Into the Badlands - Wicklow Locations
The post-apocalyptic martial arts series, "Into the Badlands," filmed its second and third seasons in Ireland.
The Wicklow Mountains provided a dramatic and versatile backdrop for Into the Badlands, standing in for a wide range of landscapes in the fictional post apocalyptic world of the series. Wicklow’s mix of grand estates, deep valleys, wooded parkland, and stark upland scenery allowed production crews to recreate everything from fortified settlements to isolated wilderness locations, all within a short distance of Dublin.
Several of the most recognisable filming locations are found around the Powerscourt Estate. The formal entrance gates, long tree lined avenues, and the imposing façade of Powerscourt House were used to create locations associated with power, control, and authority within the Badlands. The estate’s scale and symmetry made it particularly well suited to wide establishing shots and choreographed action sequences.
Nearby, Powerscourt Waterfall offered a very different visual atmosphere. Set deep in a wooded glen at the edge of the Wicklow Mountains, the waterfall and surrounding forest were used to convey remoteness and danger. This area highlights how Wicklow can shift quickly from manicured landscapes to rugged natural terrain, a contrast frequently exploited by the production.
Lough Tay, often referred to as the Guinness Lake, is one of Wicklow’s most striking natural locations. Its dark waters, steep surrounding slopes, and isolated setting made it an ideal stand in for some of the series’ bleakest and most atmospheric scenes. Filming here took advantage of natural light, weather, and the ever changing mountain conditions to enhance the visual tone of the show.
Killruddery House and its surrounding demesne also featured as a filming location. One of Ireland’s oldest continuously inhabited houses, Killruddery offered historic buildings, formal gardens, and wooded grounds that could be adapted to a variety of fictional settings. Its proximity to the coast and the Wicklow foothills made it particularly convenient for location filming.
Today, these locations can all be visited as part of a Wicklow day tour. While the series itself is firmly rooted in fiction, the landscapes are very real and remain some of the most impressive scenery in eastern Ireland. For visitors with an interest in film and television, these sites offer a chance to explore Wicklow from a different perspective, combining natural beauty with behind the scenes connections to a major international production.
Into the Badlands images courtesy of Atlasofwonders.com