Belfast Trifecta... Part One
Sooo. in planning this trip, I first checked out the Princess Cruise ship excursions. We had three interests… well… two and one that was a popular one that tended to picque my interest. Sticking to a shore excursion, we would only accompish one or two of these places. Renting a car, right in the harbor (from SIXT) made the most sense. Not sure if we were ready for another day of driving on the wrong side of the road! Prior to our arrival, I had created a google map with all of our stops. Once reality sank in… we crossed off a couple of spots because they seemed a bit much for the allotted time. So… first spot, more for my kids, Dark Hedges.
Game of Thrones… such a monster hit. Why haven’t I seen any of the episodes? When researching the areas in and around Belfast, this came up as one of the most photographed locations. The two rows of Beech trees were planted in 1775, when Gracehill House (named after Grace Lynd) was built. 150 trees were planted to create an impressive first impression as visitors drove up to the house.
Currently, the road is only open to foot traffic. Several tours stopped at this location while we were visiting. We attempted to take photos with the least amount of people, but that just wasn’t always possible.
One of the reasons this location was selected is so hubby could put his new camera to use. He was able to capture great angles but we forgot the adapter to view them on the computer! Oh well… we will enjoy them when we return home. In a gap between tour busses, we were able to get less “cluttered” shots!
Selfie time! We have been blessed with the best weather! Often cold and dreary, everywhere we’ve been, locals thank us for bringing warm weather. After the winter in Tahoe… this is a treat! Each spot, we pack jackets and sweaters but we haven’t needed them. Definitely the turtleneck and flannel shirt were overkill. Most of the day, I was sweating!
Oh boy! For a moment in time, I am able to upload two at a time… From these vantage points, you are able to see how curvy the trees have grown. This special little road is not without a legend… it is said, that a ghost called “Grey Lady” travels up and down this road, jumping from tree to tree. Two or three stories circulate about who this ghost is… one theory is she is the owners daughter, named “Cross Peggy”. Others claim she is the ghost of a maid who lived in the house. She is rumored to have mysteriously died. Then there is the thought that she is from a nearby graveyard. On Halloween, she is joined by several other cemetery “residents”.
Looking up to the “umbrella” covering gives another unique angle. Of the 150 trees originally planted, there are 90 remaining. The footpath is now a protected area. Tickets sales go to the Trust in charge of maintaining this interesting spot.
It’s only been since 2017, that cars have been banned from the road. Only in an emergency, can a firetruck or ambulance get an exemption. After strolling up and down the road, seeing the light change and the peacefulness of the area, it was a good decision. Imagining this lined with cars or foot/car traffic would take away from the beauty.
Branches on these trees… incredible! There is actually a hotel near the parking of this road. Along side the hotel, is a golf course. This might be a fun place to stay for a couple of nights to capture sunrise, sunset and different weather… misty? rainy? Great spot for photos! Did the best I could with my iphone :-)
Two more views… sorry for so many but actually, it took a lot of restraint. There are so many photos… my challenge was uploading to use them. A few more made it through, but I’ll spare you. haha. When visiting the Causeway area, this is worth taking a few minutes to walk through. Just wanted to clarify one thing. “Ticket sales” funding the Trust is accurate, however, it is a portion of those on tours. Driving to this location on your own, it is free to walk through. There is a little coffee shop with souvenirs that go toward maintaining and of course, donations are accepted… but this is a free, newly formed tourist destination. Part two of the trifecta also has too many photos, so I will make that a separate post!
