the little book of great walks near you

Northern Whether you’re looking for tranquil woodland, wild coastline, or lazy lakeside meanders, has some very special places to explore on foot.

Discover some of them with the help of this handy guide. We’ve put it together with our outdoor rangers and Hello friends at Cotswold Outdoor, who’ve recommended some top spots and a few of their favourite strolls.

How to use this guide

Walks are listed under ‘themes’, and there is a map on page 22, so you can clearly see where they all are and those that are local to you. Why not have a look and see what’s nearby or pick somewhere further afield and make a day of it?

Each walk is rated so you can pick a grade that works for you, and we’ve also given a rough indication of the time the walk will take.

easy, moderate or hard

in hours and minutes

3 Backpack In partnership with Find the walk essentials

 for you The walking experts A waterproof jacket. at Cotswold Outdoor The famous Northern show us what’s inside Ireland weather. There’s no their kitbag. getting around it, so we Once you’ve found a walk you’d like to try, head always pack for December to our website and search for it there. All our walks A dry bag. Keep all in July, just in case. are in a print-friendly format with full route details, your spare layers and Quality socks. However a map and things to spot along the way. electronic devices inside far you roam, a pair of one of these waterproof quality walking socks wonders, stuff it into will go a long way to your rucksack, and keep your feet dry shrug off the rain. and happy. Comfy footwear. Repair tape. They’re with you every From patching torn step of the way, so waterproofs to sealing having the correct broken zips, this miracle footwear will make tape has proved its the miles fly by. worth countless times.

For top tips, expert advice and exclusive offers to help you to get the most out of the outdoors, please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotswoldoutdoor #nationaltrust Don’t forget members receive 10% discount* nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou at Cotswold Outdoor. 4 *Simply show your membership card in store, full T&C’s apply. 5 Contents

Water’s edge History Giant’s Causeway 9 27 Carrick-a-Rede 10 The Argory 28 Water’s edge Woodland 11 Springhill 29 Woodland Season’s best Lough 13 Minnowburn 31 14 32 Ardress House 15 Rowallane Garden 33 Wildlife Views and nature and peaks Wildlife and nature History Crom 17 and the Portstewart Strand 18 Black 35 Murlough National North and Nature Reserve 19 Peninsula 36 Downhill Demesne and Hezlett House 37

7 Season’s best Views and peaks Water’s edge 1 Giant’s Causeway Power, drama and myth From beachside ambling to clifftop scrambles, walking by water is a Giant’s Causeway red trail. shortcut to happiness. Whet your With the wild wind howling along the jagged cliffs, spraying salt moderate 30mins – appetite with these strolls. into the air, head out across the 1hr 30mins dramatic grassland overlooking Search for your walk at: the Causeway’s bays.

nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Giant’s Causeway green trail. Look out for breeding skylarks, stonechats and choughs on moderate 1hr 30mins this peaceful clifftop walk with stunning views of the Causeway’s mythical rocks.

8 9 2 3 Carrick-a-Rede Castle Ward A walk above water A living shoreline

Carrick-a-Rede coastal walk. Castle Ward boundary trail. Setting off from the traditional From waterside to woodlands fishing village of , trace moderate 1hr to parkland, discover the varied hard 3hrs the line of coast over windswept landscapes and rich habitats grasslands and winding rocky surrounding Castle Ward. paths to Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. As you cross the bridge, Castle Ward loughside trail. you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the Keep your eyes peeled for the clear green water and ancient large seal colony and thousands easy 50mins caverns far below – if you dare of waterfowl and waders that to look down, that is. inhabit the sheltered waters of .

10 11 Woodland 4 Strangford Lough Wild woodland, From medieval forests to dappled serene shoreline woodlands, we look after places filled with birdsong and the sound of the Nugent’s Wood walk. With Strangford Lough’s wind dancing in the trees. tranquil waters at your side, moderate 1hr follow the tree-lined paths deep Search for your walk at: into Nugent’s Wood. This is one of the few places in Northern nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Ireland where you can still see red squirrels playing in the boughs, not to mention thousands of waterfowl flocking to the lough and seals resting on the islands.

