Game of Thrones Tour, Belfast

Although things are finally starting to look up (yaaaaay!), realistically I’m not sure all of us will want to hop on a plane as soon as we can for our first holiday in over a year.

If I’m honest, I think a lot of us will be jumping on the staycation bandwagon this year – I know I will.

We are so lucky in that there is so much to see in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland, and I am going to tell you a bit about a recent trip to Northern Ireland! (when I say recent I of course mean pre-pandemic).

Game of Thrones…is that still a thing?

Maybe some of you reading the title of this post might be thinking “oh wow, Game of Thrones…do people still watch/care about/do that?!”

And the answer is HELLLL YESSS…

…and you can visit some of the filming locations!

For those of you who watched the show, whether you liked the ending or not (personally I thought it was okay), you can’t not be excited at the thought of visiting the locations of some the most memorable scenes in the entire series.

Leaving from Belfast, I did a full day Game of Thrones tour in September 2019 and it was absolutely jam packed with stuff you could totally geek out about as fan.

As you can see, I may have got a bit too into it when they gave us costumes….

If you are were even slightly into Game of Thrones, this tour is a must!

Even if you are not a fan, but your partner/pal/dog/granny is and drags you along, then the scenery in itself is unreal so you would still have a great time.

Iron Islands, Giant’s Causeway & Rope Bridge Tour from Belfast

There seems to be a good selection of tours you can do in Northern Ireland that will take you to different Game of Thrones locations, but let me tell you…

I chose THE BEST one.

I’ve genuinely never been more confident to recommend something in my life.

Helpfully, the company is just called “Game of Thrones Tours” (so if you can’t remember that, then go away).

https://gameofthronestours.com/iron-islands-rope-bridge-belfast/

There are so many reasons I would recommend this tour, but for me there were three key selling points and reasons I would say “BOOK THIS BAD BOY NOWWWW”

1. Every single tour guide was actually in Game of Thrones! Our tour guide was a bloke called Richard and he was a Wildling for the entire series, even sometimes being Tormands stand in – so cool! He was funny as hell and had the driest sense of humour, which is right up my street. He was fantastic and gave us the scoop on the goings-on of the set, and his enthusiasm and passion for the show and its fans was absolutely infectious. I nearly peed my pants laughing at him so many times.
2. On the approach to each location while on the coach, you were shown a clip from the show to help remind you of the scene of the next location! This was so helpful for a show like Game of Thrones where you sometimes feel like they never go back to the same place twice. The guide also has blown up pictures of the scenes that he held up when you were standing in front of the location.
3. The early start is SO worth it. The coastal route you take is hugely popular for many different tours, not just for GOT themed ones. Our guide explained that we left so early so as not to get stuck behind lots of coaches on the route, as well as international visitors who have no idea how to drive properly on these winding coastal roads! Apart from at one stop, I definitely felt like we beat the crowds and were actually able to enjoy a decent amount of time at each stop.

The tour is honestly fantastic value for money in my opinion, and is so well organised. You drive around on a small, modern, coach with about 20 other people.

While this might sound corny, I also think this type of thing was great as you were around other GOT lovers (and dutiful friends who had been dragged along). It was nice being with other like minded people, all laughing at the same jokes about the show. We actually also had some really keen fans role-playing at each location, which was a laugh to watch. Americans on the tour in particular had some crazy deep knowledge.

I’m not that deep a fan, but hats off to these guys.

Here is the itinerary, which you can of course read more about on their website. It’s an early start, and we were knackered by the end….but it was worth it.

07:30 Meet the guide in front of Jurys Inn hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast

You can’t take any hot drinks on the bus, so please keep this in mind as there were lots of sad faces having to chuck away an expensive Starbucks latte. Thankfully the tour guide made them laugh as soon as they got on the bus so they weren’t too cranky after not having their morning coffee.

07:45 Departure

Depart from Jurys Inn taking the Causeway Coastal Route, passing Carrickfergus Castle and Magheramorne Quarry, location of Castle Black and the Wall.

Comfort stop at Carnlough

Morning comfort stop for coffee and restrooms.

Photo stop at Cushendun Caves

Photo stop in the caves where Melisandre gives birth to a dark spirit.

For some reason I remember this scene being quite traumatising when watching, so it was pretty freaky being there in person.

Cross Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Cross Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. A popular location for visitors to Belfast in general – and not for the faint hearted!

Renly’s Camp and Iron Islands Kingsmoot

Larrybane Chalk Quarry is where Brienne bests Ser Loras Tyrell, and Catelyn brings news of Robb’s rebellion to Renly and Margaery. Also the location of the Iron Islands Kingsmoot in season 6.

Lunch in the Fullerton Arms (lunch not included in the cost, so you just pay when you’re there)

A cute pub in Ballintoy on the north coast. Classic hearty meals available…I think I maybe had mac ‘n’ cheese. See http://www.fullerton-arms.com.

Iron Islands

Visit to Ballintoy Harbour, location where Theon comes ashore on Pyke Island, where Theon dedicates his faith to the ‘Drowned God’, where Ser Davos seeks the help of Salladhor Saan for the Battle of Blackwater Bay and where Gendry escapes Dragonstone in a rowing boat.

Also the setting for my murderous stance with a sword. The costumes are such a nice touch and come at no extra cost.

Giant’s Causeway

An UNESCO World Heritage site, the geological marvel of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed in the Paleogene Period, 50-60 million years ago.

This stop was really fucking busy, and while so incredible to see, I was a bit sad after coming away from it if I’m honest. From what I could see, the rocks now look like they are being ruined by the amount of foot-traffic on them. You can see they are wasting away quite a lot, and to me it didn’t look like natural wear and tear. I hope they close the site to preserve the rocks (I’m a saddo, I know).

It didn’t really matter anyway, as it was so windy I was blind as a bat most of the time at this stop…

Photo stop at the Dark Hedges

Photo stop at the haunting avenue of beech trees, through which Arya and Gendry escape King’s Landing.

This was really quite something to see! HOWEVER…we got absolutely done by a shite passer by as our photographer. We asked a guy on our tour to take a picture of us and he cropped out the TREES. The bloody TREES. “No worries pal, just crop out the thing we actually came here to SEE.” Prick.

(I realise how ungrateful that sounds, but if I can’t moan here, then where can I…)

17:30 arrival at Jurys Inn

Arrival and drop-off of all customers at Jurys Inn coach bay.

After a long day, I would highly recommend a hearty meal, a pint, and a lie down.

I honestly can’t recommend this tour enough, so if you are looking for some staycation ideas for 2021 then definitely consider this.

Cara.