Magical UK park next to 4-mile long beach gets a '10/10′ from visitors and stars in new How To Train Your Dragon film
THE magical world of How to Train Your Dragon has once again hit our screens, but now as a live action film - meaning actual places that you can visit are used in the film.
One of those places is Tollymore Forest Park in Northern Ireland.
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Tollymore Forest Park in Northern Ireland features in the new How to Train Your Dragon film
Credit: Alamy
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Foley's Bridge (above) features in the film
Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Around an hour from Belfast Airport, the park is home to an amazing landscape that viewers get glimpses of in scenes of the
film
.
In fact, Tollymore was used as the setting for the first meeting of Hiccup and Toothless.
As Hiccup lifts his dagger into the air to supposedly kill Toothless, the viewer can see extensive greenery behind with tall towering trees.
The park
features
a combination of impressive trees that tower just like those in the scene - particularly the giant redwoods and Monterey pines.
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In fact, Tollymore arboretum is the one of the oldest known arboreta in Ireland and planting originally began back in 1752, as a Georgian landscape feature.
Also filmed in the park is a scene on a bridge, featuring the main characters.
This is actually Foley's Bridge, which is one of 16 bridges in the park.
The bridge looks mythical and straight out of a fantasy movie - particularly in the
autumn
when the colours turn to more earthy tones.
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The bridge has also even been used in Game of Thrones.
The forest park also boasts a nature-inspired wooden play area called the 'Big Deer' play area.
Top 10 Enchanted Forests & Nature Reserves in the UK
The area is designed specifically for children aged four to 11-years-old and even includes a giant timber Fallow Deer structure, a castle turret, a folly tower and a hollow tree.
The park also has its own grassy campsite, with 71 pitches from £27 a night.
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The park has an impressive 4.8 stars on google reviews, with almost 5,000 people leaving remarks on its 'magical', 'stunning' and 'grand' feel.
One person said: "10/10 would highly recommend, perfect scenery, perfect coffee hut, amazing walks and amazing for camping with great facilities, also very dog friendly."
Another said: "Such a beautiful place. A lovely walk along a river with enough history to make it interesting, and a hermitage I wanted to live in."
Eight minutes from the park is Murlough Beach that features 6,000-year-old sand dunes and a number of paths that navigate through the dunes, woodland and heath.
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The beach stretches four-miles in total, and features both golden sand and pebbles.
Above the beach, the mystical-looking Mourne Mountains tower.
For those who fancy a longer walk, there is a the Dundrum Coastal Path which boasts views across Dundrum Bay and to watch the coastal wildlife.
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Tollymore Forest Park also has a wooden play area
Credit: Alamy
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There are plenty of medieval-looking nooks and crannies to explore
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Eight minutes from the park is Murlough Beach that features 6,000-year-old sand dunes
Credit: Alamy
In
Newcastle
- the town that sits between Tollymore Forest Park and Murlough Beach - there are also more things to explore if you want to extend your stay.
The town is home to Coco's Children's Adventure Playground and Pleasurelands - a small theme park - ideal for kids.
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There are also a wide variety of shops, cafes and restaurants.
The town also offers a great place to stay with many different options including Enniskeen Estate - a boutique natural retreat that even
Hugh Jackman
has stayed at.
If you don't mind a short drive, Castlewellan Park is also nearby with a dramatic lake.
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The scene where Hiccup and Toothless meet is based in Tollymore Forest Park
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Other locations in Northern Ireland were used for the film as well
The forest surrounding the lake has a number of bike trails and hiking trails too.
The new How to Train Your Dragon
film features
other parts of Northern Ireland including Dunseverick Castle and Giant's Causeway.
In the film, Duneseverick Castle is used to represent the Isle of Berk - which is the fictional home of the characters.
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The castle's ruins provide a dramatic backdrop, along with the cliffs sloping into the sea.
Other notable filming locations include the Faroe Islands and studios in Ireland.
You can also
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Tollymore National Park is just an hour from Belfast
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