The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees on Bregagh Road, about a 10-minute drive from Ballymoney between the villages of Armoy and Stranocum. The trees were planted around 1775 by James Stuart to line the approach to his home, Gracehill House, and today they’re best known as a filming location for Game of Thrones — the road appeared as the Kingsroad.
What’s there now
Around 75 of the original 150 trees are still standing. Storm damage has taken a steady toll — Storm Gertrude felled a tree in 2016 (part of its wood was carved into a Game of Thrones-themed door now on display at Gracehill House), and more were lost to Storm Isha (January 2024) and Storm Éowyn (January 2025). The National Trust and local contractors carry out ongoing preventative work to protect what’s left, but the tunnel is visibly thinner than it was even a decade ago.
Visiting
- Location: Bregagh Road, between Ballykenver Road and Ballinlea Road, County Antrim.
- Parking: there’s no dedicated car park at the Hedges themselves — roadside parking is limited and the road can get busy in summer. The nearby Hedges Hotel car park is the more reliable option.
- Best time to visit: early morning or early evening, outside peak tour-bus hours (mid-morning to mid-afternoon), gives you the best chance of an uncrowded photo.
- Road status: Bregagh Road is a public road, not a pedestrianised attraction — traffic still uses it, so stay alert when walking along the verge.
Gracehill House
The Hedges still lead up to Gracehill House, which is privately owned and now operates as a restaurant, wedding venue, and golf course — you can visit for a meal or a round of golf while you’re in the area.
Why “Dark Hedges”
Nobody recorded exactly why the name stuck, but the obvious explanation is the trees themselves — mature limbs meeting overhead block enough light to turn the road into a shaded tunnel. Local legend adds a second layer: a ghost known as the Grey Lady is said to walk the avenue, appearing at one end and vanishing at the last tree. It’s a good story, not a documented one — treat it as folklore, not history.