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Game of Thrones, Star Wars: Ireland’s famous film locations

International Traveller

Ireland’s dramatic scenery, with spectacular coastlines and drop-dead gorgeous landscapes, has proven the perfect backdrop for myriad movies over the decades. Writes Tricia Welsh.

On my first visit to Ireland nearly 40 years ago, I remember being held up for several hours while driving around the Dingle Peninsula in the island’s south-west as huge boulders were being pushed over a cliff, their thundering sound being recorded as part of the filming of the 1970 film, Ryan’s Daughter.

Today, you’re more likely to follow a three-eyed raven and be swept up in the phenomenal hype that is Game of Thrones, since much of it is filmed in Northern Ireland, or see where Harry Potter and Star Wars played out their fanciful tales, or Braveheart and the Vikings battled for glory.

Tim Castle, County Heath
Mel Gibson’s Braveheart stronghold can be visited today at Trim Castle in County Meath.

Game of Thrones

Film-lovers can experience the real Westeros and tour the centuries-old castles, mystical mountains, ancient forests and dramatic coastlines used as key filming locations for the Seven Kingdoms.

There are 25 epic locations used throughout the fantasy series including Tollymore Forest Park in County Down, transformed into the Haunted Forest where the White Walkers dwell; Dark Hedges, that otherworldly avenue of serpentine beech trees near Armoy in County Antrim that represents the Kingsroad; and Pollnagollum Cave in County Fermanagh, portrayed as Beric Dondarrion’s hideout. There is also Ballintoy Harbour in County Antrim as the Port of Pyke in the Iron Islands, and Downhill Strand in County Londonderry as Dragonstone.

You can explore Game of Thrones territory by self-drive or go with a guide, enjoying authentic medieval feasts, meeting direwolves, shooting arrows where Robb Stark taught Bran archery or glamping overnight in Winterfell at Castle Ward in County Down. There’s also the clever Door of Thrones treasure hunt trail, where you can check out 10 intricately carved doors, each telling the story of a GOT episode in Season 6, which were handcrafted from two trees blown down when a storm hit the Dark Hedges in 2016. They now grace pubs close to the series’ filming locations including The Cuan in Strangford, Fiddler’s Green in Portaferry and Percy French in Newcastle, all in County Down, as well as Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, and Frank Owens’ Bar in Limavady, County Londonderry.

And be sure to see the 77-metre Bayeux-style tapestry, made from Irish linen, which immortalises the first six Game of Thrones series and is on display in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. For fans of the series, there’s no doubt Northern Ireland is Mecca.

Star Wars

Fans of this sci-fi classic can feel the force at both rugged Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland on the Inishowen Peninsula, and on the windswept island of Skellig Michael, located some 11 kilometres off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, where Rey memorably met Luke Skywalker for the first time at the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You can take a boat tour to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Skellig Michael, depending on the weather, to see its awe-inspiring sixth-century monastery ruins.

Other location spots include Loop Head in County Clare, Dingle in County Kerry with its resident dolphin, and Brow Head near Crookhaven in County Cork.

It is said the Star Wars production team loved this rugged stretch of coastline so much, they kept their cameras rolling along the Wild Atlantic Way from Cork, Kerry and Clare all the way to Donegal. Also check out some of the filming locations for the upcoming Star Wars Episode VIII The Last Jedi set to be released this December.

Vikings and more

Lough Tay Ireland
Lough Tay on the Guinness Estate in County Wicklow proved the perfect backdrop for scenes shot on board the Norsemen’s longboats in the hit series Vikings.

Although the series is set in medieval Scandinavia, the Luggala Mountains around Lough Tay on the Guinness Estate in County Wicklow proved the perfect backdrop for scenes shot on board the Norsemen’s longboats in the hit series Vikings. Similar scenes were also filmed on Lough Dan and Blessington Lakes, the River Boyne outside Drogheda, and the Poulaphouca Reservoir in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains just out of Dublin.

Wicklow Mountains National Park, with its glacial lakes, woodlands and beautiful coastline, is only about an hour by car from Dublin, making it an ideal day trip for a guided or self-guided film location tour.

Other stand-out movies filmed in Ireland include Harry Potter, whose Horcrux cave was at the base of the famous Cliffs of Moher; Brooklyn and Saving Private Ryan, both of which featured the golden sands of Curracloe Beach in County Wexford; and Braveheart where Mel Gibson’s stronghold can be visited at Trim Castle in County Meath. You’ll find more details about exploring these locations here.

Cliffs of Moher
Harry Potter’s Horcrux cave was at the base of the famous Cliffs of Moher.

For more information: Tourism Ireland

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

    Game of Thrones, Star Wars: Ireland's famous film locations - International Traveller