Updated! Game of Thrones returns to the Murlough Bay area for filming

Fair Head. Photo: Wikipedia/Steve Cadman
Fair Head. Photo: Wikipedia/Steve Cadman

While Game of Thrones location filming in Spain is being shifted around, location shooting continues back in the scenic areas of Northern Ireland for season 7. The ubiquitous pink “GOT” signs indicating filming have been spotted once again:

antrim
Photo: WatchersontheWall.com

The sign was spotted by WotW reader Michelle yesterday near the parking area for Fair Head, a headland spot that is often used for climbing. There were a number of trucks set up nearby also.

Fair Head is found a few miles from Ballycastle in County Antrim. Murlough Bay and its shore, a site used frequently by Game of Thrones over the past several years, is found between Fair Head and Torr Head. And so it’s not clear exactly where GoT is filming at the moment- they could be on Fair Head, using the sheer face of the headland, or they could on the coastal portion.

Previously, the shore nearby along Murlough Bay has set the scene for Theon and Yara’s ride together in season 2. It’s where Davos was rescued following the Battle of the Blackwater, and where Tyrion and Jorah faced slavers. The grassy area is also where Renly faced off against Stannis in season 2.

As for who might be involved in filming, there have been a number of cast members in and out of Belfast lately. Actors frequently fly up for short periods of filming so it’s difficult to track. Kit Harington was also seen in Belfast in the last few days, as well as Aidan Gillen and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Local actors such as Conleth Hill have been seen, but they live there, so…well, you know.



UPDATE:
WotW reader Rory has submitted this new photo of production up at Fair Head near Ballycastle, take today:

filming

Sue the Fury
Susan Miller, Editor in Chief of WatchersOnTheWall.com

44 Comments

  1. Firannion,

    I dunno, they’ve used locations thereabouts for many things, as Sue says in the article. Spain tends to be KL/Dorne/Essos and Iceland in winter has been north of the Wall (this year, though, it could be the North south of the Wall as winter has come) and Riverlands/Vale during Icelandic summer. NI could be anywhere.

    Selfies with NCW… I’ve seen this and a couple of others where the selfee proudly proclaims meeting the Kingslayer. And I just want to scream: “Jaime. His name is Jaime.” Uhm… I mean, his name is Nikolaj but you know what I mean.

    Oh, and my first “hodor”! I don’t stalk the website for a chance but now it just happened and I’m surprised how pleased I am. 😀

  2. Yeah..that location could be anywhere except Dorne lol.

    I seriously need to know what Kit and Co. are filming. I saw some pictures and Lord Glover is back.

  3. Flayed Potatoes,

    Now it looks like most of the northern lords are still hanging in Winterfell: Lord Glover, Lady Mormont… Manderly and Cerwin might be there too – they are harder to spot. And Littlefinger… And an unknown boy and a ginger maiden with a sword… Rather intriguing.

  4. Talking about NCW/Jaime. I see Nik still has very short hair and is sporting the same kind of stubble he had last season… I’m a bit disappointed…

    In the books,

    the length of Jaime’s facial hair is directly proportional to his distance (first geographical but then emotional) from Cersei. He got very bearded during his captivity in RR, then shaved clean once he got back to KL and Cersei. After she rejects him, he lets his beard grow again- which Cersei doesn’t like at all because it makes Jaime look different from her, and, to her, Jaime is just a male extention of herself. Jaime’s beard growing is also the emotional distance between them growing. By the time he gets to Riverrun to lift the siege, he has a full beard (as remarked on by his cousin Devan), and burns Cersei’s letter and shortly afterwards goes off with Brienne.

    In the show, Jaime and Cersei have obviously been a lot closer than in the books up until now so that could explain only a stubble. However, after that look Jaime gave Cersei in S6E10, I had hopes he’d grow a beard!

  5. Flayed Potatoes:
    Yeah..that location could be anywhere except Dorne lol.

    I seriously need to know what Kit and Co. are filming. I saw some pictures and Lord Glover is back.