12 13 5 6 Florence Court Ardress House Where the trees whisper Enchanting woodland

Florence Court blue trail. The Lady’s Mile. The short Wander through native Irish Lady’s Mile Walk guides you woodland as you discover the easy 1hr through a peaceful belt of moderate 20mins estate’s many historical features, woodland surrounding Ardress including one of the most House. Pause for a moment and important trees in Ireland. through the gaps in the trees you can glimpse charming views of Florence Court red trail. the white-walled farmhouse with This challenging hike takes its quiet apple orchard nestled in you through the wild forest, moderate 1hr 30mins pastoral farmland. rising above the canopy for an – 2hrs unforgettable view of Fermanagh’s glistening lakes and hills.

14 15 Wildlife and nature 7 Crom Nature at its richest The outdoor places we look after are living breathing worlds. These walks Nature’s harvest walk. are a chance to glimpse Mother Nature Discover a living landscape of islands, waterways, marshland easy 1hr 10mins in her element. and forest as you stroll through one of the UK’s most important Search for your walk at: nature reserves.

nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Crom wildlife walk. Red squirrels, otters, fallow deer and herons are just a few of the easy 1hr 10mins animals you can see living side by side in Crom’s brilliantly varied landscapes.

16 17 9 8 Murlough National Portstewart Strand Nature Reserve Sculpted by the sea winds Nestled between and sea Sand dune and estuary walk. Meander through a 6,000-year- Murlough north point nature old maze of sand dunes where easy 2hrs trail. Follow sandy paths, orchids and other wild flowers heathland tracks and quiet moderate 1hr 15mins dance in the sea breeze and woodland trails, where you butterflies flit about the tall grass. can spot sparrowhawks hunting Then to the Bann Estuary, a amid the sycamore trees. salt-marsh where you can watch green, white and brown shelducks Murlough south end nature swimming alongside other waders trail. With the Mountains in the gentle river water. providing a dramatic backdrop, moderate 1hr 15mins walk in the footsteps of Neolithic man as you explore ancient sand dunes teeming with life.

18 19 ‘The views from the newly opened walking trails at Mount Stewart Demesne are breathtaking. Strangford Lough is magnificent and on a clear day you can see the and the Hills from the Temple of the Winds.’

Andrew Upton, Coast and Countryside Manager (Strangford Lough and the ). Find the ‘Mount Stewart red trail’ on page 32.

20 21 14° 13°30' 13° 12°30' 12° 11°30' 11° 10°30' 10° 9°30' 9° 8°30' 8° 7°30' 7° 6°30' 6° 5°30' 5° 4°30' 4° 3°30' 3° 2°30' 2° 1°30' 1° 0°30'W 0° 0°30'E 1° 1°30' 2° 2°30' 3° 3°30' 4°

60°30'

Mainland Shetland Islands Lerwick 60°

59°30'

59° Mainland

Kirkwall Orkney Islands

Dunnet Head Cape Wrath Pentland Firth Duncansby Head Whiten Strathy Scrabster John O'Groats Rudha Rhobhanais Head Point (Butt of Lewis) 58°30' Durness Melvich Thurso Castletown Port Nis (Port of Ness) Bettyhill

Cellar Head Tongue Noss Head WICK Wick

Gallan Head h Steornabhagh LLybster (Stornoway) c Altnaharra Latheron Unapool STORNOWAY Kinbrace n Dunbeath i Lochinver M

s Helmsdale 58° Hushinish e d Point Lairg h Brora Tairbeart n T Greenstone (Tarbert) Point Ullapool a Rudha l Bonar Bridge S Reidh Tarbat o u Dornoch Ness n d h

