The Dark Hedges is located close to Ballymena Northern Ireland and have been referred to as the Dark Hedges Ballymena, Dark Hedges Ireland, of course - the Dark Hedges Northern Ireland.

They are the most famous Irish trees - more recently since they were used as the Game of Thrones, The Kings Road. Close by the Dark Hedges trees there is The Hedges Hotel and there is a "Hedge House" with a story of how the hedge trees were planted as an avenue up to the house. If in Ballymena/Ballymoney or the area - this is well worth a visit, but it can be busy at key times.

It might be now one of the most famous places that people tend to visit when it comes to Northern Ireland, not just for being an old historical place with those old trees, but also for appearing in Game of Thrones movie series which a lot of people are huge fans of.

The Dark Hedges carries a story behind its appearance and this story goes back to the Mansion that these beech trees were built as an entrance for. These beech trees are located along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in county Antrim and they form some kind of a tunnel that cars tend to walk through. The Dark Hedges actually became more of a touristic attraction after its appearance in Game of Thrones.

The story behind this tree tunnel started back in 1775 when James Stuart built a house which he named Gracehill House after his wife Grace Lynd and then wanted to make the entrance for this home one that is significant and would make all those coming to visit him fall for its beauty, so he planted 150 beech trees in order to create an imposing approach.

Being one famous touristic attraction in county Antrim is one thing to be mentioned about the Dark Hedges, but it is also part of the story to mention the legend that is carried behind this place. According to the legend, the Dark Hedges is visited by a ghost called the Grey Lady who travels the road and moves from one tree to the other, she is claimed to be either the spirit of James Stuart's daughter who has been known as Cross Peggy or else one of the house's maids who have died mysteriously in the place, or else it is believed to be a spirit from an abandoned graveyard beneath the fields who on Halloween is joined with other spirits to the place. There are those visitors who have heard the stories and loved the idea of visiting the place for the chance of feeling any of these spirits, and there are those who come to the place fearing what might come up their face.

Visiting the place is a different kind of experience and walking in this tunnel of beech trees is a whole experience on its own. The problem is that recently, some of those old trees which are now standing for more than 100 years became old enough and could fall down easily, from the 150 trees which were planted in the first place, only 90 remain until this day. According to different studies done on these trees, it is believed that they are at bad states of health and are at risk in bad weather.

Recently, there were some trees which fell back in 2016 and 2017 which led the Woodland Trust to think about closing the road to reduce the amount of visitors who are coming to visit the place with the cars and thus affecting the roots of the trees which they tend to walk over.

The Dark Hedges is actually one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland and it has been voted as one of the top five most beautiful tree tunnels in the world; an enough reason to keep attracting tourists to it.

This place could stand on two different lists, one as being from the touristic places that one could visit while being in Northern Ireland especially if in county Antrim or close to Ballymoney, or else it could come on the list of places related to the Game of Thrones locations that are found in Northern Ireland and which some of them are already famous destinations for one to head to in the country.

We have been to several other Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland, like Lough Neagh or the Smoking Sea ([ Ссылка ]), Toome Canal in Toomebridge ([ Ссылка ]), Binevenagh Mountain in Londonderry ([ Ссылка ]), Larrybane which is beside Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge ([ Ссылка ]), the famous Cushendun Caves ([ Ссылка ]), and all this comes in addition to the doors which appeared throughout the movie and which are found in different restaurants, cafes and bars.

Even if you are not a fan of Game of Thrones, it is still considered one of the important touristic places that one should visit in county Antrim in Northern Ireland; the feeling of walking under those old trees and being inside that breech trees' tunnel is different! Never miss it!

Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.

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