It has been 10 years since Game of Thrones first aired on HBO. The show’s graphic scenery was simply breathtaking. Most of the locations where the series was filmed are in Northern Ireland. There was once a time when tourists flocked over to these destinations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has left these places deserted. Let’s relive some of these beautiful sites in the pictures below!
1. Larrybane Quarry, Larne
The Stormlands
This retired quarry first introduced us to Brienne of Tarth, King Renly and his wife Margery Tyrell in season two.
2. Fairhead, Ballycastle
Dragonstone
Northern Ireland’s tallest cliff face worked perfectly for Dragonstone. Jon Snow finally met Daenerys and her dragons here.
3. Saintfield, Co. Down
Battle of the Bastards/Battle of Winterfell
Hidden amongst the lush green pastures in the peaceful village of Saintfield, sits two landmark spots – specifically, the battlefields for the Battle of the Bastards and the Battle of Winterfell. Empty aside from a few barns, with a little imagination and a lot of CGI, these fields were once filled with giants and White Walkers.
4. Sallagh Braes, Antrim
You’ll recognise the landscape from season 6, episode 7: The Broken Man, when the Hound was rescued by a band of villagers in the Riverlands after his brutal beating/stabbing by Brienne of Tarth and Arya Stark.
5. Shillanavoghy Valley, Antrim
Dothraki Sea
Just beneath Slemish Mountain the Khalasar departs Pentos and rides to Vaes Dothrak.
6. Ballintoy Harbour, Causeway Coast
The Iron Islands
Home to House Greyjoy – Theon Greyjoy returned home to the Iron Islands and this is where we first meet his sister Yara. Ballintoy also featured as the Free Cities where Varys was born.
7. Tollymore Forest, Newcastle
Throwback to the first season, fans will recognise this woodland where the Nightwalkers were first spotted and also where the Stark kids found the Direwolf pups. Numerous woodland/snowy forest shots were captured here too.
8. The Dark Hedges, Ballymoney
Kingsroad
A popular tourist attraction even before the Game of Thrones, this spot features as the grandest highway in Westeros. It runs from Castle Black at the Wall all the way south to the capital, King’s Landing.
9. Murlough Bay, Antrim
Slavers’ Bay
Davos Seaworth was shipwrecked and later rescued after the Battle of Blackwater Bay here at Murlough. This is also where Tyrion and Jorah come ashore on Slavers’ Bay, only to be accosted by slavers.
10. Quintin Bay, Portaferry
Stokeworth
One of the forgotten filming locations, Jamie Lannister tracks down Bronn at Stokeworth here before asking him to travel with him to Dorne.
11. Mageramorne Quarry, Antrim
Castle Black and Hardhome
This is the backdrop to Castle Black and Hardhome – while the entrances are real, the huge ice wall and snow were of course created digitally.
12. Binevenagh, Limavady
Dothraki Grasslands
In season five, Daenerys encounters a horde of house warriors here – the vast landscape and towering cliffs made for a menacing backdrop.
13. Inch Abbey, Downpatrick
Riverlands
Robb Stark’s army set up camp here, as they waited at the Trident to cross. He was also crowned ‘King in the North‘ here after the battle in the Whispering Wood.
14. Cushendun Caves, Antrim
The Stormlands
Fans will recognise the caves where the Red Priestess Melisandre gives birth to the shadow creature which ultimately kills Renly.
15. Downhill Strand, Castlerock
Dragonstone
Cast and crew transformed Downhill beach into the shores of Dragonstone, where those who defied the Lord Of Light were sacrificed by Lady Melisandre.
16. Glenariff, Antrim
Runestone
Littlefinger journeys through Glenarrif with Sansa to meet with Lord Royce and watch Robin Arryn training in The Vale.
17. Cairncastle, Ballygally
The North
The rugged scenery from the ruins of Cairncastle is used a couple of times throughout the show. In the first episode of season 1, Ned Stark beheads a deserter of the Night’s Watch. The team returned in season 3 when Jaime Lannister is released from captivity and on the road back to King’s Landing. Baelish also travels through the rolling hills with Sansa, on their way to marry Ramsey Bolton.
18. Quoile River, Downpatrick
River Run
The Riverlands are home to the Tully’s and the scenes of Hoster Tully’s funeral were shot along the River Quoile.
19. Portstewart Strand, North Coast
Dorne Coast
With miles of golden sands, Portstewart Strand was the perfect spot to recreate the most southern region of Westeros. Jaime Lannister and Bronn disguised themselves as Martell soldiers amongst the scenic dunes, to rescue Myrcella Baratheon.