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H Tain a g rr is Gairloch h h Loch nam Madadh c i t in i r Lossiemouth (Lochmaddy) Alness Invergordon F M y Cullen Fraserburgh le H Cromarty a t r Macduff t o Elgin i Uig y Buckie a M Banff L Kinlochewe Garve s Dingwall Forres a e a Nairn BENBECULA h d R Achnasheen 57°30' n T f Torridon u o INVERNESS o

d S Keith n r Turriff Dunvegan u e o n

S n Peterhead I t Portree Inverness Aberlour Huntly Lochcarron s Dufftown Rudha Hallagro Stromeferry Ellon e Cannich Kyle of Lochalsh Drumnadrochit Grantown- on-Spey Oldmeldrum Dornie Rhynie Kyleakin W Loch Baghasdail Inverurie

(Lochboisdale) Shiel Bridge Invermoriston Monadhliath Alford Aviemore Mountains ABERDEEN Dyce C BARRA u Aberdeen i l Ardvasar Cairn l Kingussie go i n rm h Invergarry M 57° Bagh a Chaisteil S Newtonmore ou o nt (Castlebay) u Mallaig Laggan ain n t s Ballater Banchory d Braemar

ATLANTIC r s n Dalwhinnie a i Spean n t Stonehaven o Bridge u M o a n N p i Fort William m r a G Brechin Glencoe Pitlochry Montrose Tobermory Ballachulish Kirriemuir e h n Forfar in SCOTLAND L Aberfeldy ch Portnacroish Blairgowrie Lochaline Lo 56°30' Dunkeld Arbroath Craignure Coupar Angus Carnoustie Connel Killin Dundee Monifieth Oban DUNDEE y Tayport f Ta Lochearnhead h o Newport Perth irt Fionnphort e F -on-Tay rn Crianlarich Lo Crieff f St Andrews o Bridge th Auchterarder ir of Earn F Auchtermuchty Cupar Ladybank Fife Ness Inveraray Callander M90 Falkland Anstruther Strachur Tarbet Dunblane Kinross NORTH Leven Bridge Elie of Allan Glenrothes Buckhaven M9 t h Alloa o r Stirling Kirkcaldy F Ardlussa Lochgilphead Dunfermline Cowdenbeath o f a 56° r M90 t h North Berwick u Helensburgh M80 i r J Grangemouth Inverkeithing F f Denny o Bo'ness Alexandria Kilsyth Dunbar OCEAN Gourock Falkirk M9 South Queensferry d Dunoon Dumbarton EDINBURGH n Tighnabruaich Kirkintilloch Linlithgow u Greenock Cumbernauld EDINBURGH Haddington St Abb's Port o Port Clydebank Bathgate Musselburgh Head Askaig S Tarbert Glasgow GLASGOW M80 Armadale Livingston M73 Dalkeith Kennacraig Rothesay Johnstone M8 Airdrie M8 Bonnyrigg Eyemouth Sound GLASGOW Shotts Penicuik of Largs Paisley Bute Kilbirnie Hamilton Motherwell SEA Millport East Kilbride Berwick-upon-Tweed Laggan Larkhall Carluke Rhinns Bay Point Port Ellen Tayinloan M77 Kilwinning Strathaven M74 Ardrossan Lanark Peebles Biggar Coldstream Irvine Kilmarnock Lesmahagow Firth of Galashiels Brodick Clyde Kelso Troon 55°30' PRESTWICK Mauchline Prestwick Selkirk Ayr Abington Cumnock Jedburgh

