The Journey Day 6 Belfast, Northern Ireland

September 8th, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland (Game of Thrones Tour)

We woke up at 6am (ugh!) to get to the pick up spot for the tour. We took the bus again to City Center. We popped into Cafè Nero (we still call it Nerd!) for coffee and pain au chocolat croissants! We ate there looking out the window at City Hall!

North Coast, Northern Ireland

After breakfast we went to the Top Shop, which was the meet up point, and just down the street. There was a group already standing by. It is quite a funny experience waiting at a meet up point. Mostly people stand around trying not to speak to each other. It was a little bit misty out, but not too rainy. The city was still mostly asleep so there wasn’t too much activity. I love quiet morning times like this!

As we were waiting a commercial bus pulled up to the curb and stopped there. We (the group) just stood there thinking that someone would come out, but no one did. A few people would come up the street knock on the door, and be allowed inside. At one point a brave soul wandered up to knock on the door, but was promptly sent away. I’m not sure what that bus was for, but it was very curious.

It was around this time that Kelsi noticed that one of the guys stand at the Top Shop was a guy that was in our tour group at the Gaol’s in Dublin! How weird!

North Coast, Northern Ireland

At ten to 8am our tour bus, and guide showed up! He had long hair and a beard. He checked everyone in pretty quickly, trying to get us on the road, before the traffic, I suppose. When we were on the bus, he introduced himself and the driver. His name was Brian and he was the best tour guide we had during the entire trip. Like all tour guides he told stories and facts about the locations we visit, not only Game of Thrones related, but also historical and local information. He grew up in the area and had a lot of knowledge about everything. The way he presented the information was what made it so great. He was very good at telling a story, and not only that he was really funny. Kelsi really enjoyed the tour, and the guide she said she didn’t even mind learning all the information because he was so good about telling it.

North Coast, Northern Ireland

The tour may have a game of thrones theme, but it went up the Causeway Coast seeing the beautiful landscape and castles. It stopped at the

Cushendun Caves, the Carrick-a-Rede bridge and the Giant’s Causeway. So if you are going to take a tour to see these sites anyway, then I recommend taking the tour through gameofthronestour.com. There are several tours, but the one that we did is called the Belfast Iron Islands & Stormlands adventure. There is also a Winterfell tour. The Winterfell tour can begin in Dublin or Belfast. Some of the people on our tour had gone on the Winterfell tour as well, with a different guide, and they recommended that one as well.

First Stop, above the steps Ayra's climbed

Alright, back to the log. The first stop of the day was mainly a comfort stop. We could go inside to get coffee and breakfast. We got more coffee. The stop also had a Game of Thrones theme. In the last season, after Ayra’s fight she climbs up steps out of the water right across the street from the coffee shop! I wasn’t so excited about that, because although I have read the books, I have only watched some of the show. I was worried that I would start confusing parts of the show for parts in the book and I didn’t want to do that. So I have only made it to the middle of the season 2. However, the view of the coast from the spot is beautiful!

Outside the Cave

The next stop was the Cushendun Caves, which is the caves where Melisandre gave birth to the Shadow! At the caves Brian showed us that some other tours take people to the wrong location in the caves. He even showed the clip from the show as proof. In the cave we had to walk over steps stones over a puddle and the cave was quiet slippery which was fun. A bit of local information about the caves, one arm of the cave leads to a gate which leads to a house. We didn’t go to the gate or the house, because that wasn’t where the Shadow birth happened, but it was just a bit of an addition. The Cushendun town is very cute too, but we didn’t spend too much time there.

Carrick-a-Bridge

After the caves we went to Carrick-a-bridge. Kelsi and I half ran half walked the way to the bridge. She says that running up hill is easier than walking. I don’t know if it is easier, but it is faster! Brian said we seemed very fit walkers! At the bridge we had to go the long way down, because we stopped at the short way and told that they were filming something! It may have been scenes for the next season!! Of course, it could be a filming for something else, but the evidence is more in favor for next season. The next season was being filmed in Northern Ireland while we were there, and the location had been used in the past. Even if it was, the bridge would have been blocked more if a major player in the show was there, so it probably wasn’t a very important scene.

Anyway, we got to the bridge which was pretty cool. Brian told us that as a child the bridge was small rope bridge that was put up during the salmon run to catch salmon that went through. He said it was very scary as a kid. Now that it is a main attraction it is much safer. The bottom of the bridge is very solid so your foot will not slip in, and the rope is very thick. You have to wait a little bit to cross because you can only cross in one direction, but it’s still fun. When we crossed Brian was behind us and he rocked and bounced the bridge. The best thing to do with that was to walk with the bounces, so Kelsi and I were bouncing the bridge a bit as well. We’re brave and fit walkers! The island is pretty cool too. It is not very big, but you can get a great view in all directions.

Renly and Margaret View During Tourney

When we were finished with the bridge the tour group went to the ‘extra’ parking for the bridge. This is the location where The Beauty and Sir Loras fought to honour King Renly and his Queen, Margaret. I have seen that episode! So that was cool. As proof, he showed a clip! In that area scenes with Brienne and Catelyn and Wildlings were also filmed, and we were able to see them as well. The area is unassuming so you might miss it if you were just going to visit the bridge.  