    Wasn’t some of Dorne in S5 also filmed in NI? Jaime & Bronn roadtrip and also Ellaria and sand snacks rendez-vous? Though maybe not at this location but somewhere in NI.

    Hey, about Lord Glover. “Huge, if true. ”
    Any links to pics?

  6. Inga:
    Flayed Potatoes,
    Now it looks like most of the northern lords are still hanging in Winterfell: Lord Glover, Lady Mormont… Manderly and Cerwin might be there too – they are harder to spot. And Littlefinger… And an unknown boy and a ginger maiden with a sword… Rather intriguing.

    Where did the “ginger maiden with a sword” come from? I haven’t seen mention of what I’m assuming is a reference to the Northern 16 yr old actress part that she had a sword. Or that she had ginger hair. Unless this is about the body double for Sophie Turner?

  7. Dark Lark,

    Sophie’s back in London, so it’s definitely not her double. This is likely the sixteen year old girl from the casting call, who I imagine is either Umber or Karstark’s daughter. Probably Umber given that Sam’s mum said that Umber daughters learn to hunt and fight back in ep. 606.

  8. Myname,

    Cheers!

    I’m glad Lord Glover is back, the actor is great.

    As to the “ginger maiden with a sword”. Maybe that isn’t a Sansa body-double but a new character? The show equivalent of book!Alys Karstark?

    The Karstark family is different in the show/books, but in the books,

    there’s definitely some flirtation going on between Alys Karstark and Jon Snow. There’s also flirtation going on between Jon and “the wildling princess” Val, but Val isn’t in the show 🙁

    A chance of some flirtation for Jon? He likes strong, independent, weapons-wielding red-headed women…

  9. icequinn:
    Kit’s filming with Sophie’s body double while Sophie’s in London and still blonde. Weird.

    Where’d you see that Sophie is in London? If true, I welcome it because I’m not a fan of what may happen between Jon/Sansa/LF in S7 and the more scenes Jon has without them, the better in my view.

  10. Greenjones:
    BunBunStark,

    https://twitter.com/badpostsophie/status/781898598460039168

    I feel stalkerish now because I’m trying to see what Sophie has in her shopping basket… Some cheese… something in red vacuum packaging, maybe some kind of a meat product?… The square packaging could be some sprouts or tofu or similar… She’s in the condiments aisle…

    Hair definitely blond, so maybe rumours that she’ll wear a wig this season might be true… or not! Maybe she hasn’t started filming yet, maybe she’s been to Belfast for rehearsals, fittings etc.?

  11. Greenjones,

    Thanks!

    Rhaenys Stark:
    And as many others have said, this girl can’t be Sophie’s body double since she’s carrying a sword. Most likely a new character. Unless Sansa starts sword fighting lessons in S7, which I doubt.

    Yeah, Sansa never carried weapon in all the years she was in grave danger, so I doubt she would start carrying a sword now that she’s in the safety of her home with her brother and Brienne there to protect her.

    I said in another thread that maybe those kids are Lord Glover’s children. Maybe he takes them to Winterfell to present them to KitN. Though that wouldn’t be very “high stakes”, so maybe they are children of the late Lord Umber or Lord Karstark.

    talvikorppi:
    Myname,

    A chance of some flirtation for Jon? He likes strong, independent, weapons-wielding red-headed women…

    That he does, lol. Though this girl seems too young for him.

  12. icequinn:
    @Rhaenys Stark

    That gal has no sword. What are you talking about? A belt doesn’t only have to go with a sword you know.

    The pommel of the sword is just above her left hip.

  13. icequinn:
    @Rhaenys Stark

    That gal has no sword. What are you talking about? A belt doesn’t only have to go with a sword you know.

    I hear you. There’s no sword in evidence in that picture and maybe people are jumping into conclusions.

