My GRRM tour

[Jo Zebedee]

Much of the Game of Thrones first three series has been filmed in my neck of the woods and the fourth has been confirmed. There are a lot of the locations I've been to over the years -- we visited Winterfell last year aka Castle Ward -- and, as it happens, I'm holidaying on the North Coast this summer, so hope to go to a few more.

Speicifically, I'm hoping to get to Cushendun and the seacaves where Melisandre came ashore (and where my kids believe there is a crisp eating monster called Mr V-v-voo-zuu thanks to a family holiday and a daft uncle a couple of years ago), Larrybane (which is where the rope bridge at Carrick-a-rede is, and yes we will be crossing it) where a lot of the Renly scenes were shot, and Dunseverick (aka Dunluce Castle) which has been used a lot. I hope also to get to the Dark Hedges, the tree lined road Arya fled down, and Ballintoy and Mussenden beach - which were The Iron Isles and Dragonstone. A lot of these places I've been to over the years but there is definitely something very nice about relating them to the series, an extra shade of enjoyment, if you like.

I thought I might try to get some pictures to post here - there is quite a tourist trail building on the back of it, so I'll try to match pictures with scenes. Not promising anything, mind...

Now, to see if the Northern Ireland tourist board will sponsor my family holiday..

 

[Harpo]

Mr V-v-voo-zuu!!!!!!

 

[Brian G Turner]

Sounds great.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

Wow, I'm jealous! Sounds wonderful. I hope you can share some of the photos!

 

[Jo Zebedee]

So, I'm back with no photos. a couple of reasons - Ulster had a very rare heatwave and the beach beckoned but....

I had plannned to go to Larrybane, the island beside Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, one of the settings but when I got there a sea mist had consumed most of the land, and there was now a charge of £15 for my family to cross to the island. To put this in context, the 'attraction' consists of a fifteen minute walk through fields, a fifteen minute wait in a field, a five minute, max, ropebridge crossing to a bare island (with great views, if no mist). For this money, my kids could go somewhere for a days' entertainment... I thought it too expensive and didn't partake (having spent £30 to view the Giant's causeway, which was full of tour buses, tourists, and was a site with no character, not at all what it should be. In the past, when I visited, it was empty of anyone except the locals and the odd exotic tourist who'd defy the Troubles and come anyway. I have no probs with the tourists and welcome them but have never felt so let down by the National trust which didn't seem to have anything in mind, at either site, than making money from them, even to the detriment of the experience.)

I then hoped to go past the Dark Hedges today, but they now have a line of barbed wire running the length of them, which would, I felt, ruin the vista....

I know there are other places from GOT which are still photogenic, affordable and in easy reach - Dunluce Castle, for instance, but one of my party wasn't into castles) - but, in all, I found that once again, Ulster shot itself in the foot.

 

[Mouse]

That's a shame, springs. The trouble with these places is that you have to go out of season now. Luckily when I went to Tintagel castle it was out of season and apparently 'closed' (except how can they close it when it's just a load of ruins by the sea?) so we walked all around it and saw about two people. Lovely.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Yep, defintely. Out of season touristy places for me from now on. Made me think of other places and how fab they must be when quiet. When's off season at the grand canyon or Ayer's rock?

 

[Boaz]

Vacation on location. Elijah Wood... I think he was on the economy tour.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Since I linked to this I should undo my earlier grumpiness and stress it was the way things were run, not the general place, that irked me. The venues were, as ever, lovely. (As is Elijah Wood, nice link, Boaz.)