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Film & TV Location Newcastle

Tollymore Forest Park (GoT filming)

Walk the Haunted Forest where the Starks found their direwolf pups.

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Tollymore Forest Park (GoT filming) — Walk the Haunted Forest where the Starks found their direwolf pups.

  • Filmed here: Game of Thrones Season 1 Episode 1: the Haunted Forest, the Wildling Pit, Jon Snow and Tyrion's camp, and where the Starks find the direwolf pups.
  • Getting to the spot: Walk the riverside trails from the car park; the stepping stones are 15-20 minutes in, the Wildling Pit is beyond the wooden bridge.
  • Facilities: Free toilets at the car park only; occasional food van; no phone signal in the park.
  • Cost: Free to walk in; £5 per car to park (£2.50 motorbike, £13 minibus, £35 coach). Pedestrians free.
  • Dogs: Dogs welcome on the park trails; keep them under control near water and wildlife.
  • Safety: Slippery stepping stones and riverbanks, especially after rain; keep young children close to the water.
Plan your visit

What was filmed here, and where to find it

Everything here is from Season 1, Episode 1, 'Winter Is Coming'. Beyond the wooden bridge is the Wildling Pit, where the ranger finds the bodies arranged in a pattern and the White Walkers appear. Along the river there's the spot where Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister talk by their camp, with the tree stump Kit Harington sat on. Parnell's Bridge is where Ned's party finds the dead stag and direwolf, and just below it is where the Stark children find the pups. The woods themselves are the star, so you'll recognise the gothic stone arches and the dark beech canopy more than any single marked spot.

Game of Thrones Free to walk Riverside forest trails Stone arches and bridges Bring a camera Toilets at car park
Good to know before you go:

Some Game of Thrones spots are visited on guided film tours that run from Belfast and the Mournes, and the formal Studio Tour near Banbridge runs its own programme. Tollymore itself is a public park with seasonal forest events; check current listings for dates.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📸A camera or phoneThis is a photo stop first and foremost — line up the shot from the show.
  • 👟Comfy shoesMost spots need a short walk to reach the exact scene.
  • 💷A few poundsFor parking or entry where there’s a charge.
  • 📺The scene in mindHalf the fun is standing right where your favourite moment was filmed.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free to walk in; £5 per car to park (£2.50 motorbike, £13 minibus, £35 coach). Pedestrians free.
What was filmed here
Game of Thrones Season 1 Episode 1: the Haunted Forest, the Wildling Pit, Jon Snow and Tyrion's camp, and where the Starks find the direwolf pups.
Parking
Large pay-and-display style car park at the end of the entrance road, past the booth.
Getting to the spot
Walk the riverside trails from the car park; the stepping stones are 15-20 minutes in, the Wildling Pit is beyond the wooden bridge.
Facilities
Free toilets at the car park only; occasional food van; no phone signal in the park.
Best for
Families with walking-age kids who like rivers, bridges and woodland; GoT fans.
Safety
Slippery stepping stones and riverbanks, especially after rain; keep young children close to the water.
Dogs
Dogs welcome on the park trails; keep them under control near water and wildlife.
How long to allow
1.5 to 3 hours for the main GoT spots and a riverside loop.
Address
Bryansford Road, Newcastle BT33 0PR
Questions

Before you go

What was filmed here?
Game of Thrones Season 1 Episode 1: the Haunted Forest, the Wildling Pit, Jon Snow and Tyrion's camp, and where the Starks find the direwolf pups.
How much does it cost to visit?
Free to walk in; £5 per car to park (£2.50 motorbike, £13 minibus, £35 coach). Pedestrians free.
Is it good for kids?
Families with walking-age kids who like rivers, bridges and woodland; GoT fans.
Where do I park?
Large pay-and-display style car park at the end of the entrance road, past the booth.
Anything to watch out for?
Slippery stepping stones and riverbanks, especially after rain; keep young children close to the water.
Getting there

Tollymore Forest Park (GoT filming) is at Bryansford Road, Newcastle BT33 0PR. Walk the riverside trails from the car park; the stepping stones are 15-20 minutes in, the Wildling Pit is beyond the wooden bridge. Tap below for directions.

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The story

About the location

Tollymore was Northern Ireland's first state forest park, opening in 1955, and covers more than 630 hectares of woodland at the foot of the Mourne Mountains in County Down. The Shimna River runs through it, crossed by a series of historic stone bridges and ornamental gothic arches built by the Earls of Roden in the 18th and 19th centuries.

When Game of Thrones started filming in 2009 and 2010, the production used Tollymore for the very first episode's northern scenes. Its ancient oak and beech and its naturally eerie atmosphere needed almost no set dressing to become the Haunted Forest beyond the Wall and the woods around Winterfell.

It remains a working forest park managed for public recreation rather than a film attraction, which is exactly why fans visit: the place on screen is the real place you can walk through today.