Divis Heath Trail - Hannahtown, Belfast
Divis Heath Trail is a four mile route that traverses blanket bog, taking in the northern end of the Divis and Black Mountain site. This is a route around the northern slopes of Divis where turf was once extracted, offering views of Slemish Mountain. It can be wet underfoot.
A
Belfast walk
posted on 07/02/23 by Walk NI. Last update : 20/02/23
Description
Start : The Long Barn Coffee Shop. (BT17 0NG)
(S/E) From The Long Barn walk North-East. Go through the access gate.
(1) Turn left (North-West) towards the 'Summit and Heath Trails' sign onto the Tipperary Road. Follow the waymarked posts for around 3 Km. When you reach the end of Tipperary Road, linking across the open hill, to the end of Standing Stone Road.
(2) Turn right (South) and follow the Standing Stone Road until it reaches the access road for the transmitter mast on Divis (around 3.4 Km). (A)
(3) Turn left (South) here and follow this access road to a junction with the main access road.
(4) Turn right (South-West) here to return to The Long Barn (around 1.4 Km). (S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 312 m - Parking Long Barn
- 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 316 m - Junction main access road
- 2 : km 3.13 - alt. 362 m - Junction (Turn left)
- 3 : km 4.44 - alt. 377 m - Standing Stone Road
- 4 : km 4.67 - alt. 360 m - Tipperary Road
- S/E : km 6.1 - alt. 312 m - Parking Long Barn
Useful Information
Start : The Long Barn Coffee Shop. (BT17 0NG)
Parking : Divis and Black Mountain Car park (BT17 0NG). Note National Trust car park pricing applies for this car park however there is an alternative free car park on Divis Rd 0.5 miles from The Long Barn Coffee Shop which can also be used by walkers, follow the trail towards the Divis transmitter masts.
Terrain : Stoned road, Heath and bog trail
Public Transport : Translink
Facilities : Divis Coffee Barn and toilets
Dog Policy : Dogs to be kept under control
Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
(A) Divis mountain : Divis is a hill and area of sprawling moorland north-west of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. With a height of 1,568 ft (478 m), it is the highest of the Belfast Hills. It is joined with the neighbouring Black Mountain, and in the past they may have been seen as one. Divis transmitting station is on the summit. The mountain extends north to the Antrim Plateau and shares its geology; consisting of a basaltic cover underlain by limestone and lias clay.
Only recently have the Divis area and its surrounding mountains been handed over to the National Trust; from 1953 to 2005, it was under the control of the Ministry of Defence. It was also used as a training area for the British Army. It might have been released earlier, but due to the period of unrest known as the Troubles, the British Government and military viewed the area as a useful vantage point, overlooking Belfast.
Source and more information about Divis here!
