The Dark Hedges in Armoy, Co. Antrim. Close to Gracehill Golf Club. This road has been one of the places i definitely wanted to get back to after a vist back in early 2012.

This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their home, Gracehill House. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become known as the Dark Hedges.

The Dark Hedges is one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland and a popular attraction for tourists from across the world. It has been painted by hundreds of visiting artists and is a favourite location for wedding photographs.

These trees are now protected by a Tree Preservation Order issued by the Northern Ireland Planning Service. The Dark Hedges Preservation Trust was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £43,000 in 2011 to ensure the uniqueness of these trees is preserved and perpetuated for many decades to come.