Just a 15 minute drive out of Ballycastle on the Causeway Coastal Route, The Dark Hedges shot to fame when they were chosen as a location for the Game of Thrones’ King’s Road. Even though their appearance in Game Of Thrones is a momentary one, County Antrim’s Dark Hedges have captured the imagination of Game of Thrones fans worldwide.
These stunning beech trees were planted to line the entrance drive, now the Bregagh Road, to Gracehill House (read more about Gracehill House below) which was built about 250 years ago. Over the years, the branches grew over the road and became intertwined, creating a magical tunnel that is quite atmospheric, whatever the weather or time of day
Are the Dark Hedges worth visiting?
You will no doubt have seen some of the many stunning photographs that catch the trees in a mysterious light, or in the mist, or in the snow, or a storm and so on. It is important therefore to manage expectations so that if you are visiting on a sunny day your experience might be a little different. Having said that, even without the filters and zoom lenses, the Dark Hedges are still quite magical!
Is it worth travelling miles out of your way to visit them? If you are a Game of Thrones fan, the answer is yes. If you are not, then I would say don’t bother because the chances are you will come across other similarly tree-lined roads or tracks on your journey anyway. Plus there is so much more to see.
Having said all that, the aging trees are under threat from old age and winter storms. Every winter we lose more of these magnificent trees and there is a genuine concern that one day the trees will be so sparse that the place will lose its magic. Fortunately that day has not yet come.
Preservation of the Dark Hedges
Although the trees became world famous with their appearance in Game of Thrones in 2012, they have long been recognised as being of importance and in 2004 a Tree Preservation Order was placed on The Dark Hedges. After that, in 2009, The Dark Hedges Preservation Trust was set up to preserve and enhance these ancient trees which turned out to be a fortunate move as nobody could have imagined what was to come!
As these trees are now old age pensioners, of the original 150 trees fewer than 80 remain, and those remaining are considered ‘past maturity’ with branch breakages common. In October 2017, in the interest of public health and safety and the preservation of the trees, the Dark Hedges section of the Bregagh Road was closed to all vehicular traffic. This is good for the trees, but also good for everyone’s enjoyment of the Dark Hedges as now you can walk the road in relative peace and quiet.
Gracehill House today
Gracehill House, the stately home that was ‘graced’ with this atmospheric tree-lined drive still stands today. It was built by a man named James Stuart and named for his wife, Grace. The estate itself is said to have originally been a gift from King James (Stuart) I of England, VI of Scotland, to a cousin. Over the years the estate came under different ownership and until recently the house served as the club house for Gracehill Golf Club. The Hedges Hotel, where you are advised to park, and the Bell Tower Restaurant were also part of the original estate, however it seems that currently all properties are ‘temporarily closed’ although you can still park at The Hedges Hotel.
Getting to and parking at the Dark Hedges
Many coach tours include a quick trip to The Dark Hedges in their itinerary which, to be honest, is all you need. This means that if you are driving independently, it might not be worth a long journey out of your way. However, if you are travelling the Causeway Coast then it is a minor detour worth taking!
Finding the correct parking area
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To get exclusive enjoyment of the Dark Hedges you will definitely need to come off season, mid week and early or late in the day – but then you’ll probably be fighting for space with other mood photographers! Parking is free and advisable at The Hedges Hotel (139A Ballinlea Road, Stranocum, Ballymoney BT53 8PX).
- When driving there remember that you cannot drive down the Dark Hedges section of the Bregagh Road so your SatNav will get it wrong. For this reason, follow the brown tourist signs from the A44 Armoy Road directing you to The Dark Hedges as these will guide you to the carpark side of the Bregagh Road/Dark Hedges.
- From the carpark it is just a two minute walk to the north end of the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges section itself is about 0.6 miles / 1km long.
Getting to the Dark Hedges by public transport
- You can also get to The Dark Hedges on public transport using the 178 bus that runs between Ballycastle and Coleraine, alighting at Clintyfinnan from where it is a 1 mile/20 minute walk to the southern end of The Dark Hedges. Learn more – Translink journey planner.
The best time to visit the Dark Hedges
If you want arty photos then of course visit early or late in the day when the light might be more moody. If you want exclusive access to the Dark Hedges then time your visit in the off season months, a weekday or early or late in the day. Another tip is to be patient as most people come for just a short time and then they are off again. However, you can still enjoy the experience with other folk around and in fact one of the most charming things I noticed was a lady, presumably a local resident, walking her little dog. What an amazing place to come for your daily walk!
Other Game of Thrones filming locations and attractions
- Ballintoy Harbour / The Iron Islands – 8 miles from The Dark Hedges, close to Giant’s Causeway
- Dunluce Castle / The House of Greyjoy in the Iron Islands – 25 miles from The Dark Hedges, near the Giant’s Causeway
- Fair Head / The Cliffs of Dragonstone – 13 miles from The Dark Hedges, close to Ballycastle
- Slemish Mountain / the plains of the Dothraki sea – 26 miles from The Dark Hedges towards Belfast
- Cushenden Caves / Melisandre’s shadow creature’s birthplace – 18 miles from The Dark Hedges on the Causeway Coastal Route
- Game of Thrones Studio Tour – just south of Belfast
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