Victoria Park
This historic park is surrounded by modern infrastructure but remains an oasis for wildlife and is part of the Connswater Community Greenway – a 9km linear park through East Belfast following the course of the Connswater, Knock and Loop Rivers, connecting open and green spaces.
County Down
Distance 2.4 miles
OS Map Sheet 15 + Belfast Street Finder
Terrain Mainly flat surfaced paths
Nearest Town Holywood Arches, Belfast
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J366750
Route Type Parkland & Grassland
There are two possible circuits of the park, an inner and outer loop around the lake.
The outer loop path begins at the car park alongside the lake. As you face the lake, follow the path to the right.
Continue along the path past the bowling green, a small rose garden, the children’s playground and a BMX track. Follow this path round to your left.
Further on the path runs along an embankment between the lake and Connswater River. Across the river are the Short’s aircraft factories, which in turn are overshadowed by Samson and Goliath. Continue round the lake to the starting point.
To walk the inner loop, return to the car park, cross the footbridge over the lake and turn right. The mown path meanders through the trees, again following the line of the lake.
Wading birds, shipyard cranes, lake, Area of Special Scientific Interest.
Toilets on site, refreshments available locally
Grade 2
- The path can be expected to be hard and firm with some loose stones (not bigger than 1cm) and will be at least 1.2m wide for its entire length.
- The path will not be steeper than 5° or have a cross slope of greater than 5°.
- There will not be any obstacles such as steps or stiles and surface breaks will be a max of 12mm in width.
- There will be a clear head height of at least 1m wide and 2.1 in height for the entire length of the route.
- There will be passing places at least every 150m and rest areas at least every 300m.
Comments will be reviewed and those that cause offence will be removed. This is at the discretion of WalkNI.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy the walking routes listed on WalkNI safely and easily.
If you have come across any problems whilst walking a route, please let us so we can pass on any issues to the appropriate management body responsible for maintaining the walk.
Walk Route
Victoria Park
One of my favourite parks, though it has been recently damaged by restoration and the lake made smaller, because the swans and geese who used to live here were dangerous for the airport beside it. Great views to the Belfast Hills, out to Belfast Lough and the many historic sites in the city. It’s exciting for bird watchers as it overlooks a bird reservation at the east end of the park. I’ve seem the Irish Dipper, curlew, cormorants, plover, godwits are often at the small stream on the north side running past Short’s, as well as many garden birds and waterfowl like geese, swans, several species of duck. It’s fun for the kids, those waterfowl love getting bread, though watch out for the gulls, they can mob you!! Easy access from the Greenway and from Connswater Avenue if you’re coming by bus
Have always loved this little park. Don’t mind the cyclists BUT my goodness I’m surprised how illiterate many of the dog walkers and bird feeders are. Perhaps the notices informing dogs must be kept on a lead and do not feed the birds should be larger and more prominent.
Visited Victoria Pk for the first time this week although I have lived in east Belfast for almost 40 yrs. What a gem, our grandaughter had a great time on the exercise machines. I heard on the radio you should feed the birds frozen peas and corn not bread but they weren’t’ interested not even the pigeons would feed on them but the bread was being snapped up!