Homegrown Delights

uchhasbeen thepopularityof the ‘sword and fantasy’ epicof GameofThrones that therehasdevelopeda realworld demand tovisit someof thekey sights thatwere transformed into thedramatic locations for the story. Withanaverageofover44millionviewersacross the8 series it isnot surprising that theremightbemore thanahandfulofafficionados keen toexperienceatfirsthand someof thewonderful locations. Most significantly, ithashighlighted thedramaticbeautyofvarious regionsofNorthern Ireland,andespecially thenorthernandeastern coastsaswellas theMourneMountains to the south. Youcanbaseyourself in thevibrantcityofBelfast in theknowledge thatall themost signifivant locationsarewithin1 to2hoursdrive northand southof thecity.Thiswould suita longweekend,but if spendingmore than threedaysvisiting the regionwemight suggest additionalaccommodationupon thenortherncoast. Larne Ballycastle Coleraine Antrim Newcastle Enniskillen Northern Ireland Bangor MourneMountains Giant’s Causeway DunluceCastle DarkHedges Lower LoughErne Upper LoughErne Lough Neath Londonderry/ Derry BELFAST Ballygally Bushmills 32 ic Way DUBLIN Limerick Kenmare Cork Galway Shannon Donegal Kinsale BELFAST MalinHead ConnemaraNP Cong Wild Atlanti rom thewind-whipped tip ofMalinHead inCounty Donegal to thebalmy beautyofKinsale town in CountyCork, thewestof Irelandwillwowyouwith itsepic landscapesandcharmyouwith its quietmoments.This isaplace thathas inspiredpoetsandpainters,witha landscape lacedwithdry-stonewalls, thatchedcottages,brooding mountainsanddesertedbeaches. Escape,exploreandenjoyanoff-the- beaten trackadventureon thevery edgeofEurope. Enjoya journeyofa lifetimeasyou travel the 2,500km-longcoastal roadknownas theWild AtlanticWayandyouwillcertainlycomprehend the ‘wild’thatdefines thiscoastline; it's everywhere, from sheercliffs thatplunge into crashingAtlanticwaves to remote,weather-beaten islands.But thewestof Ireland isaboutmore than that, it'saboutmomentsofconnection. It's the chat from locals, thewarmthofafire-litpub, the tapping feetofa traditionalmusic session.From theelementalweather to theoak-smoked salmon, theessenceof theWildAtlanticWay runsdeep. On The Trail of Game of Thrones Northern Ireland The Wild Atlantic Way The west coast of the Irish Republic 32 36 ead to theSouthwest to discoveraCelticwonderland. Borderedon three sidesby sea, thecombinedcoastlines ofDevonandCornwall stretch formore than530miles,encompassingevery exampleofcoastal sceneryalong theway: plungingcliffs,huge sandybays, secluded coves,craggyheadlandsandpostcard-pretty fishingvillagesaplenty. From its long legacyoffishingand seafaring to its illustrious miningheritage, thewhole region iscrammedwith fascinating remindersof thepast.Whether it's the silhouette ofacrumblingcastleona lonelyhilltop,or the spectreof moodymine-stacks spiking thehorizon, the region'shistory playsoutwhereveryou look.Youcouldwhileawayyourdays exploringancienthill-fortsormysterious stonecircles,marvel at theambitionof the region'sgreatgardensandcountry houses,orfindyourselfventuring insideadecommissioned tinmine,anunderground telegraph stationorevena working lighthouse. 18 The Scottish Highlands & The Inner Hebrides 28 T hinkofWales,andyou'll likely thinkof Snowdonia (Eryri), thebeautiful rangeof mountainsandhills located in thecounty ofGwynedd.Consistingof14majestic peaksover3,000 feethigh, themost famousbeing the3,546-footSnowdon, the summit ofwhich isaccessibleby train.Snowdoniacanbe seenas farawayasPorthmadog (Portmeirion)on the westcoast.The region remainsoneof themost popularvacationdestinations in theUK,attracting some fourmillionvisitorsayear. NorthwestWalescomes steeped inhistory,withRoyal fortressesand romanticcastlesamong itsbreath-taking sites. Inaddition toancient relics, the region’sbracingcoastlines featureeverything from picturesque lighthouses toVictorian seaside towns.Boasting125miles of stunning shoreline, the IsleofAnglesey isanotherof thearea’s coastalgemsand iseasilyaccessiblevia theMenaiBridge, theworld’s firstmodern suspensionbridge.With fantasticwalksalong thecoastal path,aswellascycle routesandwater sports,Anglesey isan ideal spot ifyou’re longing foranaction-packedgetaway ...andofcoursewedon’t want tobe long-windedunlessyouhappen todecide tovisitone particular town... ... Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch! Caernafon ColwynBay Llandudno Conwy Holyhead MtSnowdon Portmeirion Porthmadog Bangor Northwest Wales & Snowdonia 24