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World Travel Market 2016: Ballygally Castle welcomes Game of Thrones fans to Northern Ireland

World Travel Market 2016: Ballygally Castle welcomes Game of Thrones fans to Northern Ireland

Fans of the hit TV series Game of Thrones can follow in the footsteps of the show’s characters and actors at Ballygally Castle, Northern Ireland.

Part of the Hastings Hotels group, the hotel features a Game of Thrones Afternoon Tea, Valyrian Steel Style Carving Knives, and a special door which was part of Tourism Ireland’s recent Game of Thrones campaign.

Following the fall of several trees from the iconic ‘Dark Hedges’ during Storm Gertrude at the start of 2016, Tourism Ireland salvaged the wood from two trees.

They were transformed into ten ornately carved wooden doors, each depicting moments inspired by the most recent series of Game of Thrones.

The doors were unveiled each week as season six unfolded – referencing key scenes and events from the latest episode and incorporating some of the iconic symbols of the show.

These ‘Doors of Thrones’ hang in pubs, restaurants, and other venues across Northern Ireland, near filming locations in ‘Game of Thrones Territory’.

Door Nine depicts the famous battle between House Stark and House Bolton in the penultimate episode of season six.

Carved on the door are the crests of House Bolton and House Stark, Ramsey Bolton’s hungry dogs, and Winterfell Castle.

Door Nine is the entrance to the hotel’s Garden Restaurant and sits among other Game of Thrones-inspired memorabilia.

Perched on the tip of the famous Causeway Coastal Route, Ballygally Castle Hotel in Co. Antrim is a 17th century castle which overlooks Ballygally Bay and has uninterrupted views towards Scotland.

HBO’s award-winning television series Game of Thrones was filmed in the surrounding areas of Ballygally, with cast and crew from the series frequently visiting at the castle.

The dramatic scenery of the Causeway Coast and Glens was used to represent scenes from the show, such as Winterfell, the King’s Road, The Iron Islands, and Stormlands, and visitors can retrace the steps of their Game of Thrones heroes on a special three-day itinerary.