Location Scouting Game of Thrones - Season 2: The Iron Islands

HBO's Game of Thrones premiered Sunday, April 17th to rave reviews and decent ratings. That combination was enough for the network to officially greenlight a second season. We'll be getting at least 10 more episodes in the spring of 2012, covering the events of the second book, A Clash of Kings.


If you've read the series, you know that means we'll be seeing a host of new locations, places that may have been mentioned in the first season, but we haven't visited yet. I don't live in Europe, so I can't find these places myself, but other fans do. In this series of posts I'll talk about places in Westeros we'll visit in Season 2, and try to highlight some of the real-life places they may use to bring them to life.

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The Iron Islands

The Iron Islands are a rocky outcropping of islands just northwest of the Riverlands, off the west coast of Westeros.  They're too harsh for much agriculture, so to survive you either fish, or you take other people's food.  The inhabitants of the Iron Islands, the ironborn, are largely descended from the First Men, and are the Westerosi equivalent of Vikings, with a little pirate thrown in for good measure.  It's cold, and windy, and the waves are always crashing in from every direction.


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Ballintoy

It looks like we might have our first new shooting location.  Yesterday, a story from the Balmoney Times began circulation among the fan community about Game of Thrones negotiating a deal to shoot some scenes near Ballintoy, in Northern Ireland.  There's a Harbour, so it could be the sight for Dragonstone, or somewhere in the Free Cities, but my money is on the Iron Islands.  Let me show you why.

from the Wyvernwood Flickr

First, there's this picture.  That just looks like the Iron Islands to me.  Obviously that outcropping isn't enough for a set, but I'm betting there are some bigger ones nearby.  Or, lacking that, they could just go digital.  Those rocks just have a great feel.




Next, we have the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

from the Stuart Yeates Flickr

If you've read the books, you know that the castle Pyke has several pieces on several different rocky outcroppings, and they're connected by swinging bridges.  Why build one of those when you can find one pre-built?





Then we have Dunseverick Castle

Obviously more of a ruin than an actual castle these days, this is still a gorgeous location, and could make for some really iconic shots with a bit of digital trickery.





Finally, there's the Giant's Causeway

This is apparently one of the top tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, so I'm sure it's a very familiar sight to many Europeans.  For those of us across the pond, it's an awesome alien landscape.  If the crew is already going to be in nearby Ballintoy, it would be a shame to not put this great visual to use somehow in our show.



I could be completely off, and you have to remember that the story only specifically mentions the use of the Harbour, but once I did a little research I felt like there was a treasure trove of great locations in the vicinity.