Bregagh Road, better known as the Dark Hedges, near Ballymoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is one of the most photographed sights anywhere in the country - a tunnel of twisting beech trees made famous by Game of Thrones’ Kingsroad, roughly a 30-minute drive from the Giant’s Causeway along the Causeway Coastal Route. If you plan to visit the Dark Hedges, come early or late in the day, since the avenue is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular filming locations turned tourist stops, and every photographer wants the same empty-road shot.
The Trees
Planted around 1775 by James Stuart of the Stuart family to line the avenue leading to his home, Gracehill House, the beech trees of the Dark Hedges are around 250 years old today. Originally about 150 trees, only just over 90 remain, with losses including several felled by Storm Gertrude in 2016. A 2014 survey (funded by the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust and the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust) recorded 94 trees still standing at that point.
Health and safety: the road was closed to vehicle traffic in 2017 to protect both visitors and the ageing trees, whose branches can and do break. Avoid walking directly beneath them during or after storms.
Gracehill House and the Dark Hedges Estate
Named for James Stuart’s wife, Grace Lynd, Gracehill House and its estate date back to the early 17th century, when the land was originally granted under King James I. It’s now privately owned, operating as a bar, restaurant, wedding venue, and golf course - open to visitors for a meal, drink, or round of golf. One of the ten Game of Thrones-themed doors carved from fallen Dark Hedges trees (this one from a tree felled by Storm Gertrude) is on display here during opening hours.
Where to Get the Best Photos of the Dark Hedges
The southern end of the Dark Hedges, where the road bends, is generally considered the best vantage point to impress visitors back home - many photographers miss this and only shoot the northern end. A designated car park is available a short walk away; arrive early, as tour buses cluster here in the afternoon.
The Dark Hedges in Game of Thrones: The Kingsroad
The Dark Hedges appeared as the Kingsroad in Season 2’s opening episode, “The North Remembers,” featuring Arya Stark’s escape from King’s Landing. The location has also appeared in other productions, including Transformers: The Last Knight.
The Grey Lady of the Dark Hedges
A well-known local ghost story: a spectral woman said to drift along Bregagh Road between the Dark Hedges trees, vanishing at the final beech. Various origin stories exist - a maid, his daughter, or a lost soul from a nearby graveyard - with local tradition holding she’s joined by other spirits on Halloween night.
Getting There
The Dark Hedges are about 49 miles (an hour’s drive) northwest of Belfast, between the villages of Armoy and Stranocum on Bregagh Road. From Belfast, take the M2 toward Ballymena, then the A26 toward Ballymoney, following signs for “The Dark Hedges” once you’re close. The tunnel of trees itself is around 0.6 miles long, and the road is closed to through traffic, so once you’ve parked at the Dark Hedges it’s a walk, not a drive-through - a small price for one of Northern Ireland’s most striking natural landmarks.
Practical Information for Visiting the Dark Hedges
Parking: the main visitor car park is run by The Hedges Hotel, just off Ballinlea Road, about a two-minute walk from the north end of the avenue - free, but it fills up fast between 9am and 4pm. Arriving before 8am or after 5pm gives noticeably better odds of a space, and softer light for photos. Coach parking and toilets are also available here.
Conservation: a Tree Preservation Order has protected the Dark Hedges since 2004; the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust, established 2009, works with Heritage Lottery funding to protect and interpret the site. Please don’t litter or damage the trees.
