From Moira to Aghalee, Broad Water Trail
The Broad Water is a man made feature, built in a natural valley in order to retain a sufficient head of water to accommodate the navigation. Take a seat and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, set against the background of a thin belt of mature woodland! The Broad Water is a 3 mile towpath walk between Moira Railway Station and Aghalee and takes you along the route of the original Lagan Canal through Soldierstown. Keep an eye out for the large variety of breeding and wintering wildfowl.
A
Lisburn walk
posted on 30/01/23 by Walk NI. Last update : 14/02/23
Description
Start : Moira Railway Station, (BT67 0NE) Station Rd (B105), Moira.
(S) Begin walking from the entrance located in the car park of Moira Railway Station.
(1) Passing under the bridge that carries the railway line which was built in 1833, stop to have a look at the unusual “skew brickwork” used to add strength to the bridge and how the strain of the tow rope cut notches in the iron guard at the foot of the bridge. Further along walk around 1.5 Km and passing the car park and picnic tables at Soldierstown Car Park.
(2) Then you come to a large expanse of water, known as the Broad Water. (A)
(3) The final part of the walk will take you along Broad water. Pursue along the path until it take you into the Village of Aghalee. (Around 2.6 Km).
For those who wish to continue their journey towards Lisburn, then you can either take the train from Moira Railway Station or simply follow small country back roads, joining the towpath of the Lagan Valley Regional Park at Union Locks, Blaris Road, Lisburn. (E)
Waypoints
- S : km 0 - alt. 37 m - Moira Railway Station
- 1 : km 0.16 - alt. 37 m - Bridge
- 2 : km 1.66 - alt. 36 m - Soldierstown Car Park
- 3 : km 2.56 - alt. 39 m - Broadwater
- E : km 5.2 - alt. 31 m - Village of Aghalee
Useful Information
Start : Moira Railway Station, (BT67 0NE) Station Rd (B105), Moira.
Alternative start : In addition the route can also be accessed in Aghalee Village from Soldierstown Road.
Parking : A car park, picnic tables and link to the towpath are located at Soldierstown Car Park on the Soldierstown Road approximately midway between the villages of Moira and Aghalee.
Terrain : Flat townpath
Public Transport : Translink
Facilities : Refreshments available in Moira.
Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept under close 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) Look out for the Soldierstown Church up on your left, where the engineer responsible for the Lisburn-Lough Neagh section of the canal, Richard Owen, was buried in 1830. On reaching the top end of the main Broad Water you will see the former bank-ranger’s house however this is now privately owned.
