The Dark Hedges is the most photographed place in Northern Ireland. It is a quiet road lined with twisted branches of Beech trees forming an arch over the road. The place has been made famous as "the King's Road" along with many other spots in Northern Ireland due to Game of Thrones. Even if you are not a fan it is a spectacular spot. Go early like we did and avoid the heaviest parts of the crowds.

There were plenty of tours buses parked on the other side of this stretch of road. Luckily Waze had us avoid most of that nonsense. Driving on the left side of the road with a steering wheel on the right side of the car is hard enough but add to it tiny streets and traffic and it is quite the challenge (that I mastered, thank you very much).

The trees were planted in 1775 By James Stuart for his wife Grace. According to legend, the hedges are visited by a ghost called the Grey Lady, who travels the road and flits across it from tree to tree. She is claimed to be either the spirit of James Stuart's daughter (named "Cross Peggy") or one of the house's maids who died mysteriously, or a spirit from an abandoned graveyard beneath the fields, who on Halloween is joined on her visitation by other spirits from the graveyard.

The barbwire fence had to be moved as the trees grew.

We also heard lots of gun shots.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.