AS SEEN ON TV: Winterfell is Calling

Step into the world of Game of Thrones in the place where it all began – Northern Ireland.

By Amanda Woods

As I don my cloak that still has its original HBO tag, I wonder who wore it first. Was it a star? An extra? No matter. What I do know for sure is I’m about to stand in the same spot where Jon Snow, Robb and Bran Stark stood in the archery scene in the very first episode of Game of Thrones (GOT). And I’m going to find out if I can do any better than Bran.

WINTERFELL TOUR

© WINTERFELL TOURS - GAME OF THRONES®

When word got out that Castle Ward in Northern Ireland was transformed into Winterfell Castle for the Game of Thrones TV series, the National Trust property saw more than 12,000 additional people a year come through its gates.

Just 40 minutes from Belfast and around two hours from Dublin, the castle in County Down and its grounds were used to film scenes featuring the Lannister Camp, Whispering Wood, the Baelor Battlefield and others.

CASTLE WARD

© GAME OF THRONES

While much of Winterfell Castle was created with special effects, as we step into Castle Ward’s farmyard, it’s easy for my imagination to fill in the blanks. As our ‘Jon Snow’ for the day takes us through the basics of archery, my hands feel like they’re about to freeze in the icy breeze. And I’m sure I’m not the only one to think ‘winter is coming.’

My first arrow goes wide and only manages to hit the target’s straw backing. But when my second attempt is just a few inches off the centre ring, I feel like I might be able to take on those White Walkers after all.

WRITER AMANDA WOODS TRIES ARCHERY AT CASTLE WARD

© AMANDA WOODS

Apart from the archery experience are also offered cycling tours to key GOT sites around the castle and the chance to meet Thor, one of the two Direwolf puppies that appeared in the show’s debut episode. (His co-star, Odin, died in March 2020.) The Northern Inuit dog is now grown-up and huge, but gentle. He’s used to being treated like a star as fans gather around him for photos and pats.

Just a five-minute drive from Castle Ward, you can spend the night in the village inn that the actors who played Ned Stark, Queen Cersei, Jon Snow and others called home. The GOT stars were based at The Cuan for weeks while they filmed Winterfell scenes. Along with sleeping in the same beds as the stars, you can dress up like a Stark for a themed-dinner experience.

There are around 25 Game of Thrones filming locations to be found in Northern Ireland. Along with taking a day trip from Belfast or Dublin, you can take your time winding your way through the Irish countryside with a Game of Thrones driving tour maps, where you'll see sights like the Glens of Antrim (used as the Vale of Arryn) and Binevenach (which appears as the Dothraki grasslands).

BINEVENAGH, DOTHRAKI GRASSLANDS

© GAME OF THRONES

In County Antrim alone, you can drive through the spookily beautiful Dark Hedges (which appeared as the Kingsroad), visit Ballintoy Harbour transformed into the Iron Island of Pyke, and see the Stormlands cave where Melisandre gave birth to a shadow baby. And at Steensons Jewellers in the village of Glenarm, you’ll find GOT-themed pendants, cufflinks and earrings from the artists who made the crowns for Cersei and Joffrey, as well as Daenerys’ dragon brooches and Lannister lion pendants.

THE DARK HEDGES IN COUNTY ANTRIM

© GAME OF THRONES

For 10 years, Belfast was GOT headquarters and to celebrate the series’ final season, stained glass windows with key scenes from the show were unveiled around the city.

Follow the installations around the Maritime Mile past the Titanic Studios before trying to beat the clock in a GOT-inspired escape room. Join in the Save King’s Landing game in Belfast’s historic Church Lane where you can race against others to the finish.

A new, multi-million dollar GOT attraction also opened its doors earlier this year. Half an hour south of Belfast, the Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge is where some of the show’s most memorable scenes were filmed, and those huge sets are now part of a Game of Thrones studio tour. Expect authentic and fully dressed sets and original costumes and props from all eight seasons as you walk through the world of Westeros.

The TV series may be over, but in Northern Ireland, the GOT fun is set to continue for many years to come.