Park up in Cushendun, one of the prettiest little villages on the Antrim coast, and the caves are only a few minutes on foot. Cross the bridge over the Glendun River, follow the path around the whitewashed cottages on the shore, and the cliff opens up ahead of you into a run of deep red caverns cut straight into the rock.
Step inside and the light changes. The walls are warm red sandstone and conglomerate, studded with thousands of little pebbles, worn smooth and cool to the touch — geologists reckon the sea and the weather shaped them over something like 400 million years. Walk through and the caves frame the outside world for you: an arch here catching a sea stack, another opening onto the green hills and the water beyond, the kind of natural window you can't help but photograph.
Fans will know the spot instantly. This is where Game of Thrones filmed one of its darkest moments — the story goes that Melisandre gave birth to the shadow in this very sea cave — so the kids can play at being on set while the grown-ups just soak up the drama of the place. When you've had your fill, the village is right there: Mary McBride's pub and the Corner House tea-room are a stroll back for something warm, and the beach is on the doorstep for a wander afterwards.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free and open.
There's no ticket, no gate and no booking — the caves are open access, so you simply park in the village and walk round. It's a short, mostly flat walk of a few minutes from the car park, over the river bridge and along the shore. The one thing worth doing before you set off is checking the tide times: the caves sit on the beach, so a high or rough tide can put water and spray across the lower approach. Come at a calmer, lower tide, keep to the upper path when the sea's up, and you'll have the run of them.
Café & pub in villageFree village parkingDogs welcomeGame of Thrones spot
Check the tide:
The caves are on the shoreline, so an incoming or stormy tide can wash across the low approach. Check the day's tide times, keep off the beach when the sea is high, and confirm conditions on the day.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Sturdy shoes or bootsThe short walk is mostly flat, but the shoreline and cave floor can be uneven, damp and pebbly.
🧥A coat for the sea airIt's the open Antrim coast — a bit of wind or rain only makes the caves feel more dramatic.
📷A camera or phoneThe arches framing the sea and the hills are made for photos — bring something to catch them.
🌊The tide timesLook them up before you leave so you arrive when the caves are easy and safe to reach.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free. The caves are open access — no ticket and no booking needed.
Opening hours
Open access at any reasonable daylight hours; best judged by the tide rather than a clock. Confirm conditions on the day.
The walk
A few minutes from the village car park — cross the Glendun River bridge, follow the shore path past the cottages, and the caves are ahead. Mostly flat; the shoreline sections can be uneven and slippery.
Tide
The caves sit on the beach, so a high or rough tide can wash across the lower approach. Check tide times before you go and keep to the upper path when the sea is up.
Ages
All ages — an easy short outing. Keep little ones close near the water and on the uneven ground.
Parking
Free car parking in the village, including near the Corner House tea-room and at Glenmona House. Space is limited and can fill on a fine day, so arrive early.
Food
Mary McBride's pub does pub meals and the Corner House tea-room is right in the village — both a short stroll from the caves.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome around Cushendun's beach and village trails. Keep them under control near the shoreline and cliffs.
How long
Allow 30–60 minutes for the caves; longer if you make a morning of the village, the beach and a bite to eat.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Yes — the caves are open access with no ticket and no booking. Just park in the village and walk round.
How far is the walk?
Only a few minutes from the village car park. You cross the bridge over the Glendun River and follow the shore path past the cottages — mostly flat, with some uneven and pebbly ground near the caves.
Do I need to worry about the tide?
It's worth a quick check. The caves are on the shoreline, so a high or stormy tide can wash across the lower approach. Come at a calmer, lower tide, keep to the upper path when the sea is up, and confirm conditions on the day.
Is this really a Game of Thrones location?
It is — the caves featured in the series, and the story goes that this is the sea cave where Melisandre gave birth to the shadow. A fun spot for fans to recognise.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome around the beach and the village trails. Keep them under control near the water and the cliffs.
Is there anywhere to eat nearby?
Right in the village — Mary McBride's pub for a proper meal and the Corner House tea-room for something lighter, both a short walk from the caves.
Getting there
Cushendun, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT44 0PH — on the Causeway Coastal Route in the Glens of Antrim. Park free in the village; the caves are a few minutes' walk over the river bridge and along the shore.
The caves sit at the edge of Cushendun, a village so pretty that it's been in the care of the National Trust since the mid-1950s — its whitewashed, Cornish-style cottages were designed to a single vision, and the whole place feels of a piece with the coast around it.
The caves themselves are older than anything built by hand. Geologists reckon the red sandstone and conglomerate were laid down and then carved by the sea and the weather over something like 400 million years, leaving the arches and chambers you walk through today. In more recent memory the story went round the world: Game of Thrones used the sea cave for one of its most talked-about scenes, and visitors have been coming to stand in the same spot ever since.