The air in Belfast carries a certain weight. The city has spent the last decade as the capital of the Seven Kingdoms in the Emmy-winning Game of Thrones. As HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (already a highly-rated, six-episode series) takes flight, the rolling hills of Northern Ireland once again transforms to a living, breathing expansion of George R.R. Martin’s universe.
I went on a Canada-exclusive visit to Belfast to visit the filming locations of the internet’s latest cultural obsession. Whether it’s the rugged peaks of the Mourne Mountains or the ancient, moss-draped canopy of Tollymore Forest, the lush environment of Northern Ireland remains the ultimate draw for showrunners. It offers a natural texture so rich it requires very little digital enhancement to feel like a world lost in time.
Ashford Meadows: Building a Kingdom at Glenarm Estate
While much of the show relies on the raw beauty of the land, the Ashford Tournament (where most of the first season was shot) required a monumental feat of engineering at the Glenarm Estate.
To create the tournament grounds, the bridge, and the market, the production team — led by locations manager Naomi Moore — built everything from scratch on the estate. They even built stables for the stunt horses, who were accompanied by several horseriders and the crew. For ten weeks, this working estate was a hive of medieval activity, with night units shooting too.
The “Bowl” in Tollymore Forest Park
If these rocks could talk, they’d tell stories of dragons, knights, and white walkers. Known locally as ‘The Bowl,’ it was here, in the very first episode of Game of Thrones, that a terrified ranger first witnessed the icy blue gaze of a White Walker. Fast forward to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and the same crags represent the lonely, misty paths of the Reach. As young Dunk wanders these woods after leaving Flea Bottom, the landscape mirrors his own transition from an orphan to a hedge knight.
The Bowl is also played host to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, as well as the gritty Viking world of The Northman and even the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. Just a word of caution for the adventurous: the ground is deceptively boggy, so step off the path and you might find yourself waist-deep in a “leg-swallowing” peat bog — a true Westerosi hazard.
The Stepping Stones: The Jewel in the Crown
The Tollymore Forest Park Stepping Stones location is nestled within the lush landscapes of County Down. This specific crossing was a key location for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, filming Dunk and Egg’s journey as the young squire follows his knight through the woods. The production used the riverbank for a beautifully composed campsite scene, with the camera positioned on the opposite bank to frame the towering, off-the-scale pines that make this forest unique.
This site is a favourite for period filmmakers, having appeared in The Northman, Dungeons & Dragons, and the upcoming The Death of Robin Hood.
The Foley Bridge: A Gateway to Ancient Woodlands
Filmmakers are consistently drawn to the Foley Bridge because it is surrounded by some of the most ancient woodland species in Europe, including rare pines that reach heights rarely seen elsewhere. During the filming of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the bridge provided a storybook backdrop for the traveling party, showcasing the river’s unique stones. Beyond Westeros, this bridge was a key location for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, where Chris Pine was filmed on the rocks below.
Hen Mountain
The most iconic image of the new series — the silhouette of a knight against a lone, gnarled tree — was captured at Hen Mountain. While the mountain itself is ancient, the tree was a prop. To protect the environmentally sensitive bogland (a Triple SI site), the crew couldn’t just plant a tree. They built a “concrete bluff” to act as a base, stabilized a steel frame and painstakingly brought in their own greens to make it look natural. It’s an apt metaphor for the production: taking the raw, wild beauty of Belfast’s backyard and adding just enough magic to make it an iconic scene.
From Set to Screen: The Game of Thrones Studio Tour
For those who want to step out of the mud and into craftsmanship, a pilgrimage to the Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge is essential.
While the filming locations offer the feeling of Westeros, the studio tour offers the detail. Walking through the Great Hall of Winterfell or standing before the Iron Throne, you realize the staggering scale of what was built here over eight seasons. It serves as the ultimate “controlled” experience, allowing fans to see the costumes and sets without trampling the ancient roots of the Dark Hedges or the delicate flora of the Mournes. Word is that they’re even trying to bring props from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms here.
The Glass of Thrones: A Stained Glass Pilgrimage
While the filming locations like The Bowl or Hen Mountain provide the raw, rugged beauty of Westeros, the Glass of Thrones trail offers a more artistic, reverent look at the saga. To celebrate ten years of filming in Northern Ireland, six massive stained-glass windows were erected across Belfast’s waterfront. Each window represents a different Great House or iconic theme from the original series (Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, Targaryen, Greyjoy, and the White Walkers). The trail starts at the AC Hotel and winds past the Titanic Belfast museum and the SS Nomadic, ending at the iconic Titanic Slipways.
FEATURE PHOTO: A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS. STILL COURTESY OF HBO MAX.