    However, that belt and the way it’s tied looks like a heavy-duty leather belt, the kind warriors/knights use for hanging their swords from. It’s not a dainty fashion accessory to enhance the dress (ref. Margaery’s rose belts or even anything Sansa has worn) and the dress is plain and functional enough. So I think it’s fair enough to speculate it’s a swordbelt.

    And that she’s not a Sophie Turner’s body double but actually a character. The 16-yr-old Northern lady of the casting call.

  14. icequinn:
    @Rhaenys Stark

    That gal has no sword. What are you talking about? A belt doesn’t only have to go with a sword you know.

    She’s being fitted with a sword belt that we often see the characters wearing. You can actually see the round pommel sticking out. And she’s being fitted by the GOT armourer, Tommy Dunne. So definitely a sword.

    Can we all put this to rest now, she’s not Sansa’s double. And there’s no indication she’s a romantic interest for Jon either.

  15. Pigeon: I’d love that. I wonder if they have to custom blend the pink shade?

    😉

    I was thinking something along the lines of The Office, and in all the locations not just N. Ireland.

    #LetsCopyrightThisAndGetFilthyRich

  16. talvikorppi: Hair definitely blond, so maybe rumours that she’ll wear a wig this season might be true…

    Blond, red-head it doesn’t matter, what a pretty girl. Those pics further down of her in the floral dresses are gorgeous.

  17. Apollo: And she’s being fitted by the GOT armourer, Tommy Dunne.

    Can we all put this to rest now, she’s not Sansa’s double. And there’s no indication she’s a romantic interest for Jon either.

    Ah-ha! That’s who the man is, I knew I recognized him from BTS videos but couldn’t place him.

    Yes, I agree. There’s enough evidence now to put to rest the notion the redhead is Sansa’s body double. I guess not all red-haired Northern ladies have to be Sansa Stark.

  18. Apollo:
    Can we all put this to rest now, she’s not Sansa’s double. And there’s no indication she’s a romantic interest for Jon either.

    You’re quite right, there’s no indication she’s a romantic interest for Jon. He doesn’t have time for romance, what with the imminent ice-zombie apocalypse and all.

    However, some mild flirtation towards Jon would be nice for him. Just to let him know he can be desirable to someone besides Ygritte. A bit like Tormund’s eyes at Brienne last season. Just to let her know that she can actually be desireable to someone (other than Jaime). A nice boost to self-confidence. It doesn’t have to lead into anything, most probably won’t and I hope it doesn’t. Just a bit of flirtation, amidst all the war and death and destruction.

  19. BunBunStark,

    The more I think, the more it looks to me that the girl might be Karstrak. She has red hair and Harald Karstark had red hair too and the color of the hair has always been the major issue in the books and show.
    And regarding flirting between her and Jon, I can totally see that happening. In fact, every eligible young lady should be hunting the KITN. Poor Jon – he will regret abandoning his Night’s Watch wows.

  20. talvikorppi,

    I agree: flirtation won’t go anywhere far, but it would be nice to see Jon a bit conflicted, when the option of marrying the Dragon-queen comes into play. Besides that, introduction of a young women potentially seeking to become a new QITN will definitely make Sansa jealous and Littlefinger will get a chance to drive a wedge between her and Jon.

  21. talvikorppi: You’re quite right, there’s no indication she’s a romantic interest for Jon. He doesn’t have time for romance, what with the imminent ice-zombie apocalypse and all.

    However, some mild flirtation towards Jon would be nice for him. Just to let him know he can be desirable to someone besides Ygritte. A bit like Tormund’s eyes at Brienne last season. Just to let her know that she can actually be desireable to someone (other than Jaime). A nice boost to self-confidence. It doesn’t have to lead into anything, most probably won’t and I hope it doesn’t. Just a bit of flirtation, amidst all the war and death and destruction.

    Agreed. Jon has no time for romance- he’s already united the Northern Lords, so no need of a marriage to broker alliances. Besides, his character would never risk bringing a child into the world when Westeros is facing a war against the WWs.

