Lagan Meadows
This route explores a beautiful Local Nature Reserve in the Lagan Valley with varied wildlife habitats. A rare chance to see cows grazing within a few miles of the city centre.
County Antrim
Distance 2.2 miles
OS Map Sheet 15 + Belfast Street Finder
Terrain Surfaced and unsurfaced paths
Nearest Town Stranmillis, Belfast
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J333705
Route Type Parkland & Grassland, Riverside
Enter this Local Nature Reserve via the kissing gate at Knightsbridge Park and follow the path to your right. After a short distance you will find a path to the left leading to Lester’s dam and pond. Retrace your steps to the main path, and continue along for a good distance through wooded areas and past meadows until you come to a steep set of steps.
These lead down to the Lagan towpath. Turn left along the towpath for a short distance, then take the bridge on your right over the former canal and cross the stile. Keeping the River Lagan on your right, follow the grass path that leads round Moreland’s Meadow. At the far end of the meadow, you will cross another stile and then a small bridge.
From here turn right on to a narrow path that leads to a footbridge and back over the canal onto the towpath. Turn right and follow the river as it winds its way downstream. Pass by the first kissing gate on your left (taking this gate is a shortcut via Lester’s Dam to the starting point). Continue along the towpath taking the next path on your left.
Follow this path to the end, pass through another kissing gate and take the path to your left. This path leads around the edge of the meadows and back to the car park.
Lesters Dam, woodland, Morelands Meadow
Entrance at Knightsbridge Park, accessed off Stranmillis Road at Richmond Park, and off the Malone Road at Bladon Drive.
Metro Services 8 (A-C) to Malone Rd, get off at Bladon Drive and walk 0.4 mile (0.7 km) to Knightsbridge Park.
None on site.
Facilities available locally on Stranmillis Road.
Grade 4
- The path may not be hard and firm in all weathers with loose stones (not bigger than 10cm) with occasional tree roots and pot holes and will be at least 80cm wide for its entire length.
- The path gradients and cross slopes will be greater than 6°.
- Obstacles such as steps or stiles are to be expected and surface breaks may be larger 75mm in width.
- There will be a clear head height of greater than 2.10m for the entire length of the route.
- Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
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Walk Route
Lagan Meadows
My husband and I took our puppy there today and all three of us loved it. There are so many different paths to take and if you let your husband guide you, there are tonnes more that aren’t even on the map. I would recommend good walking shoes, ones that you wouldn’t mind getting covered in mud. We will definitely be going back as four hours was not enough.