Grey Lady of the Dark Hedges | Irish Folklore

The Dark Hedges in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, are quite the tourist hotspot during the day. But at night, something quite sinister is said to walk the Bregagh Road, through the trees and disappear at Gracehill House. This is the story of the Grey Lady.
The Dark Hedges featured in popular show Game of Thrones as the King's Road, and today is one of the most photographed locations in Northern Ireland.
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Filmed in Antrim, September 2023.
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Music composed by Albert Schofield.
The Jolly Reiver is my project aiming to preserve and promote the forgotten folklore and history of rural Britain and Ireland. Primarily focusing on folklore and legends, you’ll not find me trying to deconstruct these old stories or trying to rationalise them with science and psychology. Instead I will present them as they were always told by our forebears, and leave the conclusions up to you. Videos are filmed on location to show you exactly where these stories took place.

[@GravesRWFiA]

My guess for 'cross peggy' is maybe she wasn't cross eyed but had a foul disposition. an old term for a woman with a bad disposition was 'crosspatch' usually but not always referring to an old woman. so if she was a nasty person it might explain why she couldn't get a suitor and as she aged the temper became worse until locally she was their 'crosspatch, cross-meg.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thanks for sharing with everyone. Something I didn’t know!

[@sirisaac8484]

Someone being "Cross" is also another term for someone being in a bad mood or angry over something. Wonder if that came from the term "Crosspatch"?

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

My guess also. At the time, saying someone was "cross" or someone was "cross with me" means angry or got angry at

[@tufty7663]

Peggs used to be a old term for Teeth.

[@mjrchapin]

She may well have had reasons for being 'cross' that we don't know. Nobody just decides for no reason to become irritable, annoyed, etc all the time.

[@QueenB33-s3b]

There's lots of grey ladies over Britain. I guess it's the rich history and so much having happened over the millennia.

[@TheJollyReiver]

Yes always loved these kind of stories!

[@GG-jw8pt]

Or the weather? 🌧🌨🌩🌦🌧🌧⚡️❄️❄️⚡️🌬🌫🌪🌦😂

[@enawhiteraven]

It looks like a gorgeous place. I vote to start planting trees to replace the lost ones and do as much as possible to preserve the originals. This way, there will always be a Dark Hedges. "Cross" more than likely refers to her temperament, not her physical appearance - unless she had a rather severe-looking face. That's what it sounds like to me.

[@bladeofgods99]

I wanted to see this place during my stay in Northern Ireland.... Sadly, schedule was too packed and it stormed heavily the day I wanted to go there. Plus, I had to drive down to Dublin the same day. I will try again in the near future.

[@jonathanfrank1189]

Great hearing the old tale again Still rooting for you sir!

[@TheJollyReiver]

Thank you! :-)

[@theramblingseanchai]

Congratulations on another great video!! You captured the spooky atmosphere of the dark hedges so well, I'm really loving this series of Irish stories that you're doing

[@cornwallparanormalresearch2378]

Thumbs up Big like 👍 👌

[@clarethackeray1225]

Love the channel ( aswell as history 😂)

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad to hear it!

[@pmajudge]

WOW ! ASTONISHED THAT "MIST" YEEKS !!! 😱😱😱😱!! THANKS FOR THIS STORY ! FROM, U.K. (2023).

[@Jen999]

Best parts of these videos are the exquisite scenery.. the intriguing stories .. and your beautiful voice .. That melodic and beautiful voice of yours is why I watch .. and listen .. to these videos .. could listen to you forever⚘ Btw.. those trees are awesome .. terribly sad they cannot be protected in some way .. Feel so sorry for the Grey Lady .. her story is heartbreaking .. actually brought me to tears, it did😭💔 Thank you for posting these ⚘ Jen999💙

[@ladoboyo5452]

What a wonderful tale to get me in the mood for Halloween. Is it just me or are tales of female spirits more affecting than those about male entities? Another excellent video Reiver. Loved it.

[@lizscutt7899]

How fab a Sunday morning drinking coffee listening to one of my KZbin favourite narrators thank you Reiver ❤❤

[@connorricketts1323]

been looking for to a good story thank you love folklore and mythology and the folklore story's you find are the best I look forward to everyone one if them love your channel looking for to more great stories

[@TheJollyReiver]

Got a big one coming this Halloween fella

[@connorricketts1323]

​@@TheJollyReivercan't wait love for it looking forward to it love your channel and love folklore and mythology and folklore stories love the stories you find us the best channel can't wait for more

[@ElizabethH575]

Perfect leading up to Samhain. Thank you!

[@jamesbart86]

Dear Jolly Reiver, That is such a lovely pathway leading up to the house. Although at night time, it could very easily make me hurry up to get indoors asap! Thanks for a great video! Sincerely, J. S. B.

[@TheBoldDeciever]

thanks

[@lovelyskull3483]

Thank you for this magical story. The road is beautiful and solitary.

[@RedcoatsReturn]

A wonderful story for Halloween indeed 😊🎃😉

[@SallyBowles5050]

Very enjoyable. 👍🏻

[@ouyab]

In my hometown of Madisonville, we have a similar woman who we call the Silk Lady. There are many different versions of the story but the one I was raised with is that her lover died in the wars, and she died cursing him for leaving her and their stillborn child. She is said to wait in the hanging moss to grab children and young men as revenge.

