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Ards Peninsula Attractions
Khaleesi Does It
The most popular TV show in the world is filmed in Northern Ireland, and the publicity that HBO’s Game of Thrones has brought to the region has been a massive boon for tourism. Major filming locations have included Castle Ward, Cushendun, and Ballintoy on the Antrim Coast Drive; and the Tollymore Forest Park in County Down. Several companies now offer locations tours, but some of the best, and longest-running, come from Brit Movie Tours.
The epic, 9-hour Northern Locations With Giant’s Causeway tour takes in many of the most scenic places used in the show. It really packs in a lot, in addition to various fan-related fun along the way, such as a quiz (dressing up is not unheard of). It includes a 90-minute visit to the Causeway, which hasn’t actually appeared in the show (but it would seem silly to pass and not stop). Tours depart daily at 9am from the main tourism office in Donegall Square, Belfast, and return roughly 9 hours later. Tickets cost £35 adults and £20 children. Private tours, in a people carrier, can be booked for between £360 to £570, depending on the number of people (maximum six).
The Game of Thrones Filming Locations tour, another 9-hour event, takes in some locations to the south of Belfast, including Castle Ward. This option includes even more in the way of Westerosian hijinx, including photo ops with the prop Direwolf pups used in the show (important note: not actual puppies) and the chance to sit on an imitation Iron Throne. Tours depart at 9am from Donegall Square, Belfast; from March to August, there are tours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; in February and September–October tours are on certain Saturdays only. Call or go online to check the schedule and make reservations in advance, as this one runs less often than the northern locations tour. Tickets cost £55 adults, £40 children under 12, or £490 to £570 for the private version.
Disabled travelers should also note that, because of the historic and sometimes remote nature of the locations visited, neither tour is wheelchair-accessible.
For details and booking, call 0844/247-1007 in Northern Ireland and Britain (44/207-118-1007 in the rest of the world) or visit www.britmovietours.com.
10 Results
- Zoo/Aquarium
Castle Espie Wetland Centre
This marvelous wildlife center, named for a castle that has long since ceased to be, is home to a virtual United Nations of rare migratory geese, ducks, and swans. Some birds are so accustomed to visitors that they will eat grain from their hands, so kids can have the disarming… - Historic Site
Castle Ward
About 1 1/4 miles (2km) west of Strangford village, this grand manor house dates from 1760. A hybrid of architectural styles melding Gothic with neoclassical, it sits on a 280-hectare (692-acre) country estate. Inside, kids can dress up in period clothes and play with period toys,… - Zoo/Aquarium
Exploris
This cheery, kid-focused aquarium concentrates on sea life native to Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea. Inside, the mixture of displays ranges from the educational-but-arguably-dull (models of the Strangford Lough ecosystem) to the more lively (giant aquariums filled with local and… - Landmark
Giant's Ring
Only a few miles from Belfast, this massive and mysterious prehistoric earthwork, 180m (590 ft.) in diameter, has at its center a megalithic chamber with a single capstone. Ancient burial rings like this were thought to be protected by fairies and were left untouched, but this one is… - Prehistoric Site
Giant’s Ring
Only a few miles from Belfast, this massive and mysterious prehistoric earthwork, 180m (590 feet) in diameter, has at its center a megalithic chamber with a single capstone. Ancient burial rings like this were thought to be protected by fairies and were left untouched, but this one… - Religious Site
Grey Abbey
On the eastern shore of Strangford Lough, the striking ruins of Grey Abbey sit amid a beautifully landscaped setting, perfect for a picnic. Founded in 1193 by the Cistercians, it contained one of the earliest Gothic churches in Ireland. Many Cistercian ruins were quite elaborate, but… - Prehistoric Site
Legananny Dolmen
This renowned granite dolmen (Neolithic tomb) on the southern slope of Slieve Croob looks, in the words of one archaeologist, like “a coffin on stilts.” This must be one of the most photographed dolmens in Ireland, but only when you see it up close can you fully appreciate its… - Historic Site
Mount Stewart House, Garden and Temple of the Winds
Once the home of Lord Castlereagh, this 18th-century house sits on the eastern shore of Strangford Lough. Its lush gardens were named one of the 10 best in the world by Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper in 2014, and are a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status. An impressive… - Reglious Site
Nendrum Monastic Site
Hidden away on an isolated island, this site dates from the 5th century. This site is much older than Grey Abbey across the water, and the remains of the ancient community founded by St. Mochaoi (St. Mahee) are fascinating. Foundations show the outline of ancient churches, a round… - Historic Site
Portaferry Castle
Though it’s little more than a small 16th-century tower house, at one time Portaferry Castle, together with another tower house in Strangford, controlled all the ship traffic through the Narrows. This piece of history right stands beside the Portaferry visitor center; it’s worth…
