5 Amazing ‘Star Wars’ Locations In The UK And Ireland You'll Want To Visit
If you enjoy Star Wars and travel, there are certain places in the UK and Ireland that you should visit. While the visuals on screen are stunning, getting the chance to immerse oneself in the culture and breathtaking views is something many people wish for. If you ever decide to go, there will be plenty of locations to explore for their attractiveness. This list could continue indefinitely, but I'll show you five of my personal favorites:
The Skellig Islands, County Kerry
Image Source: Voyage Comics
The Skellig Islands (Irish: Na Scealaga) are two small, steep, and rocky islands 16 kilometers west of Bolus Head on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. They are notable for their abundant gannet and puffin colonies and an early Christian monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Little Skellig (Sceilig Bheag in Irish) is a smaller island. It is inaccessible to the general public and home to Ireland's most prominent and world's second-largest Northern Gannet colony, with almost 30,000 pairs. It is located about 1.5 kilometers east of Great Skellig.
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The islands are seen only briefly at the end of The Force Awakens, but they will be featured prominently in The Last Jedi. The Skellig Michael, located 7 miles from the coast of County Kerry in Ireland and regarded as one of the most spectacular natural wonders on Earth, served as the backdrop for Luke Skywalker's island home of Ahch-To in The Force Awakens and Rey's training ground in The Last Jedi.
Image Source: Star Wars News Net
Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry
Image Source: Ireland.com
The Dingle Peninsula is widely recognized as Ireland's most prominent landmark. It is surrounded by sandy beaches and rocky cliffs on the southwest Atlantic coast of Ireland. Rolling hills and mountains farther inland include Mount Brandon, which rises to 952 meters. The area has been designated an official stronghold of Irish culture and language. On mainland Ireland's easternmost point, Dunmore Head offers views of the Blasket Islands, where Irish-language memoirs from the 1800s and 1900s document rural life in the region.
Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal
Image Source: Ireland.com
Inishowen is a tiny stretch of land in Ireland's County Donega where. the country's northernmost point of Malin Head is located. Inishowen is the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland, extending out into the Atlantic Ocean. Its wild landscape was formed by the Ice Age and carved by the crashing waves' endless pounding and featured rocky green hills with dramatic beach rocks and tumbledown thatched cottages on remote headlands. Not only does the landscape impresses by day, but the skies above Inishowen can be everything from granite-toned to cloud-dotted blue. If you’re lucky and the timing is right, you will catch the night skies swirling with the Northern Lights.
Image Source: Nerdist
Loop Head, County Clare
Image Source: Loop Head Walking Tours
The stunning precipices of Loop Head in County Clare piqued the interest of those secretive Star Wars location scouts, who informed the local tourism board that a movie called Star Bears would be filming in the region. Guided walks and cycling trips around the area are available for tourists. If you'd rather explore on your own, follow signposts and an audio guide along the Loop Head Heritage Trail to get a taste of it before you leave. Take a look at Ireland's famous Loop Head Lighthouse and other fantastic sights while visiting this beautiful part of the coast.
Image Source: Turtler
Puzzlewood, Gloucestershire
Image Source: movie-locations.com
Another location used in The Force Awakens was Puzzlewood, located in the Forest of Dean. On the planet of Takodana, after the First Order attacks Maz Kanata's castle, Rey and BB-8 are fleeing through the mystical forest of Puzzlewood before meeting Kylo Ren for the first time. It is easy to see why the Forest of Dean's self-described 'magical woodland' was used in The Force Awakens. The ancient woodlands were also seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. They are also thought to be the inspiration for Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings.
Image Source: movie-locations.com
These are just a few of my personal favorites. There are many more to choose from, and they are all sure to delight Star Wars fans. Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to witness a film being made while you're there! The areas around and in the vicinity offer magnificent views and will undoubtedly be seen in many future films!
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Source(s): Rated Trips