Lagan Towpath

Getting to The Start

By Car

The route officially starts at Belfast Central Train Station however car access is best gained from Lockview Road, Stranmillis. The roundabout at Stranmillis College is signed for Lagan Valley Regional Park, parking is available on the left at the bottom of Lockview Road next to the boat clubs and tennis courts.

By Public Transport

Alight at Belfast Central Station or from 8A Metro bus at Stranmillis College.

For timetable information please consult Translink website http://www.translink.co.uk/present/IndexOpSvc.asp#ULB

How to Walk the Route (Following a Clockwise Direction)

From Central Station in the heart of Belfast follow the River Lagan south along its right bank. A firm surface ensures quick progress and after twenty minutes you cross the Ormeau Road at Ormeau Bridge.

Continue along Stranmillis Embankment, passing the Queen’s University Sports Centre and King's Bridge to reach an underpass at Governor’s Bridge. Go through this and then follow the bank of the river around the back of apartments onto Lockview Road. Turn left, and walk along the road for a short distance to a car park at the Queen's University Boat Club, where the Lagan Towpath begins about an hour’s walk from Central Station.

From the car park on Lockview Road, follow a tarmac footpath south through the trees. Pass a Lagan Valley information board and join the river beside a weir. The towpath leads upstream along tree-lined banks that could be a million miles from Belfast. Pass a wooden footbridge, but don't cross it, and follow the canal as it swings away from the river.

Cross the Red Bridge to reach the lock-keeper’s cottage, at McLeave's Lock, which has been restored and is open to the public at certain times. The new visitors’ centre offers information as well as a cafe and the offices of Lagan Valley Regional Park. Turn left across the canal and follow a path that swings around past a sports ground to Shaw’s Bridge, forty-five minutes from the start of the towpath. Go under the road bridge up the zig-zag ramp to cross the old Shaws Bridge over the River Lagan. Continue along the towpath past Gilchrist Bridge and on past some new apartments built on the site of an old water-powered linen mill. Gilchrist Bridge can be used to cross the Lagan if you want to make the detour to the Giant's Ring.

The river branches off at Eel Weir but the towpath continues straight ahead, following the wooded banks of the canal as it curves around Malone Golf Course. Pass under Drum Bridge then cross a metal footbridge to the opposite bank. Continue along the river with the grounds of Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park on the opposite bank, and then follow the path as it swings away from the canal and passes through a pedestrian tunnel beneath the M1 motorway, just over an hour from Shaw's Bridge.

Rejoin the canal and continue past the Rambler's Bridge, staying on the left bank of the canal to Ballyskeagh Bridge, a red stone structure that reaches high above the water. Keep on the left bank, crossing a road and passing a large warehouse. Pass the buildings of the Barbour Threads (Hilden) Mill as you approach Lisburn and keep on the left bank past Blue Bridge. Pass under a sculpted metal gateway and continue on past the impressive Lisburn Civic Centre situated on an island between the river and canal. Continue along the bank of the canal for another couple of hundred metres to the end of this Ulster Way section at Union Bridge, an hour and fifteen minutes from the M1 underpass.

Facilities Along the Route

There is plenty of accommodation available at the start of this Quality Section in Belfast with a handful of Bed and Breakfasts in Lisburn.

Refreshments are available along the route at Cutters Wharf in Stranmillis, Lockeepers Cottage and the Ramada Hotel near Newforge, Malone House just off the route at Shaw's Bridge, Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.

Linking to the Next Section

The next section is LInk Section - Lisburn to Holywood which leads to the next Quality Section - North Down Coastal Path beginning in Holywood.

This is a Link section therefore walkers are actively encouraged to make use of the excellent public transport links between Lisburn and Holywood.

Some of the rural and suburban roads along this route can be very busy and the route is not signposted on the ground.

See Link Section - Lisburn to Holywood for public transport information and walking directions.