Belfast to Holywood

This is a Link section therefore walkers are encouraged to make use of the good public transport links between Belfast and Holywood. However, for those who enjoy urban walking, this walking route offers a great way to view Belfast and in particular its industrial and Titanic heritage. Some roads along this route can be very busy as in any city. The route is not signposted on the ground. How to Walk the Route (Following a Clockwise Direction) For those walkers who wish to complete of full circuit of Northern Ireland then accurate maps of this Link section are available to download. When walking on road sections please observe the Highway Code and it is advised to wear high visibility clothing. If continuing your walk from the Lagan Towpath, upon reaching Central Station continue on the towpath with the river on your right, before reaching the main A20 East Bridge Street. Cross the road using the traffic lights and continue straight ahead onto Laganbank Road. After 100m, continue onto the river side path rather than bearing left onto Lanyon Place. Continue walking along the riverside path passing the Waterfront Hall on your left. Cross the A2 road using two sets of traffic lights, past ‘The Thanksgiving Statue’ or Nuala with the Hula as locals refer to this piece of modern metal sculpture, before reaching the pedestrian bridge adjacent to another piece of public art, ‘The Big Fish’. If continuing your walk from the north, you join the route here. Cross the River Lagan using the pedestrian footbridge and bear left at the end of it to follow the path along the river, this time with it on your left. You will pass the SSE Arena on your right. Continue to follow the pedestrian zone past a modern apartment block on your right, to emerge out onto Queens Road. The SS Nomadic will be on your left hand side. Continue north on Queens Road and bear left at the road junction, to complete a loop of the newly constructed Titanic Building. Retrace your steps back down Queens Road until you reach the junction with the Sydenham Road. Turn left here and follow the Sydenham Road in an easterly direction. Continue on this road for 400m, where you can turn left onto Fraser Street to access the Titanic Quarter Railway Station, here you can get the train onwards to Holywood where the North Down Coastal Path Quality Section of the Ulster Way begins. Should you wish to walk the section between the SSE Area and Holywood, continue to follow the Sydenham Road until reaching a large roundabout. Take the second exit at this roundabout onto Airport Road. Follow Airport Road for 4.8 km passing the RSPB Belfast Lough Reserve on the way. After 4.8km, turn left onto a small road to follow the waterside on your left. Continue to follow this road for 1km, passing by disused Kinnegar Army Barracks on your right. Where the road bears right onto Kinnegar Avenue, continue straight ahead along the pedestrian coastal path. Follow this path passing by Holywood Yacht Club, until reaching the Esplanade in Holywood, where the next section, the North Down Coastal Path, continues.

There are many points of interest in Belfast including many industrial and Titanic sites. Along the route you will pass the iconic Harland & Wolf cranes, Waterfront Hall, Titanic Belfast and Belfast Lough.

Translink - journeyplanner.translink.co.uk