Visiting filming locations in different countries is one of my favorite ways to explore! Road-trip through Scotland to see sets from Outlander, visit Salem Massachusetts, and the spooky scenes from Hocus Pocus, or see the epic scene from Star Wars at Death Valley. It is a fun way to discover hidden gems! The same goes for Ireland. There are some locations that are popular landmarks and some are a journey just to get to. Check out the famous movies filmed throughout Ireland you can visit!
Cliffs of Moher – Harry Potter and Princess Bride
Anyone who grew up watching the Harry Potter movies; will recognize the Cliffs of Moher in a scene in the Half-Blood Prince. As Harry and Dumbledore head off on a quest to find one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Lemon Rock is an island next to Skelligs and plays a part in the movie as well. The makers of the Half-Blood Price used CGI to combine Lemon Rock with the Cliffs of Moher. The result is the scene we see in the movie. The inside of the cave is of course a set.
You may also recognize the Cliffs of Moher from the Princess Bride. We hear Vizzini call them the ‘Cliffs of Insanity’. This is where we see the characters climb the cliffs followed by the Dread Pirate Roberts.
About a 3-hour drive from Dublin, it is an easy day trip! Drive yourself or pick through a number of different tours that take you to the cliffs. From the visitor center, you can follow the Doolin Trail to O’Brian’s Tower. If you are up for the walk, Try Hag’s Head or the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk. It is free to enter the walkways to the Cliffs, however, you will have to pay for parking (around 6 Euros).
Skellig Michael – Star Wars
Much like Northern Ireland is known for its Game Of Thrones filming locations, the South of Ireland is much the same. But in this case, the Star Wars Movies. Getting to Skellig Michael will be the first hurdle of your journey. Located off the Wild Atlantic Way and the Dingle Peninsula, you will take a boat out to the island. Skellig Michael is also a wildlife preserve home to hundreds of Puffins. They are so common that when the Star Wars series was filmed, producers were forced to create a new monster. Porgs, as they could not edit the animals out and could not interfere with their breeding grounds. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist site that became even more famous. As it was featured in the Star Wars movies ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’.
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There are several tours that take you to the Island. (Some are strictly boat tours, others are landing tours). It is not recommended to try the journey, as you are crossing the Atlantic. But if you pack your seasickness medicines, you may be lucky and not experience any motion sickness). If you start to feel any symptoms I recommend ginger-flavored gum. This is too strong for me by itself, but mixing it with Juicy Fruit or a mint come can make it less strong. There are also ginger candies you can find at your local grocery store.
Powers Court Waterfall and Guinness Lake – Vikings
If you fancy a drive into the Wicklow Mountains, you have to catch the view of Lough Tay. Lough Tay is one of the main filming locations for the settlement of Kattegat. Also known as “Guinness Lake” as it’s owned by the Guinness family. The fjord-style mountains of Wicklow County provide the perfect backdrop for the fictional village. Unfortunately, the Loch itself lies on private land and you can’t get up close. The set of Kattegat village was located right near the shore before it was moved to Ashford Studios in Ballyhenry. (Enter “Lough Tay Viewing Point” into your GPS and it should get you to the overlook parking).
Another filming location in County Wicklow was Powerscourt. Escape the city and explore this gorgeous estate. Its gardens cover 47 acres and date back to the 13th century. The 400-foot-high Powerscourt Waterfall was used in the scene where Aslaug, the future wife of Ragnar, is introduced. Powerscourt is also an amazing place to have a picnic! Known for being a haven for wildlife, including the Sika Deer and the native Irish red squirrel, explore the playground and short walking trails. There is no entry fee, however, there is a parking charge of 6.50 Euros.
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