Hawick Alnwick Map New Maybole Cumnock Head Dalmellington Amble 1 Moffat 2 1 Giant’s Causeway Portstewart Ballycastle Girvan 18 8 Otterburn 2 Carrick-a-Rede Coleraine Ashington Newbiggin- 3 Castle Ward Langholm Morpeth by-the-Sea Limavady New Lochmaben Lockerbie Bedlington LONDONDERRY Galloway Blyth Strangford Lough – Letterkenny A74(M) Cramlington 4 Dumfries NEWCASTLE 55° Ponteland Whitley Bay Nugent’s Wood Tynemouth Cairnryan Longtown Gosforth South Shields Gretna 5 Florence Court M2 Newton Annan Corbridge NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NORTHERN Stewart Castle CARLISLE Brampton Strabane Douglas Dalbeattie Hexham Gateshead Jarrow M T S 6 Ardress House I N SUNDERLAND Rossan Point R Carlisle R h Washington P E t S r Consett Stanley 7 Crom Kirkcudbright i Wigton Houghton le Spring F Luce y Alston Chester-le- Donegal M22 a Street 8 Portstewart Strand Bay l w M6 o Durham 12 M2 Whithorn S Peterlee St John's Brandon Murlough NNR Maryport 9 Point Omagh LOUGH 17a Drummore Spennymoor y Burrow Hartlepool B a Cockermouth Penrith A1(M) 10 Castle Coole e g a l NEAGH 16 BELFAST Head o n Workington Bishop Auckland D LOWER LOUGH IRELAND Redcar 13 Appleby-in- Erris The Argory ERNE Newton 11 14 Keswick Westmorland Aycliffe Stockton- Head Middlesbrough Head M1 Carryduff on-Tees 54°30' Springhill 11 Strangford Whitehaven Brough Belmullet 12 Lough Darlington Guisborough (Béal an Mhuirhead) Sligo 6 Craigavon 15 MinnowburnBay Portadown Egremont Whitby 13 4 TEESSIDE Stokesley Sligo Armagh Ballynahinch 17 Scotch 10 Ambleside Corner 14 Mount Stewart 3 Richmond 5 Andreas Downpatrick Windermere H UPPER Coniston P Lisnaskea Monaghan M6 Catterick 15 RowallaneM Garden LOUGH A ) Ballaugh Ramsey Sedbergh Ballina G S ERNE Keady Kendal Leyburn Northallerton VE T 7 Hawes Scalby IE Divis M and the 9 16L X Newtownbutler Scarborough Achill S O Newcastle ( IRON MOURNE Peel Laxey Pickering Head Dundrum Bay Thirsk MTS St John's Millom MTS Castleblayney Ulverston Kirkby Filey Lonsdale 17 North Down and Ards Douglas Grange- over- Peninsula – Kearney Boyle Crossmaglen Sands Ripon Swinford Carrick-on- Malton Shannon Cavan Port Erin Barrow-in-Furness Carnforth Easingwold Castlebar KNOCK ENGLAND A1(M) Bridlington Clew Bay INTERNATIONALNorth Down and Ards Castletown 17a Ballaghaderreen Dundalk Morecambe Settle 54° Peninsula – Orlock Heysham Lancaster Westport Knaresborough Driffield Harrogate 18 Downhill Demesne M6 Skipton York Ballyhaunis and Hezlett HouseCastlerea Fleetwood Ilkley Wetherby Pocklington Claremorris22 23 Granard Garstang Keighley Yeadon LEEDS & BRADFORD Tadcaster Market Longford M1 Clitheroe Weighton Colne Bingley Beverley Ballinrobe Blackpool Nelson Shipley IRISH M55 LEEDS Garforth Selby Roscommon Drogheda Burnley BRADFORDBRADFORD Clifden Kirkham Preston KINGSTON UPON HULL Warton Accrington Lytham St Anne's Halifax Hessle Withernsea REPUBLIC Blackburn Todmorden Castleford Tuam Rawtenstall Batley