Return to the Dark Hedges, April 2024

Antrim’s Dark Hedges are famous for mature beech trees but each year sees several fewer making the iconic road feel less like an avenue.

After scheduled maintenance saw six trees of the famous Dark Hedges removed in late 2023, Storm Isha in January 2024 brought down another three of the beeches.

Large gaps have appeared now in sections of the avenue, and whilst new trees have been planted it seems that the Dark Hedges will disappear for the best part of a century until the replacement beech trees have matured.

Here, images from April 2024 on a wet and windy day on Ireland’s most photographed road.

Join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph on Ireland’s Antrim Coast or Wicklow.