Feeling empty now you’re no longer getting your weekly Game of Thrones fix? Gutted you’re going to have to wait a year to find out if *SPOILER* is really *SPOILER*? Worry no more; we’ve discovered a way you can experience Westeros in all its glory without even leaving the UK.
Just take a trip and bask in the natural beauty and glory of Northern Ireland, where you can re-enact some of the most iconic scenes, along with a pint of Guinness or three.
First stop, Winterfell
Fans of the Starks (or Boltons, if there any) can visit the iconic towers of Winterfell, at Castle Ward, only 40 minutes from Belfast. Guests can even channel their inner Ayra and learn some archery, kitted out in authentic Stark attire and learning from an instructor dressed as Jon Snow (but this one doesn’t know nothing, hopefully). If archery isn’t your thing, you can take a trip around on bike, or even glamp in the Starks’ home.
Next stop, The Riverlands
If you’re really into Game of Thrones and want to really act like the characters, you can trek from Winterfell to the Riverlands, the land of Tulley and Frey, with Game of Thrones tours. It’ll take you to the very spot where Brienne annihilates those soldiers, through Robb’s camp and to Walter Frey’s bridge. You can even act out the Red Wedding if you really want to.
After you’ve pretended to kill a man and his family on his wedding day, the tour will take you to Tollymoore forest, where the Stark children found their Direwolves in season 1, and where the White Walkers commit many of their treacherous deeds. You can even meet the real life direwolves.
Stop Three: The Iron Islands and the Stormlands
Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast has stunning natural scenery. Here is home to the Cushendun Caves, where Mellissandre gave birth to the shadow assassin.
A few miles along the coast is the magnificent Murlough Bay, which has been used as both the Iron Islands and as Storm’s End. It’s also where Davos was shipwrecked, and where that awkward Theon and Yara Greyjoy horse-riding scene took place.
Further along the coast are the white cliffs of Larrybane Headland, where badass Brienne won her place in Renly Baratheon’s Kingsguard, which is only a mile away from the pretty fishport where Theon’s homecoming scene was filmed.
Murlough Bay, Co Antrim pic.twitter.com/mNc1zdv9gD
— Matthew Woodhouse (@Curious_Places) June 27, 2015
If you’re not ready to go back to Belfast after this, you can always take an epic three-day road trip to the picturesque seaside town of Ballycastle. About eight miles before you reach Ballycastle, you’ll pass the ‘Dark Avenue’ which is the image that made the King’s Road iconic (a great place to get the selfie stick out).
For more information, check out Winterfell Tours, Game of Thrones Tours, and Discover Northern Ireland.
H/T to LateRooms.com.
