I tried to picture the troublesome eyes of John Snow, Theon Greyjoy and the Stark Brothers as they witnessed Ned Stark carry out this infamous execution. It was fitting that this was our first stop since it’s where the Game of Thrones saga began with the dramatic beheading of the Night’s Watch deserter. We had arrived to Cairncastle, also known as the Gateway to the Glens. Cairncastle, Where it All BeginsĪs the morning mist began to rise above the earth it unveiled a fluffy green pasture. Sheep being herded in the Antrim Hills at Cairncastle. If there’s one thing Ireland will never want for, it’s sheep. Rolling patches of green hills peppered with white dots spanned the horizon. We talked about Game of Thrones mostly as we made our way out of the city and into the countryside I’ve grown so fond of.
We drove a bit, passing the Belfast Castle perched on a hillside. We carried on the standard formalities and before I knew it the Land Rover doors were shutting and we were off. Of all the tours I’d ever been on, this was by far my most anticipated.Ī few minutes passed when this bouncing little woman popped her head into the lobby. The draft from the door cut through the warm air like a blade. I curled up in my giant Irish wool scarf and waited patiently for my tour guide. There was no time for snoozing or even primping for that matter. Not to mention, I spent half the night like a kid on Christmas Eve, wide-eyed and elated. There’s just never enough time to sleep on press trips. It was early, maybe eight-something in the morning. I was staying in the posh Malmaison Hotel which Tourism Ireland was so nice to provide for me during my stay in Belfast. It was just the right amount of swag for my late nights of writing at the bar. Had anyone told me a year ago I’d be standing in the very spot where Theon arrived at the Iron Islands or where Melisandre had that little shadow baby thing, I’d probably laugh and say, “I wish”, but there I was on the Game of Thrones film locations trail along the picturesque Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland, and I was beyond wishes. Inside the Cushendun Caves where Melisandre had her shadow baby. There were no complaints from me when my Land Rover showed up. Oh my God, I was packing my bags for Northern Ireland to explore the seven kingdoms, and it couldn’t have been more surreal. Finally, the good people at Tourism Ireland made it happen. Take a look at all the places they’ve filmed, it’s nuts! We’re talking Northern Ireland, Malta, Spain, Morocco, Iceland, Croatia, and we’ve yet to see the new places they have up their sleeves for season five.Įver since I started digging into the Game of Thrones film locations last year I’ve been dying to start exploring them on foot. Still, I think it would be nice.By now it’s no secret, the Game of Thrones film locations are the coolest ever in the history of television.
#Game of thrones summer islands free#
Each would be similar in size as the free cities, with Jhala being a bit bigger, though all would lack the super county and holdings of the actual free cities. I think you could even split it further into 3 kingdoms (Walano and its surrounding islands, Omboru Moluu and the Exiles, and Jhala and the islands of Parrot Bay). Considering how disunited they are in the lore, splitting them into two regions/kingdoms has a better feel to it than one gigantic kingdom and can add some depth in that corner of the map.
Each would be larger than most of the Free Cities, and both would be about the size of Dorne. Split as I suggested, the two kingdoms would each have 23 counties, with Jhala having 7 HLSs and Walano/Omboru having 6. Right now, it stands at a whopping 46 counties and 13 High Lordships (15 if you count the single county ones). Walano, Omboru, and the Exiles High Lordship in one, and Jhala and the rest of the islands in another. Like the title says, I think the Summer Islands should be split into two kingdoms.