Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Northern Ireland Cushendun Cushendun Caves

Cushendun Caves

400 million years of erosion shaped these fascinating seaside caves, which made an appearance on 'Game of Thrones.'

Cushendun, Northern Ireland

TownTactics profile photo
Added By
Nicholas Davis
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Cushendun Caves 7   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Cushendun Caves 6   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Cushendun Caves 5   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Cushendun Caves 4   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Cushendun Caves 3   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Cushendun Caves 2   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Cushendun Caves 1   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Inside one of the two caves   robdowling / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The little County Antrim Coast village of Cushendun is a quaint village with the typical local pub and local shop. But it is home to a set of caves that attracts hundreds if not thousands of visitors every year—all because of a TV show.

The Cushendun Caves were formed over 400 million years ago through the impact of the sea and the local weather weathering down the rock causing natural erosion. The caves are rather short and open up onto another part of the stony pebble beach. The walls are a mosaic of interesting little rocks, sea salt as well as bits and pieces of various sea creatures such as mussels.

The caves were featured in the HBO television series Game of Thrones as part of the background to the Stormlands location. You may recognize them from the iconic scene where Melisandre, the Red Priestess, gave birth to the shadow creature that was used to assassinate Renly Baratheon, so Stannis Baratheon could go forward with his plan to reclaim the Iron Thorne. If you get to visit the caves make sure you also stop at Mary McBride’s Bar to look at the sculpted wooden Game of Thrones door that was created to celebrate the show.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Related Tags

Film Locations Game Of Thrones Geology Television Caves

Know Before You Go

Make your way along the Antrim Coast Road, passing through the villages of Glenarm, Carnlough, Waterfoot, Cushendall until you reach Cushendun. Park in the free car park across the bridge on the right and then you can walk back over the bridge and make your way along Strand View Park until you reach the stony pebble beach where the caves are situated.

Community Contributors

TownTactics profile photo

Added By

TownTactics

robdowling profile photo

Edited By

robdowling

  • robdowling profile photo robdowling

Published

March 29, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.visitbritain.com/us/en/cushendun-caves
Cushendun Caves
2 Main Street
Cushendun, Northern Ireland, BT44 0SH
United Kingdom
55.124308, -6.037806
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'Johann'

Cushendun, Northern Ireland

miles away

Layd Church Ruins

Cushendall, Northern Ireland

miles away

Loughareema

Ballycastle, Northern Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cushendun

Cushendun

Northern Ireland

Places 2

Nearby Places

'Johann'

Cushendun, Northern Ireland

miles away

Layd Church Ruins

Cushendall, Northern Ireland

miles away

Loughareema

Ballycastle, Northern Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cushendun

Cushendun

Northern Ireland

Places 2

Related Places

  • Johann the last goat.

    Cushendun, Northern Ireland

    'Johann'

    A memorial to a goat culled during a foot and mouth disease outbreak guards a series of fantastical caves.

  • Trsteno Arboretum

    Trsteno, Croatia

    Trsteno Arboretum

    The oldest arboretum on the Dalmatian coast doubles as the gardens of Kings Landing in "Game of Thrones."

  • Malham Cove

    Skipton, England

    Malham Cove

    Harry Potter once visited this massive limestone cliff, which was carved by an ancient glacial river.

  • WPTF AM Radio Building

    Cary, North Carolina

    WPTF AM Radio Building

    This old radio building from the 1930s inspired the WSQK radio station featured in the last season of “Stranger Things.”

  • The Colonel Boles Formation in the Lower Cave

    Carlsbad, New Mexico

    Colonel Boles Formation

    This cave column thousands of feet below the earth’s surface is rightly named for one of the most colorful park rangers in history.

  • Devils Punchbowl

    Otter Rock, Oregon

    Devils Punchbowl

    This coastal rock formation resembles a churning cauldron at high tide.

  • The 5th floor, in 2008.

    Holmdel, New Jersey

    Bell Labs Holmdel Complex

    The real-life ‘Severance’ office building.

  • Inside the cave

    Taşkuyu, Turkey

    Taşkuyu Mağarası (Taskuyu Cave)

    This 470-meter-long dripstone cave was discovered by chance in 2006.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.