Murlough Bay sits on the wild north-east shoulder of County Antrim, tucked beneath Fair Head and reached by one of the steepest, narrowest roads on the Causeway Coast. It's a quiet, often empty stretch of shoreline that most visitors to Ballycastle never see, which is part of its appeal. It also happens to be one of the more striking Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland, standing in for Slaver's Bay and, further up the slope, for Renly Baratheon's camp in the Stormlands. There's no visitor centre here, no gift shop, no ticket booth. What you get instead is a dramatic drop to the sea, old stone ruins from a mining past, and on a clear day, a view across the water to Rathlin Island and the coast of Scotland.

Why Murlough Bay matters

For Game of Thrones fans, Murlough Bay carries real weight. In season three, this is where Tyrion Lannister and Jorah Mormont are marched toward Slaver's Bay after being taken captive, the rocky shoreline standing in for the slave coast of Essos. A season earlier, the green slopes above the bay were used as Renly Baratheon's war camp in the Stormlands, the setting for his meeting with Catelyn Stark and, not long after, his death at the hands of a shadow conjured by Melisandre.

Beyond the screen credits, Murlough Bay matters because it's one of the few places on this coast that still feels properly remote. There's no crowd management, no queue, no fixed path telling you where to stand. You're largely on your own with the cliffs, the gorse, and the sound of the sea against the rocks far below. If you've already done the Dark Hedges or the Giant's Causeway earlier in the day, the contrast is stark. Those sites come with car parks and coach groups. This one doesn't come with much at all.

Quick facts

• Address: Murlough Rd, Torr, Ballycastle BT54 6RG, on the Antrim coast between Ballycastle and Torr Head
• Game of Thrones scenes filmed here: Slaver's Bay (season 3) and Renly's Stormlands camp (season 2)
• Managed as part of the wider Fair Head and Murlough Bay area, with National Trust-protected land nearby
• On a clear day you can see Rathlin Island, and further out, the Scottish coast
• No facilities on site, nearest shops, cafes, and petrol are in Ballycastle

Getting there

The approach is the thing to plan for. Murlough Bay is reached by a single-track road that peels off the main coast route and drops sharply down toward the shore, with a series of tight bends and very few passing places. There's nowhere to turn a large vehicle once you're committed to the descent, and reversing back up is not something you want to attempt on a blind bend. If you're driving anything bigger than a standard car, especially a campervan or motorhome, leave it at the top and walk down instead.

The car park at the upper end gives you a reasonable starting point, and the walk down, while steep, is manageable for most people with sturdy shoes. Locals treat this road with a fair amount of caution, and it's worth doing the same, particularly after rain when the surface can get slick. From Ballycastle, the drive out takes roughly fifteen minutes, following the coast road toward Torr Head before the turn-off down to the bay. There's no public transport link down to the shore itself, so this is a destination for drivers and walkers rather than anyone relying on buses along the coast road.

The layout and experience

Once you're down near the shore, Murlough Bay opens out into a rough, grassy headland dotted with the remains of old mine buildings, low stone walls, and scattered boulders that have come away from the cliffs above over the centuries. The ground underfoot is uneven, so this isn't really a place for a casual stroll in flip-flops. A network of informal paths threads along the coastline and up toward Fair Head, letting you choose how far you want to push.

The bay itself is rocky rather than sandy, backed by steep green slopes that climb toward the dolerite cliffs of Fair Head above. It's these slopes, rather than the shoreline itself, that stood in for Renly's camp, and it's easy to see why once you're standing there. The open ground and sweeping sightlines down to the water give it a sense of scale that suits the scene it was chosen for. Give yourself at least an hour if you want to walk beyond the immediate car park area, longer if you're planning to climb toward Fair Head itself.

History and background

Murlough Bay has a working past that predates its screen appearances by well over a century. The ruins scattered around the site are what remains of small-scale mining operations that once extracted ironstone and limestone from this stretch of coast, shipped out by sea before road access improved. Walking among the low walls and foundations today, it's worth remembering that this was once a working industrial fringe, not just scenery. The combination of old quarry workings and open headland is part of what gave location scouts the raw, slightly otherworldly look they needed for both the Essos coastline and the Stormlands camp.

Best time to visit

Clear weather matters more here than at most Antrim coast stops, since the main reward beyond the Thrones connection is the view out to Rathlin Island and Scotland, and that view disappears completely in low cloud or haze. Spring and early autumn tend to bring the steadiest mix of clear skies and manageable wind. Summer evenings can be good too, with long light stretching out over the water, though midges can be a nuisance on still days. Winter visits are possible but the road down gets genuinely risky in ice or heavy rain, and there's no one around to help if you get stuck.

Combining with nearby attractions

Murlough Bay sits close enough to Ballycastle and the Torr Head scenic route to fold into a wider loop of this part of the coast. Fair Head itself, one of the highest cliff faces in Ireland, rises directly above the bay and is reachable on foot from the same car park for those who want a longer walk. Further along the coast road toward Cushendun, the scenery keeps the same rugged, unpolished character. If you're working through other Game of Thrones filming locations in the area, this pairs naturally with a day that also takes in the Dark Hedges or the coastal stretches further west, though Murlough Bay is quieter than almost all of them.

Practical tips

• Leave larger vehicles, campervans, and motorhomes at the top car park and walk down rather than attempting the descent
• Wear proper walking shoes, the ground near the ruins and along the informal paths is uneven and can be slippery after rain
• Check the weather before you go, the views toward Rathlin Island and Scotland are the main payoff beyond the filming connection
• Bring your own water and food, there are no shops, cafes, or toilets on site
• Fill up on fuel in Ballycastle beforehand, there's nothing out here once you leave the main road

FAQ

Is there an entry fee for Murlough Bay?
No. There's no ticket booth or visitor centre, and the site functions as open coastal land rather than a managed attraction.

Can I drive a campervan down to the shore?
It's not recommended. The single-track road has very few passing places and no turning points, so larger vehicles should park at the top and walk down.

Which Game of Thrones scenes were filmed here?
Murlough Bay doubled as Slaver's Bay in season three, where Tyrion and Jorah are marched as captives, and the slopes above the bay were used as Renly Baratheon's war camp in season two.

Is Murlough Bay suitable for young children or limited mobility?
The walk down is steep and the ground near the ruins is uneven, so it suits reasonably able-bodied visitors better than families with very young children or anyone with mobility restrictions.

How long should I plan for a visit?
An hour covers the immediate area around the car park and ruins, but allow longer if you want to walk toward Fair Head or explore the coastline paths properly.