Filming locations in County Down

For Game of Thrones fans, County Down is hallowed ground: this corner of Northern Ireland was the home base for a decade of Westeros filming, and one National Trust courtyard here became Winterfell itself. The farmyard and tower at Castle Ward were built out into the Stark stronghold, the very spot where the household gathers in the series' first episode. Standing in that courtyard is as close as set-jetting gets to walking onto the page.

Castle Ward rewards more than a quick photo. Independent operators on the estate run costumed archery and cycle tours of the filming spots, well worth booking ahead in summer, and the grounds run down to the shore of Strangford Lough for a walk afterwards. A short stroll across the parkland brings you to Audley's Castle, another tower that recurs as a recognisable backdrop in the show.

The practical magic of County Down is how close it all sits to the city. Castle Ward is a drive of under an hour from Belfast, and the studios where the interior sets were built are nearby too, so the whole world of the production is compact and reachable. Entry to the estate is paid, though National Trust members go free.

Use Belfast as your base and treat this as an easy day out, looping the lough rather than rushing. Northern Ireland's weather is changeable, so pack layers and aim for a dry spell to enjoy the waterside paths at their best. Spring and summer bring the fullest tour schedules and the greenest version of the estate, but the courtyard delivers its Winterfell shiver in any season.