54.596423 -5.929466

Description

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.

A popular choice among bird-watchers, dog walkers, photographers and nature-lovers, the forest covers an area of almost 200 acres and has way-marked routes providing a variety of different walks to suit everyone. With the redevelopment of Hillsborough Forest underway and the first phase complete, visitors can now enjoy upgraded pathways throughout, stunning lakeside viewpoints with seating, additional picnic benches, extra car-parking facilities, and a state-of-the-art woodland-themed outdoor children's play area.

The whole of the lake area is a forest wildlife sanctuary and is home to a wide variety of birds and animals. Look out for the many species of resident and over-wintering waterfowl, especially swans and several varieties of duck. Two red graded forest trails allow the casual walker access around the lake and to the back of the forest past the Fox Fort rath.

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. The Vintage Tea Rooms are ideal for coffee and cake, The Hillside is perfect for a pint by the open fire, and Hara is sure to impress with a delicious lunch or dinner of locally sourced produce.
  • Park Street
  • Hillsborough
  • Belfast
  • Antrim
  • BT26 6DP

You might also like

  • Titanic Belfast
    Titanic Belfast
    Attractions

    Titanic Belfast

    2.72 KM

    Titanic Belfast is the world's largest Titanic visitor experience and a must-see on any visit to Belfast and…

    Find Out More
  • Irish FA Tours
    Irish FA Tours
    Attractions

    Irish FA Tours

    3.25 KM

    Irish FA Tours tells the unique story of Northern Ireland football from 1880 to present day using a…

    Find Out More
  • Lagan Valley Regional Park
    Lagan Valley Regional Park
    Attractions

    Lagan Valley Regional Park

    5.52 KM

    Between Stranmillis, Belfast and Union Locks, Lisburn, Lagan Valley Regional Park covers 4,500 acres of countryside and 11…

    Find Out More
  • Titanic Public Art: The Kit
    Titanic Public Art: The Kit
    Attractions

    Titanic Public Art: The Kit

    2.03 KM

    A giant modelling kit - using scale replicas of Titanic’s component parts - recreates the legendary liner beside…

    Find Out More
  • Bangor Castle Walled Garden
    Bangor Castle Walled Garden
    Attractions

    Bangor Castle Walled Garden

    27.17 KM

    Bangor Castle Victorian Walled Garden, located in the tranquil grounds of Castle Park, is popular with visitors of…

    Find Out More
  • Ormeau Park
    Ormeau Park
    Attractions

    Ormeau Park

    1.39 KM

    Ormeau Park is the oldest municipal park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, having been officially opened to the public…

    Find Out More
  • Titanic Memorial Garden
    Titanic Memorial Garden
    Attractions

    Titanic Memorial Garden

    0.05 KM

    The Titanic Memorial Garden commemorates the 1,512 people who perished on RMS Titanic in 1912.

    Find Out More
  • Whiskey Experiences in Belfast
    Whiskey Experiences in Belfast
    Attractions

    Whiskey Experiences in Belfast

    0.19 KM

    From tours to tastings, take a look at some of the best Irish whiskey experiences available in Belfast.

    Find Out More
Ask Us
Ask Us

We're here to help, so if you can't find the info you're after, or you just want to ask a really odd question, then we're here for you.

Ask A Question

Ask a Question

"*" indicates required fields

Start
Choose a date
End
Choose a date
Back To Top
In order to display distances relevant to you, we'd like to be able to use your GPS location. Privacy Policy
In order to display distances relevant to your current position, we'd need to be able to use your GPS location. To find out more about how we use your location, please read our Privacy Policy
You have previously denied access to your GPS location. In order to allow access to your location, you need to update your site settings through your browser settings to allow this site access to your location.

To find out more about how we use your location, please read our Privacy Policy
Your settings have been updated. They will take effect next time you refresh the page.
By default, all distances on the site are calculated from Belfast City Centre. You can choose a different starting point here, or specify your own.

If you select a location more than 15km from the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, your location will be set to Belfast City Centre.

Open 'Ask a Question' window Close 'Ask a Question' window

Ask a Question

X

"*" indicates required fields

Hide this tool

Open 'Sign up for Newsletter' window Close 'Sign up for Newsletter' window

Visit Belfast Newsletter

X

Sign up to the Visit Belfast newsletter and receive inspiring ideas, events and offers which showcase the best of Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Sign-Up

Hide this tool