Fullerton Hotel Picture, for Parents

After that we drove to Fulletron Arms for lunch it was pre ordered earlier in the day. Kelsi and I had burgers and chips. I had a Smithwick to drink, Kelsi had a beer called Sam Bros. The food was very delicious and I took a picture of the Fulletron Arms because I think my parents should visit and stay at the hotel. The town is so cute!

Theon and Euron Baptism

From there we went to the Iron Shore…well not exactly. We dresses as pirates complete with swords! We walked to the place where Theon and Euron were baptized. There we took pictures of each other playing pirate. It was fun. After taking pictures we walked from that holy spot, to the dock where Theon left the Iron Islands. 

Playing Pirate

Iron Island Building

In the area there is an old building that dates back to the 1700s, it was easy from that to add a thatched roof and a few other features to make it look like the Middle Ages! We took more pictures in costume over there!

The next stop was at the Giant’s Causeway which is the only remains of a bridge that a Giant crossed to get to Scotland on the otherside. When he got to Scotland he saw an even bigger Giant so he ran back across the Causeway to Ireland. His wife dressed him in children’s clothes, and then hid; when the other Giant arrived he saw the Giant in children’s clothes and thought how tall is the adult! So he ran back across to Scotland. After that the Giant picked up some earth creating the Lough Neagh and threw it at the fleeing Giant destroying the bridge and creating the Isle of Man. It was that or the Causeway was created by volcanic activity which carved the rock into hexagonal shapes. The legend is a fun story, but the natural effect is impressive too.

Hexagonal Shapes!

There is a visitor center at the Giant’s Causeway, it is set up to make it look like you need to go through the visitor center to see the Causeway which costs money, but you don’t need to go in the center, you can go around. Brian showed us how to go around the center, but then he had to go back to bus because it wasn’t allowed to park in the area.

Me, at Causeway

The site is incredible! We climbed up on top of them and looked all around. They hexagonal shapes are everywhere, people climb all over them, and they seem to be holding up alright. I guess rocks do that. The view is cool too, you can see Scotland from there if the weather is clear. It was a cloudy day, but we could still see it, so it doesn’t have to be too clear. We even Scotland while visiting the Iron Shore so it seems that the weather needs to be much worse to not see it.

When we were finished we walked to the Nook which is owned by a local family and Brian recommended for dessert. Neither the Nook, nor the Giant’s Causeway was used on the Game of Thrones show, but it is a key attraction on the North Coast. I think any tour of the coast must include it!

After the Causeway stop we went to Dunluce Castle, which was a medieval Castle. It is built right on the cliff face. Brian told us that the location is not very good because of how the Island formed the heavier rock is sitting on top of weaker rock which over time cannot support the weight causing parts of the castle to fall into the sea! He told us that the last family that lived there left because part of the castle fell into the sea one night and the lady of the house insisted on moving. However, according to the internet that is only a local legend. A local legend that we may not have heard if we didn’t have a great tour guide!

Dunluce Castle

We could not go in the castle; we could only take pictures of it from a distance as it is not safe. It is part of the tour because the castle was the base for the CGI castles on the show because the castle dates the weathering on the stones makes for a good base. Our guide also may have inferred that the castle history and location may have inspired George R. R. Martin’s creation of the Iron Island’s castle, because in order to get to the castle you need to cross a rope bridge.

The final stop was the Dark Hedges, which was part of the King’s Road on the show. A part I also saw! The location is an old driveway that leads to the home of James Stuart and named for his wife Grace Lynd. The house and trees were planted about 1775. There were 150 trees plants, but now 90 some remain. The trees only live for about 150-200 so I suppose it cannot be helped. It was pretty with the remaining 90ish trees, but I bet the 150 would have been more impressive.

St. Anne's Door, for Bre!

When we arrived back we hurried to St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, but it was already closed. It was a pretty building on the outside at least. We went across the street to the restaurant called Made in Belfast. Kelsi really loved the décor in the restaurant. I didn’t really notice until she pointed it out to me, but she was facing the majority of the restaurant; it did have cute artwork and lighting. The restaurant was filled with people, very busy. Kelsi ate chicken and I had a beef pie! Yum! We shared a bottle of wine. Kelsi had an apple rubah dessert. It was too tart for me!

We took the bus back to our room after dinner. Our host Yvonne, was up so we shared a bottle of wine with her. She was very friendly! We just kept talking and talking. She told us many stories about guests that she had and her life. The most memorable story was when a couple of guests left their luggage at separate bars after drinking all day in Belfast. She called around to the different places and was able to locate the luggage! Belfast is very friendly and safe it seems. It also seems like she is willing to go out with guests for drinks or dancing. She is a hoot! So if you are looking for a host in Belfast, and want someone who will share a bottle of wine with you at her house or around the town, then you should try to book with her!

We eventually managed to go to bed, we had a flight in the morning from Belfast to Edinburgh Scotland so hopefully we won’t be too tired!