The Dark Hedges of Northern Ireland

It is the most photographed location in Northern Ireland. Even the wildly popular Game of Thrones has popped over to the Dark Hedges to film a scene at this eerily beautiful road. It’s surprising to hear that it is so popular. It’s just a short road surrounded by farmer’s fields. When driving up to the Dark Hedges, we weren’t sure if it was even the right place? At first glance, it doesn’t look like much. But once you step out of your car and take a look around, you can see why it has attracted photographers, painters, and curious tourists for decades.

The Dark Hedges are the most photographed spot in Ireland

The Dark Hedges is a quiet road near the town of Ballymoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Lined with beech trees twisted branches forming an arch over the road it makes for impressive photographs indeed. However, over the last year or so, the trees branches have been pruned and the tunnel is just a little less impressive. That doesn’t mean it’s not still spectacular, you just have to work a bit harder to find the right spot.

Dave jumping for joy

We approached the Dark Hedges from The Giant’s Causeway. Staying at the Causeway Hotel allowed us plenty of time to do a lot of sightseeing around the  area and our first stop was the mythical Dark Hedges. Just a half hour drive from the Giant’s Causeway, it’s an easy hop over to see them first thing in the morning.

Note: Tour buses stop regularly here in the afternoon, so get there early to avoid the crowds. 

Deb gets in on the action at the Dark Hedges

We approached from Ballinlea Road turning left on to the Dark Hedges Road and stopped a little too soon. We spent the better part of an hour taking photographs that just didn’t quite work. Had we driven through for a proper look before pulling our car over on the side of the road, we would have learned that the best photograph comes from the Southern End where you will find a bend. There’s even a parking spot for busses and cars to pull over safely as opposed to us just popping onto the shoulder.

The Dark Hedges are located on Bregagh Road

History of the Dark Hedges

The Dark Hedges originated in eighteenth century. The Stuart family planted the rows of beech trees designed to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their mansion, Gracehill house named after James Stewarts wife Grace Lynd. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. 

I have scoured the Internet trying to find out what significance the Stuart Family had in history. Many blogs talk of the Stuart family planting the trees but nobody mentions who they were and how they had this fortune. One blog mentions that James Stuart was a preacher’s son. I looked it up and found a link that stated the Reverend Irwin Stuart of Ballywillan had a son named Stuart who married Grace Lynd, so this must be true! Wow, Reverends were raking in the money back then!

Little did the Stuart family know that their driveway would be so popular two centuries later! The Gracehill mansion still stands and is today a golf course, but it is the beech trees that brings countless tourists to this part of the country. When the light is right and the crowds are gone, it’s a mystical feeling to stand on the silent road.