Visiting the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland

Dark Hedges Northern Ireland

The Dark Hedges are located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland amongst the villages of Stranocum and Armoy. They can be seen on a part of Bregagh Road close to The Hedges Hotel. The hedges themselves are around 0.6 miles in length. They are located around 49 miles northwest of Belfast and 150 miles from Dublin. It takes about 1 hour to drive here from Belfast and 3 hours from Dublin.

How do you get there?

There are three main ways to get to the Dark Hedges:  you can drive, take a tour or take public transport. 

The fastest way is probably to drive yourself as it gives you flexibility in terms of time and how long you spend here. It is about a 1-hour drive from Belfast. There is a free parking lot you can park in to visit the site. If you don’t have a car or want someone else to do the driving, there are a number of guided day tour options that include a stop at the Dark Hedges.

These tours also stop at many of the other recommended sites in the area such as the Giant’s Causeway and the Titanic Museum. There are a series of tours which leave from both Dublin and Belfast. It’s also achievable to get to the Dark Hedges through public transport from Dublin or Belfast. There is no bus stop or train station at the Dark Hedges themselves, but there are some located within walking distance or a short taxi ride. 

By Public Bus -From Belfast, it’s around 2 hours to 2.5 hours by bus to get to the Dark Hedges. There are a few ways you can do this, but one way is to take the 218 bus from Belfast to Coleraine and then change to the 178 bus at Coleraine.

By Train – If you want to travel by train to the Dark Hedges, you can take the train from Belfast to Ballymoney which takes about 1.5 hours. From there you will need to take a 10-minute taxi ride from the Ballymoney train station to reach the Dark Hedges.

What GOT scenes were filmed there?

The show that made the Dark Hedges famous was of course Game of Thrones, an epic fantasy American TV series on HBO, based on the best-selling novels by author George R. R. Martin. In Game of Thrones, the Dark Hedges were used as ‘The Kingsroad’. This fictional road runs all the way across the land of Westeros, from Kings Landing in the south to “The Wall” in the north. The Dark Hedges are seen in the ending sequence of Season 2 in the first episode, titled ‘The North Remembers’. During the episode, Arya is seen in a caravan running away from Kings Landing, which is filmed through the Dark Hedges on the ‘Kingsroad’.

Good nearby hotels

  • The Hedges Hotel – This is the closest hotel to the Dark Hedges, which is a 4-minute walk away. It is also located next to the free parking lot.  If you want to be as close as possible, this is definitely the hotel to choose. Staying here makes it convenient and easy to visit the Dark Hedges minus the crowds.  Book it on Agoda.com
  • Marine Hotel Ballycastle – A casual 3-star hotel with a restaurant and seafront views in Ballycastle. Located a 2-minute walk from the beach and a 14-minute drive to the Dark Hedges. Ballycastle is a good option for those traveling by public bus and is also where you can get the ferry to Rathlin Island. Check best price guaranteed on Agoda.com
  • Mill House Studio Apartment – A modern studio apartment in a tranquil setting on the site of an old flax mill. A good option for families. A 4-minute drive from the Dark Hedges. Book it on Agoda.com

Tours including the Dark Hedges

Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Full-Day Tour from Belfast

Visit the mysterious location where the fantasy drama GOT is filmed on a tour of the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway from Belfast. Escorted by a local guide, see the main filming locations while hearing about popular characters and inside gossip. Journey through the tree-shrouded, atmospheric Dark Hedges Road and gaze at the mystifying rock formations of the Causeway.

Hear insider gossip about the popular HBO TV series, based on George Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels.

Learn about King Joffrey and see the caves where Melisandre of Asshai birthed a shadow baby.

 Stop for photos on the Dark Hedges road and in front of the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

 Enjoy free time to explore the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Book it on Viator.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Kw149CfBy/

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Giant’s Causeway Day Trip from Dublin

Uncover two top attractions of Northern Ireland with comfort on this day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Giant’s Causeway from Dublin. Leave behind the city life and dig deep into rural Northern Ireland with the guide. You will also visit the Belfast and Dark Hedges. 

Full day Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Giant’s Causeway tour from Dublin 

Endeavour through the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge without paying more.

Relish a remarkable drive over the Glens of Antrim and along the Coastal route.

Make your way to one of the Game of Thrones filming locations at the Dark Hedges.

Visit the city centre of Belfast.

Book it on Viator.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2mZUf7A8EJ/

From Dublin: Game of Thrones Tour

Voyage through the weathered landscape of the north, seeing locations where the most iconic Game of Thrones scenes were shot. Let your guide tell you what happened in each location and try on realistic Game of Thrones costumes.

See the most iconic blood-curdling locations where scenes were filmed

Let your expert guide weave stories of Irish myth and truth that undoubtedly give these locations their otherworldly magic

Bring your dream of being a part of the series to life by dressing up as your favourite character

Book it on Viator.

Further Reading on Northern Ireland Game of Thrones Locations

Don’t Forget your Travel Insurance!

Travel insurance is so important as it will help you with emergencies and unexpected costs on your trip. Make sure that you declare any pre-existing health conditions so that you are covered for those. Check your cover for accidents and medical care and also lost baggage or getting things stolen. Remember to report as soon as something goes wrong on your trip because some travel insurance companies require you to report something that you want to claim for within 24 hours. Read the fine print carefully when you sign up. I always use ad recommend World Nomads. You can get a free quote here:


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