Ballymacormick Point

This rocky outcrop along the shores of Belfast Lough, on the west side of Groomsport is covered in gorse and shrubs, good for rough walking, and for spotting birds, flowers and foxes.
Ballymacormick is just on the edge of Belfast Lough, so there are interesting views north and west.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.35 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 6 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 11 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
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Ballymacormick

Description of the walk

Start : Banks Car Park at Ballyholme Bay. (BT20 5EG) on Bank Lane.

(S/E) From Banks Car Park at Ballyholme Bay walk towards the beach.

(1) Then turn right and follow the Ballymacormick Point Track along the coast until reach Groomsport Harbor.

(2) Retrace now your steps to get back to our starting point. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Banks Car Park at Ballyholme Bay
  2. 1 : km 0.13 - alt. 5 m - Ballymacormick Point Track
  3. 2 : km 2.69 - alt. 3 m - Groomsport Harbor
  4. S/E : km 5.35 - alt. 5 m - Banks Car Park at Ballyholme Bay

Practical information

Start : Banks Car Park at Ballyholme Bay. (BT20 5EG) on Bank Lane.

Driving to the start : Ballymacormick Point can be accessed from either Groomsport Harbour or Ballyholme Bay, by following the North Down Coastal Path/Ulster Way. There are stunning views across Belfast Lough to Carrickfergus and as far as the Mull of Galloway on a clear day.

Terrain : Rocky coastal path and footpath

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : There are no shops or toilet facilities on site. There are a number of shops, cafes restaurants and toilet facilities in Groomsport.

Dog Policy : Dogs must be kept under close control

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

In the nearby area

Visitors will see plenty of birds throughout the year. The coastline supports a range of waterbirds including brent geese which come here in winter from their breeding grounds in Arctic Canada. Both shelduck and oystercatcher breed and you may even catch a glimpse of a seal hauled out on the rocks.

For more information on Ballymacormick Point, contact the National Trust on (028) 4278 7769.

Other walks in the area

Walking Orlock Point

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The Rocky outcrops of Orlock Point contain a mosaic of semi-natural habitats which support a rich diversity of plants and animals. The walk affords stunning views of the Copeland Islands and out across the Irish Sea towards Scotland. The area is steeped in archaeology and history, with evidence of Vikings, smugglers and World War II defences.

Walking Clandeboye Way - Helen's Bay to Whitespots Country Park Trail

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Clandeboye Way - Helen's Bay to Whitespots Country Park Trail
↔22.08 km ↗+297 m ↘-299 m ◔7h 10 ▲Difficult
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The Clandeboye Way is a great off road walk through a variety of landscapes with lots to see along the way. Of historical interest is Helen’s Tower and the old Leadmines at Whitespots Country Park. The path leads through old laneways, some farm tracks and woodland paths.

Walking Donaghadee - Ulster Scots

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Discover the town of Donaghadee his harbour and his points of interest. Half along the see and half in town, this Walk will delight everyone.

Walking Blackhead path and Blackhead Lighthouse

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↔5.47 km ↗+47 m ↘-46 m ◔1h 40 ▲Easy
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This seaside walk goes from Whitehead Boat Club to and around Blackhead. The path runs northeast from Whitehead and is lined by interesting wildlife habitats including grassland, woodland (known locally as the ‘Magic Forest’) and a rocky shoreline. The Lough itself is an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) famed for its bird population.

Walking Scrabo Hill - Newtownards

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↔4.11 km ↗+132 m ↘-132 m ◔1h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Ards
The walk takes in the summit of Scrabo Hill and the famous Scrabo Tower built in 1857, one of Ireland’s best known landmarks. The views over Strangford Lough and North Down are some of the finest in the country. The walk then descends to the disused sandstone quarries which provided building stone since Anglo-Norman times. The old quarries have major geological importance and have been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest.

Walking Mount Stewart - Red squirrel Trail

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↔2.39 km ↗+31 m ↘-31 m ◔0h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Ards
The trail takes in the path around the lake, formal and informal gardens including Rhododendron Hill as an alternative route.

Walking Mount Stewart - Red Trail

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Mount Stewart - Red Trail
↔2.43 km ↗+35 m ↘-26 m ◔0h 50 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Ards
Welcome to the Red Trail on the Mount Stewart estate. Mount Stewart gardens were acquired by National Trust in 1957, with the house following in 1977. The wider estate was acquired in 2014, bringing the total area to just under 1000 acres. The first areas that have been opened to visitors incorporate the Red, Blue, and Yellow Trails. The Red trail is the main circular walk, and loops through a mixture of woodland and farmland. There are a number of points of interest along the walk, including working farmland, the ruins of a folly, and water features. Red squirrels may be seen in the trees, or running along the ground to get into a tree. The best times to walk the Red Trail are early in the morning or late afternoon, especially in Autumn.

Walking Castle Espie Wildlife Wander Trail - Comber

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Castle Espie Wildlife Wander Trail - Comber
↔1.21 km ↗+3 m ↘-3 m ◔0h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Ards
Castle Espie, situated on the shores of Strangford Lough near Comber, County Down, is the newest Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) visitor centre and the Trust’s first in Ireland. Castle Espie’s main draw, though, is its magical mix of wide estuary views, tidal lagoon, eel-grass mats, woodland walks, salt marshes and reed beds; the presence of Ireland’s largest collection of native and exotic water-birds

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