Confirmed · County Down · Landscape
Tollymore Forest Park
The Haunted Forest and the direwolf discovery in Game of Thrones. Open to visitors; allow 1–2 hours.
- On screen as
- The Haunted Forest and the direwolf discovery
- Series and episodes
- Game of Thrones Season 1 · Game of Thrones Season 1, Episode 1
- Access
- Open to visitors
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Where
- Newcastle, County Down
On screen
How Tollymore Forest Park appears
Game of Thrones opens in Tollymore. In Winter is Coming, the Night's Watch rangers ride into the Haunted Forest north of the Wall, and later in the episode Ned Stark and his sons find a dead direwolf and her pups in the snow. Both sequences were filmed among the conifers, beeches and rocky river banks here, with snow and effects added. The story puts the Haunted Forest in the far north beyond the Wall and the direwolf scene near Winterfell; in reality both are a few miles from the seaside town of Newcastle. The forest's stone bridges and follies are not part of the fiction, but its tall trees and rushing water are instantly familiar.
The real place
What you can visit
Tollymore was Northern Ireland's first state forest park, covering the valley of the Shimna River at the foot of the Mournes. Waymarked trails of different lengths follow the river past stone bridges, stepping stones and 18th-century follies, with longer routes climbing towards the mountains. Pedestrians can usually enter free; there is a charge for vehicles, so check current prices on the NI Direct page. A café and toilets are near the main car park. Game of Thrones Tours runs a guided Tollymore trek for fans who want to find the scene locations with a guide.
Riverside rocks and stepping stones are slippery and the Shimna rises quickly after rain. Keep children close by the water.
Discover Northern Ireland: Game of Thrones ↗The main entrance is on Bryansford Road at Bryansford, about two miles north-west of Newcastle, postcode BT33 0LE. Newcastle has buses from Belfast and Downpatrick. The riverside paths near the car park are reasonably level, but many trails are rough and muddy after rain. Allow at least an hour for a short loop.
Gallery
More views of Tollymore Forest Park
Common questions
Planning a responsible visit
Where in Tollymore was Game of Thrones filmed?
Several spots in the forest were used for the Haunted Forest and the direwolf scene in the first episode. They are not signposted as filming sites, so a guided trek is the easiest way to find the exact places.
Do you have to pay to enter Tollymore Forest Park?
There is a charge for cars; walkers can usually enter free. Check current prices on the NI Direct forest charges page before you go.
Are there guided Game of Thrones walks at Tollymore?
Yes. Game of Thrones Tours runs a Tollymore Forest locations trek. Check dates and book direct with the operator.
Plan your visit
Build it into the day.
Castle Ward or Inch Abbey earlier in the day, and Newcastle's seafront for food.
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Map
Days out including this place
Continue with a prepared day out
Nearby
Continue through County Down
Game of Thrones Studio Tour
The original Linen Mill Studios, now showing the sets, costumes and props
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Castle Ward (Winterfell)
Winterfell courtyard; Robb's camp and the Whispering Wood
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Inch Abbey and the River Quoile
Robb's camp at Riverrun; the Tully funeral on the river
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