Autumn Walks in Belfast

Stormont Estate is a woodland park open to the public and has beautiful gardens, walking and fitness trails and a children’s play park. The Estate has been recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s best green spaces with the prestigious Green Flag award. There are three woodland interactive trails within the public area that seek to connect visitors, including families and young people, with the rich biodiversity of the Stormont woodlands.

Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in south Belfast is one of the city’s most popular parks. Covering more than 128 acres, the park is made up of rolling meadows, copses, woodland and gardens. Discover international camellia trials, a walled garden, a Japanese-style garden with water features for quiet contemplation, children’s playground and orienteering and eco trails.

Travelling from Black Mountain on to Divis, walkers are rewarded with spectacular views of Belfast Lough, the Ards Peninsula, the Isle of Man, Scotland, the Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Mountains on the one side, and on the other the Sperrins, Antrim Plateau and Lough Neagh. The hills are a combination grassland and heathland bog, and are home to a host of wildlife and archaeological remains.

Barnett Demesne opened to the public in 1951. Today, the park, in south Belfast, retains much of the character of the original estate. Barnett Demesne is named after William Barnett, the last owner of Malone House, which is a popular spot for walkers and joggers due to its proximity to the River Lagan, Shaw’s Bridge and nearby Clement Wilson Park.

Botanic Gardens is a public garden in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Occupying 28 acres of south Belfast, the gardens are popular with office workers, students and tourists. They are located on Stranmillis Road in Queen’s Quarter, with Queen’s University nearby. The Ulster Museum is located at the main entrance.

Victoria Park is open 24 hours, seven days a week. The park has a lake which is home to water birds such as swans, geese, ducks, herons and migrant waders. There are two walking trails around the lake.

The Belfast Castle estate contains landscaped gardens and mature mixed woodland and offers superb views of the city from a variety of vantage points. It is home to many different species of wildlife, including long-eared owls, sparrowhawks and Belfast’s rarest plant; the town hall clock.

Antrim Castle Gardens is an historical gem, with nothing like these 400 year old gardens anywhere else in Northern Ireland. The gardens are a complex living museum containing over four centuries of culture and heritage. Within the heart of the 60 acre gardens is a unique visitor experience, Clotworthy House.

Put on your walking boots and choose from four colour-coded routes, from a gentle stroll to a more challenging hike, there is something for everyone! Why not step into the glorious world of the Gruffalo. Enter the deep, dark wood, meet the clever little mouse, the fox, the owl, the snake, before stumbling upon those knobbly knees and turned out toes and that poisonous wart on the end of his nose: The Gruffalo!

Located in Newtownabbey on the shores of Belfast Lough, enjoy panoramic views from Belfast to Bangor. The park has an excellent modern play area for children aged 3 to 12 and energetic adults will enjoy the outdoor gym. After a walk or cycle along the excellent path that goes between the site and Belfast, you can enjoy a picnic with panoramic views of Belfast Lough.

In the hilly hinterland of Holywood, this forest offers walks on well marked paths through a mixture of mature conifers and young trees. This area is a prime location for rambling and orienteering, with well marked trails within the wood. The wood offers a choice of 3 walks from the car park through the mixed woodland. A popular site for local dog walkers.

Millisle Beach Park is a rural beach off the Ballywalter Road on the Ards Peninsula. The park provides a small sandy beach, play and picnic facilities, a jetty and two slip ways. Car parking and public toilets are provided and there is also disabled access.

Moira Demesne is a popular landmark situated off Main Street, providing a quiet escape from the busy village with beautiful walks and a children’s play area. After a walk, enjoy a bite to eat in the pubs and cafés or visit artisan boutiques in Moira village.

Between Stranmillis in Belfast and Union Locks in Lisburn, Lagan Valley Regional Park covers 4,500 acres of countryside and 11 miles of riverbank. The Regional Park is a mosaic of countryside, urban parks, heritage sites, nature reserves and riverside trails. Take the towpath by River Lagan offering miles of level walking in tranquil, attractive surroundings.

Hillsborough Forest is set in the picturesque Georgian village of Hillsborough and sits just a few minutes’ walk from Hillsborough Castle, adjacent to Hillsborough Fort. The whole of the lake area is a forest wildlife sanctuary and is home to a wide variety of birds and animals. After your walk, enjoy some well-earned refreshments at Percy’s Coffee in the carpark or in one of Hillsborough’s excellent cafes, restaurants or pubs.

A perfect park in the centre of Bangor and an ideal spot to enjoy the local wildlife and feed the ducks. It also has a chain of small lakes providing wildfowl sanctuary with many interesting specimens and dry pens containing a large variety of exotic birds.A public air raid shelter still stands in Ward Park, a reminder of one of the raids on the town.

Redburn Country Park is set on a beautiful escarpment above Belfast Lough. There are 7km of pathways with spectacular views of Belfast and the south Antrim hills. A variety of walks are available in Redburn. All walks start from the main car park.

Once the site of Lisburn Castle, the gardens were gifted in 1903 to Lisburn for use as a public park.The top part of the gardens dates from late Victorian times and contains several important scheduled historic monuments, including the 1677 red sandstone gateway and the Wallace drinking fountain.