Carrick-a-Rede

July 2024

Continuing along the Antrim's Causeway Coast, about 20 minutes from Giant's Causeway, our tour bus made a quick stop for a photo overlooking the incredibly scenic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. 

Carrick-a-Rede is a small fishing island. The original bridge dates back to the 1700's and was an actual rope bridge.

You must reserve a ticket ahead of time and pay to cross the bridge. It's a 20 minute walk from the parking lot to the bridge. Once on the bridge you have to keep moving you can't stand there taking pics. There's a line in front of you and behind you of people waiting to cross. 

Back in 2015, word spread that Game of Thrones filming crew were spotted here. Taking one look at the place, I really thought this must be where they filmed the scene where Euron throws Balon Greyjoy off the bridge in the rain - but it's not!

I didn't learn until the next day, when I was on a tour with an actual extra from the show, that that scene was filmed inside the studio! He even showed me a still shot from filming that scene. I was shocked. Clearly, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was the inspiration for the scene though! It looks just like this! 

The film crew were here doing something though. During season six, while working at Carrick-a-Rede bridge, a 6'9" man named Flip Robinson, was spotted by the Game of Thrones crew and recruited him to come work as a stand-in and body double for Hodor and The Mountain. Flip went on to create Giant Tours Ireland.

Tour buses aren't allowed to stop at the bridge anymore (but Flip can because he doesn't drive a bus). So we just ran out and took pictures from above. It was such a nice day that we could see Scotland from there.

Fun facts:

Larrybane Quarry is used as an overflow parking lot for Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and it was used as Renly Baratheon's war camp in the Stormlands. It's also where the fight scene between Loras Tyrell and Brienne of Tarth takes place.

A minute's walk from the quarry is where Theon Greyjoy rallies the Iron Islanders to support Yara’s claim to the Salt Throne.

This was my last stop with Paddywagon Tours. The next tour I took was a trek through Winterfell with Game of Thrones tours.

The very first opening scene began in the beautiful Tollymore Forest. 

Tollymore Forest>>