  22. Inga:
    BunBunStark,

    The more I think, the more it looks to me that the girl might be Karstrak. She has red hair and Harald Karstark had red hair too and the color of the hair has always been the major issue in the books and show.
    And regarding flirting between her and Jon, I can totally see that happening. In fact, every eligible young lady should be hunting the KITN. Poor Jon – he will regret abandoning his Night’s Watch wows.

    Ooo, good point about Harald also being a redhead. Maybe you’re onto something…

    LMAO at the bold part. I don’t think the show has enough time for young ladies to make eyes at KitN, but it would be hilarious if it happened. In the books, it seems like most women who come in contact with Jon flirt with him. And bookJon doesn’t even looks like Kit!

  23. Inga:
    talvikorppi,

    I agree: flirtation won’t go anywhere far, but it would be nice to see Jon a bit conflicted, when the option of marrying the Dragon-queen comes into play. Besides that, introduction of a young women potentially seeking to become a new QITN will definitely make Sansa jealous and Littlefinger will get a chance to drive a wedge between her and Jon.

    Why would that make Sansa jealous? This seems a little soap opera like for my tastes.. I can’t see GOT going down this road, and there’s really no time for all that fluff anymore.

  24. Apollo,

    “All that fluff” doesn’t take that much screen-time. Take Tormund & Brienne for instance. How long was that exchange of glances in total? 10 seconds in 3 scenes? And what an effect!
    And why would that make Sansa jealous? For an obvious reason. As long as Jon is single, she plays a role of the QINT, but if he marries someone, she will lose that position. And I don’t think it would be a soap opera: Cersey was also extremely aggressive towards her potential or actual daughters-in-law. You can say that Cersey is Cersey and Sansa is Sansa and I would agree in a certain sense, cause Sansa is a young woman who would eventually seek to marry herself. But for now she is still recovering from her engagement and marriage experiences and Jon is the only man she can rely on, so if she assumes that someone might take him from her, she will get crazy. In fact, she is already jealous to Davos, Tormund, and other men surrounding Jon and she is very much like Catelyne who poisoned her life with thoughts that Ned might have loved another woman. So, we can fully expect Sansa going similar path – at least to a certain point.

  25. Ooh, now the fact that the girl we’ve seen is being measured for a sword belt is very interesting.

    Given the casting briefs and the other actors we’ve seen preparing for these scenes, I think we can safely assume this is the scene involving the boy and girl and major cast members in a ‘high stakes’ scene.

    I’m totally going to go for her being an Alys Karstark rip-off, heir to either House Karstark or Umber, being pressured to re-pledge her House’s loyalty to House Stark somehow.

    We had the reference last season during the dinner scene at Horn Hill to Lord Umber’s daughters being taught to hunt, so it’s possible she’s a no-nonsense Umber heir standing up for her house.

    I think, ultimately, this scene has to result in everybody resolving to put aside their differences. Ser Davos will probably use his silver tongue again to get everybody thinking along the same lines.

    Or, if not, I could see the Umbers rejecting the Starks / King in the North and being the first to fall to the White Walkers as a result.

    As to the talk of romance, I could see the issue of political marriage being brought up at some point; perhaps with this young woman. But as others have pointed out it would probably be used as either a precursor to a Jon/Daenerys pairing, or to instigate some jealousy in Sansa, be it romantic or political.

    There’d probably be a good reason why she’s a redhead, like Sansa, like Catelyn, and Ygritte. It has so many potential parallels and implications.

  26. Alys Karstark!!!! Or Tormunds daughter. In the Books Jon Marries off Alys Karstark to the Thenn Cheif named Styr. On the show he can marry her off to Tormund!!!! If it is Tormunds daughter, than he can marry her off to Lord Cerwyn!!!!

    Also, why do people pronounce it Kerwyn? Im not Stannis when it comes to correct pronunciation, but that bugs me.

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