high Mournes. Stand for a moment and it’s easy to see how you might buy into local myth that surround places like Maggie’s Leap (supposedly named after a local girl threw herself into the chasm whilst fleeing soldiers); or to imagine the haunting screams of the Blue Lady (abandoned by her husband) being carried away on the fresh mountain air. The Mountains of Mourne truly are breathtaking. Time now to complete the last leg of the journey. The places you see, and people you meet, will continue to enrich and enthral as you head inland through Castlewellan, Banbridge, Lisburn, and back to Belfast - bringing the curtain down on the Destination Strangford Lough and Destination Mourne Mountains Games of Thrones itinerary.