Filming Location
The abandoned Windmill

The abandoned Windmill, a prominent scene in Game of Thrones, holds significant meaning as it’s the place where Jon Snow was attacked by the wildlings for refusing to kill an old man. This thrilling episode was filmed in Northern Ireland, and you can find the exact filming location by referring to the map pointer in the navigation area.

“He’s a crow. He’ll always be a crow. And here’s his crow wife guarding him. He’ll stab us in the back first chance he gets.”

Orell the Warg

Where Did They Film the Abandoned Windmill Scene?

The stone base of the abandoned windmill, mixed with broken sails and wooden shacks as film props, is located in the former Conlig lead mines in Northern Ireland near Belfast. Today, the surrounding area has been transformed into Whitespots Country Park, a beautiful natural park.

You can reach the location by car in just 20 minutes from Belfast. A Museum of the First World War is located nearby, and parking is available there. A short 1-minute walk will lead you to the windmill. If you’re interested in history, you might also enjoy a visit to the Somme Museum in the vicinity.

The Scene Filmed at Conling lead mines

Ygritte is impressed by the Windmill
(Season 3, Episode 7: “The Bear and the Maiden Fair”)

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Ygritte (Rose Leslie), along with the other wildlings, are traveling south towards the Wall. Ygritte, who has spent her entire life beyond the Wall, is fascinated by things that are commonplace to those in the south. When she sees a windmill, she’s awestruck by its grandeur and even asks Jon if it’s a palace. Jon explains what it is, and their exchange provides both a moment of levity and an illustration of the cultural gap between them. The way they see the world is vastly different, and this scene emphasizes that.

Jon Snow is attacked by the wildlings
(Season 3, Episode 9, “The Climb”)

Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) loyalty is tested when the wildlings demand that he execute an old man. Jon’s hesitation and ultimate refusal reveal his lingering connection to the values and oaths of the Night’s Watch. The wildlings, seeing his hesitation as a betrayal, attack him. This is a brutal fight scene, with Jon battling against the people he had grown close to, including Ygritte (Rose Leslie), who is torn between her loyalty to the wildlings and her love for Jon. The scene ends with Jon escaping but leaving behind a heartbroken Ygritte, symbolizing a rift in their relationship that runs deeper than their cultural differences.