The company has presented a 402km route through which fans can enjoy the natural settings featuring in Game of Thrones this summer holiday.
TomTom, a company specialising in localisation technology, has marked out an exclusive route in Ireland for Game of Thrones fans to explore some of the series’ most iconic locations.
Millions of loyal fans from all over the world have dedicated eight years to the storyline, dragons and epic battles fought to control the Iron Throne. The last episode of Game of Thrones, which brought an end to this epic story, left millions of fans eager for further adventures in Westeros. If you’ve already bid farewell to your favourite characters and faraway places, don’t be too upset. The good news is that HBO is already shooting the prequel in secret locations around Northern Ireland.
TomTom wants to help GoT fans to get over their loss and alleviate the withdrawal symptoms caused by this epic drama, making the wait for the prequel more enjoyable by taking a Game of Thrones road trip to the heart of their favourite fantasy series. GoT followers can hit the road and find a cure for their withdrawal symptoms, imagining their own version of Game of Thrones in the sites where the series was recorded.
As all die-hard fans will know, a considerable amount of the fantastic saga was shot in the picturesque “Emerald Isle” – more commonly known as Northern Ireland – which is also the case for the prequel. This makes the trip the perfect opportunity for fans to evoke their favourite memories from Game of Thrones.
The Game of Thrones route: step-by-step
Belfast International Airport is the perfect arrival place. It has several offices from leading car rental companies, meaning you can hit the road as soon as you step foot on land. From the airport, TomTom recommends heading in a south-easterly direction to begin the Game of Thrones road trip.
Once you hit the coastline, you will come across one of the series’ most atmospheric filming locations: the Tollymore Forest Park. This is the forest where the Starks first found their direwolf puppies – will the forest also play a part in the prequel? From there, a short trip northwards will take you to Inch Abbey, in the outskirts of Downpatrick. The ruins of this 8th century construction were the backdrop to Robb Stark’s coronation as the King in the North.
The next stop – only a few kilometres away – is Castle Ward, whose courtyard is instantly recognisable as Winterfell, the location of the Stark family residence. With an archery range and a cloakroom full of Game of Thrones-style attire, there’s no reason not to pay a visit to this place as part of your tour around Westeros.
After looking around Winterfell, it’s now time to head northwards – but not to the extent that you’ll have to “cross the wall”. Skirt around the right-hand side of Belfast on your way to your next destination: the Cushendun Caves. This is where the mysterious Melisandre, the Red Witch, used her dark arts to influence the destiny of the seven kingdoms.
After enjoying some magic and spells, its time to hit the road again and head to Ballintoy Port on the north coast. This picturesque port was the departure point of Theon Greyjoy – heir to the Iron Throne – as he returned to the Iron Islands. Being one of the series’ main characters, Theon’s journey had a huge impact on the story.
Many places around the country were immortalised in the series that deserve to be part of the route, but TomTom feels you should take The Kingsroad before rounding off your adventure. The best way to crown this Game of Thrones road trip is by following the route taken by several characters in their fateful routes.
To reach the legendary Dark Hedges, you need to head southwards from Ballintoy. Not only did the Kingsroad allow nobility and knights to travel from North to South, but it also served as the spine of the story, connecting the northern and southern regions which were at war with one another.
Here, you can decide whether to take a pilgrimage northwards towards Winterfell or a long journey southwards towards King’s Landing. The Kingsroad connected the mythical country for thousands of years, so there’s a good chance it will play an important role in the upcoming prequel.
The road trip covers a total of 402 km, which should take you 4 hours and 23 minutes to complete: perfect for a two or three-day trip. TomTom considers this to be the ideal opportunity to relax, reconnect with friends and families and enjoy an authentic Game of Thrones adventure.
Carole Picou-Katmann, TomTom’s Director of Consumer Mobility Services, said “We want to inspire people to get out there and enjoy some entertaining and memorable road trips. The Game of Thrones series has had an extraordinary impact on popular culture, offering a fantastic opportunity to discover a variety of accessible and recognisable places from the series.
Now that the final season has ended, we feel the best way for fans to continue expressing their loyalty to the franchise is by visiting the holy lands of Winterfell and Westeros, placing themselves in the centre of the story. Having learned that the shooting of the prequel to this amazing story is already underway, this your best chance to take a peek at what’s to come”.
Learn more about the Game of Thrones road trip on TomTom’s Road Trips platform by clicking here.
