Winter came, blowing bad fortune into good – Doors of Thrones
In January 2016, Storm Gertrude felled iconic trees along the highway known to Game of Thrones® fans as the Kingsroad. But from the devastation of the Dark Hedges came a bright shining idea that showed our giant spirit to the world. Rather than succumb to Winter, we instead carved the fallen into 10 intricately crafted doors and sent them out across the country for safe keeping. Each tells the story of an episode from Season 6, and they have become an integral part of the Game of Thrones® experience for our army of fans around the world.
Take the Journey of Doors
We hung 10 pieces of history for fans across a variety of locations in Northern Ireland, and this is your opportunity to explore the stunning places that appeared across all seasons of the show. Don’t forget to get your Journey of Doors Passport stamped at each location – a must-have souvenir for all Thronies.
Strangford, County Down
Door 1 at The Cuan in Strangford, County Down, portrays the show’s opening title sequence as well as a map of Westeros. It also reminds you of the state of play between the warring Houses at the close of Season 5.
Portaferry, County Down
Across Door 2 at the Fiddler’s Green in Portaferry, County Down, you will observe the growing conflicts within the Houses of Bolton and Greyjoy. The iconic Kraken rises from the depths at the bottom of the door, while the flayed man of the treacherous House Bolton reigns above all.
Newcastle, County Down
You might spy a ship’s departure from the Greyjoy-controlled Iron Islands on Door 3 at the Percy French in Newcastle. Below it, a lone direwolf appears above Winterfell, surrounded by signs of looming battle on the horizon.
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
The dominance of the dragons on Door 4 at Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen accurately echo House Targaryen’s return to power while certain elements also refer to their recent past misfortunes. Above it all keeping a watchful eye is the white falcon of House Arryn.
Limavady, County Londonderry
The dreaded Night King and his followers feature heavily on Door 5 at Owens in Limavady. White Walkers flank him on both sides commanding an army of undead Wights at his back. Below, rests the Stark Sigil entwined in branch and root, preparing for the inevitable attack between the living and the dead.
Ballintoy, County Antrim
Door 6 at the Fullerton Arms in Ballintoy champions House Targaryen, specifically, Daenerys’ most aggressive and fearsome dragon, Drogon. It depicts Dothraki stallions in his grasp signifying their allegiance and willingness to follow their Queen across the Narrow Sea.
Ballymoney, County Antrim
Signs of the recently deceased Three-Eyed Raven permeate on Door 7 at the The Hedges Hotel. These omens foreshadow the events of the past that are about to bear down on the present. At the base of the door, you’ll see a beech tree leaf hidden within a crown - a reference to the trees of The Kingsroad itself.
Cushendun, County Antrim
“Valar morghulis. Valar dohaeris” asserts the centre of Door 8 at Mary McBride's in Cushendun, chronicling Arya Stark’s journey in the free city of Braavos. In the centre rests the Faceless Man Coin that originally brought her to the city. Below that sits Needle, a reference to the final deadly confrontation that leads Arya to her decision to return home to Winterfell.
Ballygally, County Antrim
At Ballygally Castle echoes of the ‘Battle of the Bastards’ - symbols of both House Stark and House Bolton - dominate the penultimate Door 9. Swords and shields litter the door like a bloody battlefield. You’ll see the battle-scarred face of the Stark direwolf dominating over the flayed man below suggesting a House Stark victory, but at a very heavy cost.
Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
The final Door 10 at The Dark Horse in Belfast depicts Westeros’s state of affairs as Season 6 draws to a close. The Lannister lion reigns over the Sept of Baelor, signifying its destruction along with the deaths of hundreds of King’s Landing nobles, including some of House Tyrell and the Faith Militant. The bottom of the door you’ll find Stark and Targaryen sigils, alluding to the revelations about the possible parentage of Jon Snow.
Download the Map
Download the map here and be sure to get it stamped at each of the doors.
One Door closes, another opens
While you tour Northern Ireland on your Journey of Doors, keep an eye out for the 26 Game of Thrones® filming locations open for exploration. Available in 6 languages, maps can be found at Visitor Information Centres across Northern Ireland.
Created in official partnership with Warner Bros., the world’s first and only Game of Thrones Studio Tour has arrived in Northern Ireland. Located at the authentic filming location of Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, County Down, Game of Thrones Studio Tour invites you to experience the world of Game of Thrones like never before.
The success of The Cuan has been built on consistently serving excellent food and drink coupled with exceptional customer service. A strong emphasis is placed on using fresh ingredients and sourcing our produce locally. Stay over in our bedrooms.
The pub and upmarket bed and breakfast, called Fiddler's Green, is situated in the central square of the historic and attractive small town of Portaferry within a stone's throw of the ancient castle.
At the foot of the Mourne Mountains, local favourite The Percy French serves pub classics, regional fare, bar snacks and a traditional Sunday roast — all with a focus on in-season and local produce. A wide-ranging wine list sits alongside draught beers and a menu of classically inspired cocktails.
Renowned for its traditional Irish heritage, Blakes of the Hollow is one of the most famous and well recognised Victorian pubs in Ireland. It is a must see attraction which has graced County Fermanagh’s shores for over 125 years.
Established in 1852, this award winning Limavady pub retains all the charm and character of the way a traditional pub should be.
A favourite stop off for tourists and locals alike. You'll find a tasty selection of food and drinks, stunning bedrooms, friendly staff, a relaxed atmosphere and handy tips on exploring the nearby area.
Mary's is a traditional Irish pub with lots of history and stories to be told. Come along and enjoy a homemade meal and a pint of Guinness. Our menu offers something for everyone whether it's our steak and Guinness pie or our delicious Cock and Bull.
The Ballygally Castle Hotel faces the soft, sandy beaches of Ballygally Bay. The Castle dates back to 1625 and is unique in that it is the only 17th Century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland.
The Dark Horse is a European style coffee house nestled along a narrow cobbled alleyway in the historic Half Bap area of the Cathedral Quarter. Available for private hire Thursday - Saturday.