20. Castle Ward, Strangford
Winterfell
One of the most iconic locations in the Seven Kingdoms, the 820-acre walled demesne of Castle Ward, County Down, provided a prime location for House Stark.
21. Pollnagollum Cave, Fermanagh
Beric Dondarrion’s Hideout
Think back to season 3…this is the ‘Brotherhood without Banners‘ secret hideaway.
22. Audley’s Castle, Downpatrick
Audleys Castle at Strangford Lough was chosen as a filming location for several scenes from season 1 and season 2. It is the backdrop for King Robert Baratheon’s arrival at Winterfell in season 1 and Robb’s Camp in season 2.
23. Toome Canal, Lough Neagh
Old Valyrian Canal
In Season 5, disgraced Jorah Mormont takes Tyrion prisoner, throwing him bound and gagged into a stolen boat and setting sail for Meereen.
24. Leitrim Lodge, Newry
North of Winterfell
Bran and Rickon Stark take refuge at Leitrim Lodge, in the crypts after Theon seizes Winterfell.
25. Dunluce Castle, Bushmills
Pyke Castle
The ruins of the medieval Dunluce Castle were used for many of the scenes for Pyke Castle – the House of Greyjoy in the Iron Islands.
26. Titanic Studios, Belfast
It is here that most of the fixed sets and indoor shoots are made and filmed.
27. Titanic Quarter, Belfast
On occasion, larger sets were constructed outdoors, including Kings Landing in season 8.
Did your favourite spot make it to the list? Tell us in the comments below!
Game of Thrones showcased some of the finest warriors in fantastical television history. Out of all the warriors on the show, Ser Gregor Clegane (The Mountain) was the most feared. Why wouldn’t he be fearsome? The Mountain was played by the world’s strongest man Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson himself!
Björnsson showed off his great strength by breaking the world’s deadlift record- he lifted 501 kg. After setting up the milestone, he challenged long time rival Eddie Hall to a boxing match. The match has been dubbed the heaviest boxing match in history.
Bjornsson is showing off his incredible new figure as he prepares for his highly anticipated boxing debut. And he looks incredibly terrifying, even more than how he was on Game of Thrones as the Mountain.
The 6-foot-7 monster dropped 40 pounds in one month after the official announcement of the boxing match. In May, Bjornsson beat Hall’s world record deadlift to set a new mark at 1,104 pounds. The pair have long been engaged in a war of words with each previously accusing the other of cheating.
Björnsson’s recent Instagram posts clearly show that he has continued his weight cut and is looking fierce ahead of the fight, still five months away. Who do you think will win the bout? Talk to us in the comments below!
Game of Thrones first premiered on HBO ten years ago on April 17, 2011. The show is dubbed the greatest TV show of the 21st century. The series won a total of 59 Primetime Emmy Awards. The record still stands to this day. No wonder HBO is so invested in exploring the Game of Thrones universe, with several prequels in development. HBO will celebrate a decade of Game Of Thrones with its month-long event, The Iron Anniversary. And it seems like nature has joined the celebrations as well.
Last week, Mount Fagradalsfjall erupted after 900 years of slumber 40 kilometres from the capital Reykjavik. The area has become a tourist hot spot for the weekend hikers. Thousands occasionally gather admiring the hot red glowing lava that streams into a river. Recent pictures of the visitors from the scene have now sparked jokes and humour across social media. The internet compared the breath-taking volcanic spurts and incandescent lava with a scene from the HBO drama.
Wow! Iceland knows how to volcano. From tonight! #icelanderuption #icelandvolcano #iceland pic.twitter.com/YdgcCJXdQZ
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) April 9, 2021
The photos of eruption scenes were captured by an aerial videographer, Brian Emfinger. Many compared its visual appeal with R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series’ Game of Thrones’ symbology that revolves around ice vs. fire. The image of the 300,000 cubic meters (10.5 million cubic feet) of lava streaming in the ice-cold region and Icelanders. Collectively reminded the internet of HBO’s screenplay, as the scenes bore resemblance with the fantasy drama.
Land of fire and ice.
— Asroq Khotaminur (@asarochi) April 11, 2021
What do you think of the graphic scenery? How are you celebrating the Iron anniversary? Talk to us in the comments below!