Barton- R Brighouse Goole H Slyne Leyland upon- u Pontefract Humber m Head Wakefield b Mullingar Skerries SEA Southport Chorley Rochdale er Huddersfield Immingham M6 Thorne OF IRELAND M3 Hemsworth Scunthorpe Grimsby Rush Ormskirk Bury Standish Bolton Cleethorpes Athlone Swords Formby Middleton Grimsby 53°30' Moate Skelmersdale Wigan Barnsley Doncaster Brigg M6 GALWAY Malahide Wigan Oldham Penistone Doncaster Caistor Galway Athenry M4 M50 Crosby Kirkby Ballinasloe Clara Maynooth Salford MANCHESTER Oranmore M6 Edenderry Lucan Bootle St Helens Stocksbridge 8 M62 Glossop Rotherham y Celbridge DUBLIN Wallasey LIVERPOOL Sale Bawtry Gainsborough y B a Stockport l w a Tullamore Clondalkin Warrington Stockport SHEFFIELD G a Loughrea Birkenhead Cheadle Altrincham Market Louth Dun Laoghaire River Dee SHEFFIELD Rasen Mablethorpe Tallaght Llandudno LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER CITY Caergybi / R Banagher M7 Rhyl Me Runcorn Wilmslow Dronfield M1 Worksop Retford Newbridge Naas Holyhead rsey Whaley Bridge Kilcormac (Droichead Nua) M11 Conwy Knutsford S Portarlington Ellesmere Frodsham Staveley LI Abergele Port Gort EV Bray Bangor Northwich Buxton Lincoln E Birr M Kildare Macclesfield Chesterfield AU L O O Monasterevin Lincoln G B Mountmellick M6 Horncastle H E Greystones Middlewich Bakewell Washingborough Ingoldmells T E V T S M7 M9 10 Chester Ollerton M18 Y I M Ennistymon M S L Portlaoise Winsford Clay Cross Mansfield Skegness T 16 Congleton S Mountrath Sutton in Biddulph Matlock Roscrea Caernarfon Crewe Ashfield WICKLOW Betws-y-coed Leek Kirkby in Tattershall Athy Bay Kidsgrove Wirksworth Alfreton Ashfield Wicklow 15 Nantwich Ripley Newark- 53° Ennis Nenagh M7 MTS Belper Abbeyleix Rathdrum Wicklow Newcastle- STOKE-ON-TRENT Hucknall on-Trent Head Eryri / under-Lyme Sleaford Boston Donegal Ashbourne Ilkeston The Sheringham Snowdonia Wells- Cromer Point Whitchurch NOTTINGHAM Hunstanton 2 Porthmadog next-the- Templemore Castlecomer Carlow Sea Kilkee SHANNON Stapleford Beeston M7 M8 Ellesmere DERBY Grantham Wash Tullow Market Drayton Stone Long Eaton Kilrush Uttoxeter North Walsham LIMERICK Oswestry Wem M1 Fakenham Arklow Aylsham Loop Thurles EAST MIDLANDS Spalding Holbeach Head Melton King's 4 Stafford Burton upon Lynn Mouth of the Bagenalstown Ashby-de- Loughborough Mowbray Kilkenny M9 Dolgellau Newport Trent Shannon Ballybunion (Muine Bheag) M6 la-Zouch Bourne Gorey Rugeley Rathkeale Dereham Shrewsbury Coalville NORWICH Mallwyd Caister-on-Sea Newcastle Borris Cannock Swaffham Kerry Stamford Wisbech Norwich Listowel West Callan Lichfield Oakham Great Yarmouth Head Cashel Thomastown M6 Tamworth M42 Graiguenamanagh Telford M54 TOLL Tipperary LEICESTER Downham Abbeyfeale M8 Brownhills Enniscorthy Oadby Peterborough Market Watton Wymondham Kilmallock Machynlleth WOLVERHAMPTON Walsall Sutton Uppingham Hinckley Blaby Peterborough March S Cahir Coldfield Attleborough 52°30' Charleville