[@leonaheraty3760]

Very spooky. 😊

[@shellyfunk]

I live not too far from here it's both beautiful and really errie. Didn't know the story behind it so thank you

[@TheJollyReiver]

My pleasure :-)

[@clarethackeray1225]

Interesting channel

[@roberthoare4392]

Thank you for this interesting story and what a beautiful road.

[@smartman123]

I notice England Scotland and Ireland all rolling hills not so much forest love classy elegant horror stories love this houses very cozy

[@AScottishOdyssey]

I watched the investigation that Amy's Crypt filmed there. It's a really interesting story.

[@cannett8966]

💚💚💚🍀🍀🍀

[@beebeelicious]

Whoever makes ghost rules up is really harsh. Firstly you have a miserable life, then youre forced to repeat it.

[@ghostcasebook1266]

I absolutely love this video. Beautiful scenery and really fascinating stories 🙂

[@mrmeowmeow710]

You are 1 hell of a master story teller 2 mega thumbs up most respectfully yours

[@Spaghettiest]

love this channel

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad to hear it!

[@adoxartist1258]

Definitely adding this to my bucket list. My grandmother came from County Antrim. Thank you for showing us this treasure! Love, from Mississippi.

[@TheJollyReiver]

my pleasure!

[@mysticallymerry5523]

Love those trees! Thanks for the vid.😊👍🏻

[@frankb821]

Lucky to visit the Dark Hedges in August 2016, and sadly it was completely overrun with tourists. We expected a lonely, solitary road, and were extremely surprised by the hordes...of course, we never watched Games of Thrones, so had no idea. I did, however, snap a pic of the Grace Hill House, but at the time I didn't know the history...thx for this video to give it significance for me

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you enjoyed! yes I had to get there for 6am to beat the crowds!

[@smartman123]

great classy horror stories

[@michellepybus8108]

Look forward to your videos , thankyou 😊

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad to hear it!

[@georgeohwell7988]

I live but a few miles from the Dark Hedges, know the tale well....😉

[@TheJollyReiver]

Lovely place, I stayed in Dervock which was nice!

[@georgeohwell7988]

@@TheJollyReiver I live in Coleraine, I hope the weather was kind when you where here , made me smile that video..😊

[@TedBear1954]

As the trees die - why not replace them so that the effect and story last for many more years

[@windhamearl4544]

Thanks for another great video! Are the any plans to replant the beeches? Maybe her nickname was cross Peggy because she was an angry woman?

[@TheJollyReiver]

I’m not too sure, maybe they will once the number really drops lower

[@BonnieCassler-dx6sd]

Those trees are creepy,even in daylight,but it's sad to think of them dying out,and being no more. I've often wondered when reading,or listening to ghost stories,where do they go,when their habitat is destroyed? Do they just stay in the atmosphere?

[@travellingwitch]

That photo looks very superimposed…. I did have the wierdest experience here though. I parked my car at one end, not sure if it was the house end or not but I walked down the road. The people I met at the other end were really strange when they saw me. Asking me if I was real or if I had a way of getting back to town safely because I seemed to come out of nowhere.

[@nazlsenay7312]

...😊

[@IrishPride7]

Didn't a few trees get knocked down few years ago from a huge storm?

[@sirisaac8484]

I remember that when a bunch of the Dark Hedges blew over they were turned into Pub Doors based on Game of Thrones since they appeared in the show. Shame the show went to crud, kinda wish they had done them as Local folklore or Irish Myths instead, would've been more timeless. But I assume it was probably with the hope of capitalizing on the popularity of the show for tourism.

[@richardmoss3547]

Anyone know why the house is asymmetrical? It creeps me out

[@jaapvander3787]

those trees are creepy. they look like tormented bodies, pulled apart on the wheel.

[@timelordvictorious]

went there on holiday last summer gone. the guide just talked about the game of thrones stuff thou not the ghost.

[@edwardbirdsall6580]

Anyone ever consider re-planting the missing trees?

[@pim1234]

Why are the trees dying ?

[@christosvoskresye]

Why do they not plant new trees to replace those that have fallen?

[@TheJollyReiver]

Couldn’t tell you I’m afraid!

[@christosvoskresye]

@@TheJollyReiver Is this the sort of thing that English Heritage would forbid?

[@jamesduly2184]

@@christosvoskresye The writ of English Heritage doesn't run here in Northern Ireland. It would be one of our local bodies either the Northern Ireland Executive or the local council.

[@christosvoskresye]

@@jamesduly2184 Good point -- I was not paying close attention to the location. The main question remains, though: Would the authorities try to "preserve" it by replacing trees or by not replacing trees?

[@ShaunUnderwoodx]

I absolutely love your channel.. I have a question though why would you think instantly that . Because she Margaret had the name crossed Peggi.. we all instantly assume an infliction of crossed eyes.. I think if you you all had suffered the way this woman and family had I think it's more to do with the fact that she's angry.. when someone cross with the world.. the way to speak was far different to in this day and age . So that's what I presume it means not the fact that she is. Like One eye has gone to shop and the other has come back with the already. Sorry I just. Forgive . But yeah I think that's to do with her lifestyle and cross and angry at the world and so rightly so

[@TheJollyReiver]

Glad you enjoy! Yes I did consider that, I guess we’ll just never know!

[@desiree6256]

Cant the trees be replanted? 😕

[@aariley2]

They should replant them. But yes very creepy and sad looking

[@owenshale8719]

Here is a idea change the cars money for giving down the road

[@DenkyManner]

Ghosts don't exist so I'm going to say that on balance the photograph is unlikely to be the grey lady