Dark Hedges
From Portrush’s lively promenade, we move inland to a natural landmark: the Dark Hedges, an enchanted avenue of ancient beech trees near Ballymoney. James Stuart planted 150 trees in 1775 as the approach to Gracehill House. The trees form a cathedral-like canopy steeped in local folklore, including tales of the Grey Lady who wanders at dusk. Gaining fame as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones , the Dark Hedges changed from a quiet local treasure into a global tourist destination, drawing thousands eager to experience its haunted beauty. However, this fame has brought challenges. Heavy foot traffic and vehicles have strained the ecosystem, and storms have claimed several trees altering the once-continuous canopy. There are now 80 beeches left, protected by the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust, established in 2009.
Lesley McIntyre
Preservation efforts including road closures aim to protect the site but its future remains uncertain. The Dark Hedges is an example of the delicate balance between celebrating landmarks and ensuring their survival, standing as both a breathtaking symbol of an ancient avenue and a cautionary tale about the impact of tourism.
This is an aluminium printing plate that captures the beech trees that have serendipitously grown into a long beautiful tunnel. Sadly this scene won’t look like this for much longer. Climate change is having an impact on our landscape and heritage. This artifact captures the scene forever.
Bushmills Distillery
A short journey from the shaded canopy of the Dark Hedges, Bushmills Distillery tells a different story – one of craft and heritage distilled over centuries. One of the oldest licensed distilleries in the world, Bushmills blends industrial architecture with the age-old traditions of whiskey-making. Its low-slung stone buildings and iconic red-brick chimneys are as much a part of the north coast’s identity as the whiskey it produces. Local legends of the uisce beatha , the water of life, connect the stones of the distillery and the whiskey-making to Ireland’s spiritual and cultural history. Tales of saints blessing the water and ancient traditions of distillation add a mythical dimension to its already storied existence. Inside, copper stills gleam under the dim light, while casks each containing its own nuanced narrative of aging and alchemy, line the winding pathways of the distillery.
©Bushmills.com/distillery
Bushmills is more than a production site; it is an inheritance that celebrates the intersection of industrial function, artistic craft and cultural tradition. For visitors, it is a sensory journey – the scent of aging whiskey mingles with the cool coastal air, the stone walls are weathered by time, and stories that flow through its halls – a testament to how architecture can preserve and amplify the history, creativity and diligence of the people who shape it.
50 on site review 46 :: travel
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