T Church Bridgnorth West Bromwich M69 Lowestoft Tralee (Rath Luirc) M M6 Nuneaton E E Carrick- Stretton T New Ross Dudley Market Oundle L on-Suir M9 Bishop's Corby Brandon A Clonmel Castle Stourbridge BIRMINGHAM Bedworth Harborough Littleport Bungay Beccles Dingle Castleisland G BIRMINGHAM Chatteris Thetford (An Daingean) Cardigan Halesowen Rothwell Sawtry Aberystwyth M6 Diss Mitchelstown Wexford Ely KERRY COUNTY LDOWN OCKMEA Bay Solihull Kettering Halesworth KN INS Wexford Rugby Southwold y Killorglin Kanturk MOUNTA COVENTRY Huntingdon B a WATERFORD Bay Ludlow Kidderminster M42 Mildenhall e Knighton Eye g l Bromsgrove M45 St Ives i n Killarney Mallow WATERFORD Rhayader Stourport- Brampton Bury D Fermoy on-Severn Redditch Wellingborough Waterbeach Tramore Presteigne Leamington Rushden St Edmunds Aberaeron Warwick Daventry Millstreet Llandrindod Droitwich Spa Newmarket Saxmundham Leiston Wells Northampton Cambridge Cahersiveen BOGGERAGH Dungarvan Carnsore New Quay Tregaron Leominster St Neots Point Kington M5 MTS M8 Hook Worcester Stratford Stowmarket Aldeburgh Head 7 WALES Bromyard upon Avon BedfoBedfordrd Kenmare Builth Wells Woodbridge Macroom Lampeter Towcester M1 Haverhill CORK Cardigan Great Pershore Newport Biggleswade Ipswich Midleton Youghal Strumble Pagnell Head Malvern Evesham Banbury Milton Sudbury Bolus 6 Shipston- r 18 Newcastle Hay-on-Wye on-Stour Brackley Keynes Milton 52° Head e Cobh Hereford Ledbury Royston i v Emlyn Llandovery Milton Keynes Saffron R Cloyne Fishguard 17 Buckingham Baldock r e CORK Moreton-in-Marsh Letchworth Walden Felixstowe m a n Brecon Tewkesbury Halstead Manningtree Harwich e Dunmanway M50 Chipping Hitchin K St David's M5 Stow-on-the-Wold Norton Leighton Cheltenham STANSTED Braintree a y Bantry Bandon Ross-on-Wye M40 Bicester Buzzard Stevenage B Kinsale Cheltenham Luton Colchester y Carmarthen Llandeilo GLOUCESTERSHIRE t r Dunstable n 11 Crickhowell Bishop's B a St Brides Gloucester LUTON Welwyn Stortford Bay Haverfordwest Abergavenny Gloucester Garden West Clonakilty Narberth St Clears Ammanford Aylesbury Ware Witham Clacton-on-Sea Ebbw Brynmawr Monmouth Witney Kidlington Tring Hemel City Mersea 1 Vale Hempstead St Hertford Harlow Old Head Milford Merthyr Blaenavon Wendover Albans Maldon Skibbereen Neyland Kidwelly Stroud Carterton Chelmsford of Kinsale Haven 13 Tydfil Rhymney Oxford Berkhamsted Hatfield Hoddesdon Pembroke Carmarthen 5 Lydney Mizen Galley Llanelli Aberdare Pontypool Cirencester Thame South Woodham Dock Burry Nailsworth Head Head Pembroke Tenby Bay M4 n Amersham Ferrers Port Mountain er Burnham- Glyncorrwg Ash Bargoed ev High Watford Barnet on-Crouch 9 S Abingdon 12 14 Swansea Cwmbran r Brentwood e Faringdon Wycombe Neath v Enfield Chigwell SWANSEA Chepstow i Tetbury Rayleigh St Govan's Maesteg Risca R Cricklade Didcot Beaconsfield Harrow SOUTHEND Head Caldicot Caldicot Wantage 3 Port Pontypridd Caerphilly Malmesbury Wallingford