Clandeboye Way – Helen’s Bay to Whitespots Country Park
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.
Please note – this walk involves crossing the main Bangor to Belfast dual carriageway.
County Down
Distance 6.5 miles
OS Map Sheet 15
Terrain Laneways, tracks, woodland paths
Nearest Town Helens Bay near Crawfordsburn
Route Shape Linear
Grid Reference J458828
Route Type Woodland
The walk starts from Helen’s Bay Railway Station. Take the underpass beneath the railway line to Clandeboye Avenue. Turn left onto this old laneway. Keep walking until you come across a gate leading onto a metalled path.
Continue along this for approximately a mile until passing under another bridge at Ballyrobert Road. After this bridge you will reach the main Belfast to Bangor dual carriageway.
Cross the dual carriage way and turn left, walk for a few metres and look for a small path on your right – this leads back onto Clandebye Avenue.
After approximately 1 mile the path leaves the Avenue and continues along a farm lane to Ballysallagh Road.
From here the path circles round Blackwood Golf Course eventually exiting on the Crawfordsburn Road near Ballyleidy Sawmill.
Turn right and cross the road. At the corner re enter Clandeboye Estate to your left at the back of the Sawmill. This leads uphill to Helen’s Tower for scenic views of the Co Down landscape on a good day.
From here the walk continues for another 10-15 minutes to an old metal stile. This leads into Whitespots Country Park. Continuing through the park past the leadmines will eventually lead to the Somme Heritage Centre and a large car park. This is the end of the walk.
From here either retrace you steps back to Helen’s Bay or catch a bus on the main Bangor to Newtownards Road.
Clandeboye Estate, Helens Tower, Leadmines
The walk starts from the car park at Helen’s Bay Railway Station. Take the underpass beneath the railway line to start in Clandeboye Avenue.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Dogs must be kept under close control
There is a car park at the start and finish although parking is limited at the railway station in Helens Bay. Toilets and refreshements can only be found at the start and finish of the walk in Helen’s Bay and in the Somme Heritage Centre (beside Whitespots Country Park). The Somme Centre has limited opening hours so it is worth phoning beforehand – 028 9182 3202. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Disabled toilets – At Helen’s Bay Car Park – Disabled parking.
Grade 5
- There may not be a formalised path, and variable, single file trails are to be expected.
- Gradients and cross slope could be expected to be steep and not limited.
- Obstacles and surface breaks of greater than 75mm measured across the line of the path to be expected.
- Overhanging branches are possible. Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
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Walk Route
Clandeboye Way – Helen’s Bay to Whitespots Country Park
I loved the walk. I got lost from Helens tower to the car park but a golfer gave me the right indication to get to the car park.
Have just completed this walk beginning at Helens Bay Railway Station but we were surprised to find virtually no way markers. Otherwise lovely walk.. Rating 4 stars due to lack of signage. We relied on the kind golfers to point us in the right direction.
Have walked this path a few times with my dog. He really enjoys the different woodlands. For the novice it not really that well signposted but mountain bikers have marked it with ‘blue’ markings and this is helpful. Do watch crossing the roads