HBO’s Iron Anniversary celebrations are currently underway on account of a decade of Game of Thrones. The month-long celebrations will include various events and specials related to the epic on HBO and HBO Max. The Marathrone, which began on 10th April, is already at its peak. Bryan Cogman, the writer for the acclaimed series, is busy reliving his favourite moments from the Marathrone.
He listed his favourite episodes, character-wise, on Twitter. “Okay, as promised, I’m starting my own #GoT watchlist thread after taking a look at some of the, let’s just say… interesting selections for this Iron Anniversary thing,” Cogman tweeted on Monday. “Will add to this thread throughout the week.”
Okay, as promised, I’m starting my own #GoT watchlist thread after taking a look at some of the, let’s just say… interesting selections for this Iron Anniversary thing.
Will add to this thread throughout the week.
I’m limiting replies on this for obvious reasons. Sorry.
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 12, 2021
The characters that were on his list were Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister and Brienne. Jon was first on his list, and of course, Battle of the Bastards had to be there.
1) The Kingsroad (S1)2) The Old Gods and the New (S2)3) The Climb (S3)4) The Watchers on the Wall (S4)5) Hardhome (S5)6) Oathbreaker (S6)7) Battle of the Bastards (S6)8) The Queen’s Justice (S7)9) The Dragon and the Wolf (S7)
10) The Iron Throne (S8)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 13, 2021
Next came the Dragon Queen which started with the Golden Crown.
Dany:1) A Golden Crown (S1)2) Fire and Blood (S1)3) Walk of Punishment (S3)4) And Now His Watch Is Ended (S3)5) The Children (S4)6) The House of Black and White (S5)7) Hardhome (S5)8) The Dance of Dragons (S5)9) The Queen’s Justice (S7)
10) The Spoils of War (S7)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 13, 2021
Tyrion’s list included the Battle of Blackwater that made him famous, in a good way, at King’s Landing.
So, that said. Tyrion:1) A Golden Crown2) Baelor3) What Is Dead May Never Die4) Blackwater5) Second Sons6) The Laws of Gods and Men7) The Children8) Hardhome9) The Dragon and the Wolf
10) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 13, 2021
Next comes Sansa’s list.
Sansa:1) The Pointy End (S1)2) Blackwater (S2)3) Dark Wings, Dark Words (S3)4) Mockingbird (S4)5) The Mountain and the Viper (S4)6) Hardhome (S5)7) Book of the Stranger (S6)8) Battle of the Bastards (S6)9) The Winds of Winter (S6)
10) The Dragon and the Wolf (S7)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 13, 2021
Arya’s list was complicated for Cogman, but he did it anyway.
Ugh. Ok. Again, going with my gut since this one’s too hard. Arya:
1) Lord Snow (S1)2) Baelor (S1)3) The Ghost of Harrenhal (S2)4) Kissed By Fire (S3)5) Two Swords (S4)6) The Children (S4)
7) The Dance of Dragons (S5)
(cont.)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 13, 2021
Bryan had heaps of praises for Lena Headey’s performance as Cersei.
Now Cersei. Lena should’ve won a lot of Emmys. Just sayin’.
1) The Kingsroad (S1)2) The North Remembers (S2)3) Blackwater (S2)4) The Lion and the Rose (S4)5) The Children (S4)6) The Gift (S5)7) Mother’s Mercy (S5)
8) The Winds of Winter (S6)
(cont.)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 14, 2021
Jaime’s walk to redemption can be seen on Cogman’s list.
And now… Jaime:
1) Winter Is Coming (S1)2) A Man Without Honor (S2)3) Walk of Punishment (S3)4) Kissed By Fire (S3)5) The Bear and the Maiden Fair (S3)6) Oathkeeper (S4)7) The Children (S4)8) No One (S6)9) The Spoils of War (S7)
10) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (S8)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 14, 2021
He ended the list with Brienne of Tarth, as of today.
Well then, I guess I’ll do my Brienne list:
1) What Is Dead May Never Die (S2)2) The Ghost of Harrenhal (S2)3) And Now His Watch Is Ended (S3)4) Kissed By Fire (S3)5) The Bear and the Maiden Fair (S3)6) Oathkeeper (S4))7) The Children (S4)
8) The Red Woman (S6)
(cont.)
— Bryan Cogman (@cogman_bryan) April 14, 2021
Well, the Iron Anniversary celebrations have just begun, and there’s plenty more in store. Do you agree with Bryan’s list? Or do you have your own? Tell us in the comments below!