Basildon Port Mumbles Talbot Newport Marlow Uxbridge Southend-on-Sea Head Swindon 51°30' Einon Henley- Maidenhead Slough CITY Canvey Island LONDON R Thame Bridgend Avonmouth LYNEHAM on-Thames s Porthcawl Richmond Woolwich Tilbury CARDIFF Windsor Sheerness Cowbridge Chippenham Reading HEATHROW Gravesend Clevedon BRISTOL Corsham Dartford Herne Margate Hungerford Newbury Bracknell Kingston Rochester Bay Barry Calne Staines upon Thames Swanley Whitstable CARDIFF BRISTOL Bath Melksham Marlborough Gillingham Congresbury Sutton Sittingbourne Ramsgate Weston- Croydon Chatham B r i s Camberley t o l super-Mare Trowbridge Devizes Epsom BIGGIN M2 C HILL Faversham h a l Kingsclere Woking Sandwich n n e Bridgwater Leatherhead Caterham Canterbury Cheddar Sevenoaks Bay Basingstoke Aldershot Maidstone Deal Lynton Westbury Guildford Dorking Oxted M20 Minehead Burnham-on-Sea Frome Andover Reigate Redhill Tonbridge Ilfracombe Lynmouth Whitchurch Farnham Watchet Wells Warminster Amesbury East A26 Shepton Godalming GATWICK Glastonbury Godalming Grinstead Tunbridge Wells Ashford Dover r E40 Mallet Alton e Barnstaple Crawley M20 Bridgwater New Cranbrook or M3 Haslemere Folkestone v Barnstaple Street Alresford Bideford Tenterden Hythe o Hartland Wincanton Winchester Horsham Point Bay Wilton Salisbury Liphook Crowborough South Molton Taunton Billingshurst Haywards D Bideford Langport Heath New Romney 51° Shaftesbury Petersfield Midhurst Uckfield f E40 Wellington LYDD/ASHFORD Great M5 Romsey Eastleigh Heathfield Rye o E42 Torrington CELTIC Ilminster Yeovil SOUTHAMPTON Pulborough Battle t Sherborne Hurstpierpoint Rye Bay Dungeness i Tiverton SOUTHAMPTON A3(M) Lyndhurst a E402 Bude Chard Crewkerne Blandford M27 Havant Arundel Lewes Hailsham Hastings r Ringwood Hythe Chichester A25 Bude Forum Bexhill-on-Sea t Bay Wimborne Fawley Fareham Littlehampton A16 Holsworthy Minster Hove Brighton Newhaven S E15 Honiton Axminster Brockenhurst Gosport Worthing Crediton M5 EXETER Eastbourne New Milton Cowes Portsmouth Bognor Seaford Okehampton Bridport Lymington Selsey SEA Exeter Poole Regis Beachy Dorchester Christchurch Ryde Lyme Newport Selsey Head Tintagel Bournemouth Bill Launceston Seaton Regis Wareham Sidmouth Freshwater Poole Bay Sandown Exmouth Lyme Bay Shanklin Weymouth Swanage A26 Trevose Head Padstow Dawlish Ventnor Wadebridge Tavistock Teignmouth St Catherine's Ashburton Fortuneswell Point 50°30' Newton Abbot NEWQUAY Bodmin Buckfastleigh Bill of Liskeard PLYMOUTH Torquay Portland FRANCE Newquay Saltash PLYMOUTH Totnes Paignton St Austell Looe Brixham MAP KEY Fowey Torpoint Plympton Dartmouth Truro Kingsbridge Motorways Coastline Redruth St Ives Camborne Dodman Salcombe A16 Primary routes Region border Point Start Point St Mawes St Just Penzance A roads National border Falmouth Sennen Helston Land's End Mount's Major River A16 LYDD Airport Bay Major Lake/Loch E402 50° Lizard Lizard Point A29 E44 0 10 20 30 40 50 60Miles

