I posted the above photo on Twitter earlier and asked people would they walk down this road. The response was mixed. Some thrill seekers didn’t have the slightest problem while others were less brave, saying they would only chance it during daylight hours. Some said they would run a million miles in the opposite direction. Some recognised the location, others didn’t. It’s actually the Dark Hedges near Stranocum in Northern Ireland.
The Dark Hedges is, or rather was pre-Covid, a big tourist attraction as it featured in the first series of Game of Thrones as the Kings Road which runs the length of Westeros. Such was the interest in it, the authorities had to close the road in recent years as the huge numbers of coaches and tourists were causing damage to the trees and preventing residents from going about their daily business. They now have to park round the corner and then walk the final yards to it.
It’s amazing how the absence of light can change one of the most popular roads in the country into a no-go zone. The profile picture of Fionnuala and I was taken at the Dark Hedges, our Rebecca has hidden in the trunk of one of its sentinel guards and I’ve even had my photo taken running down it as part of the Dark Hedges Half Marathon route. Yet, dim the lights and throw up a spooky moon and it resembles a scene from your worst nightmare. All we are missing is a zombie or two.
You cannot have enough life-affirming light in your life. It illuminates our journey and affords purpose and confidence. It provides comfort, heat and reassurance. Your light can be your faith, family or friends. It can be a pastime or project, it’s what burns deep within, fuelling us to keep pressing forward when all around everything seems to be falling apart. It alerts us to perils on the path and acts as a guide and counsellor. Don’t let your light ever burn out.
Black Thoughts 
I’m one of those who wouldn’t want to walk down this road after dark! Yes, I’m a baby about these things😏
Thanks for the bigger message💜
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You’re very welcome. Thank you for always supporting me 😊
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Hi, I visited the Dark Hedges in May 2019 and it was such a surreal experience!
But you’re right, too many tourists rob a place of its charm and mystique… I also totally get why some people wouldn’t want to be caught here alone in the dark, does seem like it can get spooky!
Thanks for refreshing my wonderful memories of Northern Ireland!
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You’re very welcome. Thank you for visiting our country 🙂☘️
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Wow! I don’t think I could do it alone at night but I definitely could during the day. I know. I’m a little bit chicken. LOL
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Me too, you’re not alone. Hope you are keeping well 😊
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I’m doing great! Thank you so much. 😊
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I absolutely would, but when I was a kid we lives a house away from an entrance to a cemetery which had an old Iron gate and had some very old sections. We used to go down there all the time as kids. The picture you posts is amazing though, cant say we have anything similar in my area.
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Hi Karac. Thank you. That sounds a spooky childhood playground 🙂
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My favorite part of this post is that final paragraph – so inspiring. In answer to your question, it would depend on my mood, some days I’d charge down that road in the spirit of adventure and glee; other days I am not so brave. It’s interesting that it was filmed for Game of Thrones. I can see why. I never watched the series but enjoyed the books.
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Thank you Carol. The books are always better 😊
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My pleasure 🙂
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Amen!
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Thank you Mitch 🙂
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I’m currently listening to a horror podcast, so I’d run a million miles away lmao
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I don’t blame you 😂
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A better question is would they walk down it *alone*? Because I wouldn’t but I totally would if I had a friend or two around. Very nice photograph.
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Thank you. Excellent point 🙂
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Maybe in the daylight or an extreme emergency, but otherwise I’d be one of those headed the other direction. You are so right, the light reveals much.
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Thank you for understanding 😊
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Noooo
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😂
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I couldn’t walk down that road my vivid imagination runs wild at the best of times.
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Perfectly understandable 😂
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I wouldn’t go down that road.
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Very wise.
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Last year while driving home from out of town it was near dusk, with the sun going down over the ocean. I listened to the waves quietly crashing against the seawall next to where I was driving and had an idea for a locally set horror story. I think placed like this are great inspiration for story ideas, but I can definitely understand nor wanting to walk there in the dark!
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Sounds like a spooky scenario, Hamish. Have you written it yet?
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Not yet. But the idea is ruminating after your post sparked the imagination wheels again!
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You’re welcome 😊
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