The release of the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has brought renewed attention to several Northern Ireland locations featured in the film, with Tollymore Forest Park among them.
Located approximately one hour from Belfast Airport, Tollymore is showcased in one of the film’s key scenes—the first meeting between central characters Hiccup and Toothless.
This location, with its towering trees and dramatic natural landscape, has long been a popular destination for outdoor recreation and filming.
The park’s arboretum, believed to be one of the oldest in Ireland, dates back to 1752 and includes species such as giant redwoods and Monterey pines. Its historical and botanical significance adds to its appeal, offering an immersive experience for visitors interested in both nature and heritage.
Foley’s Bridge, one of 16 bridges in the park and also featured in the film, adds a distinctive visual element to the forest’s cinematic charm.
The bridge has appeared in previous productions, including Game of Thrones, and is noted for its photogenic appearance, especially in autumn when the forest transforms into a palette of rich, earthy tones.
In addition to its role in film tourism, Tollymore Forest Park offers facilities that cater to outdoor hospitality interests. These include a family-friendly wooden play area, known as the Big Deer play area, designed for children aged 4 to 11.
According to the Irish Sun, the site includes play structures such as a timber Fallow Deer, castle turret, and folly tower. The park also operates a grassy campsite with 71 pitches, available from £27 per night, providing basic accommodations for visitors seeking a nature-based stay.
Tollymore maintains a strong online reputation, with nearly 5,000 Google reviews and an average rating of 4.8 stars.
One reviewer noted: “10/10 would highly recommend, perfect scenery, perfect coffee hut, amazing walks, and amazing for camping with great facilities, also very dog friendly.”
Another shared: “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.”
The area surrounding the park offers further opportunities for outdoor activity and hospitality development.
Murlough Beach, just eight minutes away, features a network of walking paths across 6,000-year-old sand dunes and stretches of beach with views of the Mourne Mountains. The Dundrum Coastal Path provides extended hiking options with views over Dundrum Bay.
Nearby Newcastle, a town situated between Tollymore and Murlough Beach, serves as a base for extended stays.
It offers attractions including Coco’s Children’s Adventure Playground and Pleasurelands, as well as a selection of restaurants, shops, and accommodation options like Enniskeen Estate, a boutique retreat that has hosted guests such as actor Hugh Jackman.
Castlewellan Forest Park, another nearby attraction, features a large lake and a variety of hiking and biking trails.
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon also features other Northern Ireland locations, including Dunseverick Castle and the Giant’s Causeway.
As the film draws global attention, tourism operators and accommodation providers in the region may see increased interest from travelers seeking to explore the real-world settings behind the story.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality industry, this trend highlights the value of integrating film-related tourism into strategic planning, particularly in destinations with recognizable or cinematic appeal.