Castle Ward and Tollymore Forest Film Locations Day Trip from Dublin

Tollymore Forest Park, County Down

Tollymore Forest Park lies at the foot of the Mourne Mountains near Newcastle, about two hours' drive north of Dublin. It was the first state forest park in Northern Ireland, and its oak, beech and giant redwoods, stone bridges and the fast-flowing Shimna River made it an obvious choice for the woods beyond Winterfell. Here the Night's Watch first met the White Walkers in the opening episode, and the Stark children found the direwolf pups. The Tollymore Forest Park tour section is a guided trek of about three kilometres on forest paths, so sturdy shoes matter.

Your guide stops at each filming spot to compare the real view with the scene, and the Gothic-style gate arches and old stone follies add to the atmosphere. The walk takes about an hour and a half at an easy pace. If you are wondering how to get to Tollymore Forest Park from Dublin without a car, this coach trip is the simplest answer, because public transport to the park is limited.

Strangford village and the lunch break

After the forest you drive east to Strangford, a small fishing village on the narrows where Strangford Lough meets the Irish Sea. A short ferry crosses here to Portaferry, and the harbour, the old stone houses and the tidal currents make it a pleasant place to stretch your legs. The coach stops here for about an hour, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.

Meals are not included, but your guide passes a menu around on the coach so you can pre-order a hot lunch at a local restaurant and have it ready when you arrive; you are also welcome to bring a packed lunch and eat it by the water. Strangford sits right beside the Castle Ward estate, so the afternoon walk starts within minutes of finishing your meal. It is a good moment to buy water and snacks for the two walks still ahead.

Old Castle Ward, the real Winterfell

Castle Ward is an 18th-century estate on the southern shore of Strangford Lough, now looked after by the National Trust and famous for a mansion with one Classical and one Gothic facade. The filming location, however, is the older farmyard beside the lough: the 16th-century tower house and the enclosed courtyard of Old Castle Ward became the Winterfell courtyard in season one, the place where the royal party arrived and where the Stark boys practised archery. Castle Ward Game of Thrones tours are the main reason many visitors come, and this is the longest stop of the day.

You take a second walk of about three kilometres around the estate to see more season one and two locations, including a tower house that doubled as one of the Twins of House Frey and the woodland used for Robb Stark's war camp in the Riverlands. Here your guide hands out the wool cloaks, swords and shields, so plan your photos. The estate entry fee is included in the tour.

Inch Abbey near Downpatrick

Inch Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery founded in the 1180s by a Norman lord on the north bank of the River Quoile, just outside Downpatrick. The roofless church with its three tall lancet windows and the grassy outlines of the cloister are atmospheric in any weather, and it was here that the series filmed the Riverlands camp scene at the end of season one in which Robb Stark was proclaimed King in the North.

Inch Abbey Game of Thrones fans will recognise the view immediately. With cloaks on and banners raised, the group recreates the scene for a photo, which is the moment most travellers remember from the day. The stop lasts about half an hour. The abbey is free to enter and sits in open parkland, so it can be breezy: bring a layer. Downpatrick itself is associated with Saint Patrick, and the cathedral on the hill above is visible from the road.

Hen Mountain in the Mournes

The final stop is Hen Mountain, a granite hill with distinctive rocky tors in the western Mourne Mountains. It is the newest location on the route: the opening scene of the first episode of the prequel series, in which the young knight buries his master, was filmed on its slopes. From the roadside you take a gradual uphill walk of about 25 minutes to the spot, with wide views over the Mourne foothills and farmland.

Because the location is on an exposed mountainside, this stop depends on the weather and may be shortened or skipped in heavy rain or strong wind; the rest of the tour runs rain or shine. In fine conditions it is a spectacular end to the day before the roughly two-hour drive back to Dublin, where you arrive at about 7:15 PM. Comfortable footwear and a windproof jacket are strongly advised.