If you're a fan of the books and the HBO series, here's what you shouldn't miss out on, says Avril-Ann Braganza
I am excited as we set off on the Causeway Coastal Route; I hear it's one of the most breathtaking and scenic routes in Northern Ireland. Besides scenic viewpoints, it also harbours many interesting spots if you're a Game of Thrones fan.
Sheep graze in green fields
It's a rainy, misty day when we drive under a canopy of trees along the sloping roads of the coast as the waves of the Irish Sea slap against the rocks on one side and sheep graze on hills and rolling fields of different shades of green—interspersed with quaint houses with white picket fences, trees of different colours and cemeteries—on the other. Our first stop in Glenarm, a village whose name is taken from the Irish Glenn Arma, meaning Valley of The Army. With pitched battles between would-be rulers of Westeros, it is a frequent subject matter for Game of Thrones. We stop at Steensons Jewellers, an unassuming jewellery shop, where many of the Game of Thrones jewellery was handcrafted. On display at the store we see the Chain of Office for The Hand of the King, as pictured around the neck of Jon Arryn, in the episode where his body is laid out in state; brooches worn by the different houses; roses used in different jewellery pieces for the house of Tyrell; the Lannister lion pendant and Sansa's pendant.
Ballintoy Harbour
We drive on to Ballintoy Harbour, which is still a working harbour for local fishermen. The mid-eighteenth century harbour was used to export lignite (wood coal), burnt limestone from nearby kilns and basalt for making roads. But in Game of Thrones, Ballintoy doubles as Lordsport Harbour (The Iron Islands) and is also seen in the homecoming of Theon Greyjoy after ten years in Winterfell. In the episode ‘What Is Dead May Never Die’, it is this beach and bay at Ballintoy, where Theon was baptized into the faith of the ‘Drowned God’ cementing his return to the House of Greyjoy. It is also the site where the pirate Salladhor Sann meets Davos and pledges his support to Stannis Baratheon. It begins to drizzle and I pull out my umbrella to protect my camera (my precious), but it's so windy that I think I may take off like Mary Poppins. My umbrella blows backward for the third time and I give up, hiding the camera under my jacket instead! The view from the pier is breathtaking. On one side the action by the sea and ice has carved out caves in the chalk. As I turn the other way, the turquoise water calmly laps against the shore with an occasional strong wave crashing on the rocks under the cloudy grey sky. It's the perfect place to appreciate nature and the beauty of Northern Ireland and if it were not for the wind, rain and cold, I would have to drag myself away from the harbour.
We go on to Giant's Causeway. While Game of Thrones may not have been filmed here, the sea beyond features in several sweeping shots and a visit to the magnificent site with its unique six-sided basalt columns and local legend of Finn McCool, is a must. We pick up an audio guide and walk along the path of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, flanked by the wild North Atlantic Ocean and a landscape of dramatic cliffs.
The Dark Hedges
Our next stop is the The Dark Hedges, planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. Originally intended to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to Gracehill House, a Georgian mansion, in Game of Thrones it represents King's Road and forms the backdrop when Arya Stark escapes from King’s Landing, disguised as a boy. She is with Yoren, Gendry, Hot Pie and the others, who will join the Night’s Watch, in a cart, travelling north on the King’s Road. Beautiful beech trees stand sentinel along the dark road. It's growing dark and a cold wind blows; there's no one else in sight and I half expect to be attacked by the 'White Walkers' or one of the wights with icy blue eyes. After a few quick clicks, I jump into the safety of the car, quite relieved. Before long we're cruising down the Irish roads and feeling very Irish as we listen to A Fairytale of New York by The Pogues!
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}