A29 0 10 20 40 60 80 100Km E44

A16 A29 ©MAPS IN MINUTES™ 2011. Contains Ordnance Survey data ©Crown Copyright and database right 2010 E44 E402 A29 A28 ‘I am extremely fortunate to experience the mountains in all weathers. The best time of the year for me is in February, as the sky is clean, clear, crisp and you can see for miles and miles.’

Dermot McCann, Divis and the Black Mountain Ranger. Find the ‘Divis and the Black Mountain ridge trail’ on page 35.

24 25 History 10 Castle Coole A patchwork of grandeur These places meant something special to and nature others, who walked, loved and knew them completely. Discover their stories and see Castle Coole lake walk. Follow a historic track created the world around you with different eyes. by the 1st Earl of Belmore in the easy 30mins late 18th century. As you skirt the Search for your walk at: lake’s bank, keep an eye out for waders and waterfowl. nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Castle Coole beech walk. Explore a woodland planted around 1709 where 300-year-old easy 30mins oak trees still stand and you’ll find an ancient ‘ice house’ used to store meat and fish.

26 27 11 12 The Argory Springhill A peaceful riverside estate Walk through history

Lime tree walk. Stroll along a Sawpit Hill walk. Enjoy views historic avenue of lime trees of as the path where snowdrops and spring easy 40mins leads you around Springhill’s moderate 30–40mins flowers unfurl beneath the trees, estate, waymarked by great before returning along the banks oaks and a ring of trees where of the River Blackwater. the sawpit was once located.

Blackwater River walk. Beech Hill walk. Amble down a Look out for kingfishers darting shady boulevard of beech trees, across the water as you follow easy 30mins replanted in 1984 to conserve a moderate 20mins the River Blackwater around the 300-year-old pathway, arriving estate, crossing on the industrial- at an ancient tower built in 1731. age Bond’s Bridge.

28 29 Season’s best 13 Minnowburn A living oasis in the city From spring freshness to autumn colour, these places really shine Giant’s Ring trail. Crunch your at different times of year. way through the autumn leaves as you explore rolling woodlands, easy 1hr 20mins beneath a canopy of copper, Search for your walk at: bronze and golden hues.

nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Terrace Hill garden trail. A wonderful summer stroll along the banks of the , easy 40mins where you can spot wetland birds such as little grebe, moorhens and tufted ducks as well as marvellous views from Terrace Hill across the .

30 31 14 15 Mount Stewart Rowallane Garden Chorus of colour Set your imagination free

Lake walk. See the changing Garden walks. From spring palette of Mount Stewart garden woodlands carpeted with reflected in the lake, from the easy 45mins bluebells and snowdrops to easy 30mins – 1hr vivid colours of spring and a walled garden bursting with summer, through autumn’s fire summer fragrance, Rowallane is a to the silver beauty of winter. garden for all seasons. Follow one of the paths and you’ll discover a Mount Stewart red trail. patchwork of gardens full of rare In summer, keep your eyes (and and exotic specimens, creative ears) peeled for red squirrels moderate 1hr 30mins ideas and original artwork. playing and woodpeckers drumming in the trees while butterflies dance across the fields and meadows.

32 33 Views 16 and peaks Divis and the Black Mountain A wilderness on the The wide open sky above and the city’s doorstep world before you – the view from the top is always worth it. Ridge trail. Keep an eye out for red grouse, skylarks and peregrine falcons as you scale moderate 3hrs Search for your walk at: Black Mountain for unbeatable views across the Belfast skyline. nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Summit walk. A steep walk through thriving heathland to the summit of Divis Mountain. On a hard 50mins clear day you can see the Scottish, Cumbrian and Welsh uplands rising from the horizon.

34 35 17 18 North Down and Downhill Demesne Ards Peninsula and Hezlett House Rugged rocks with timeless views A landscape lost in time

Kearney Coastal walk. Downhill Demesne walk. Follow the North Down Coastal Leaving Downhill’s gardens and Path along a stretch of coastline easy 1hr 30mins lost relics behind you, venture easy 2hrs that has remained untouched out across windswept clifftops in for generations and offers up search of a temple perched high breathtaking views of the above the roaring sea. From here, Isle of Man. you can pause for a moment and look out across the glistening Orlock. Explore the wild rocky waters and emerald grasslands headlands and sheltered beaches of the Inishowen Peninsula. of Orlock point, with stunning moderate 1hr 30mins views across the to the Copeland Islands and Scotland beyond.

36 37 For ever, for everyone

The National Trust is a charity that looks after special places so everyone can enjoy them for ever. We’re only able to care for the places in this guide (as well as hundreds of others) thanks to the support you give us.

There are many ways you can help keep these places special. Membership, volunteering and donating all make a big difference. Why not start with a walk at one of the places we look after and take it from there?

Discover special places at

nationaltrust.org.uk

38 39 ‘I love the diversity of the Northern Ireland landscape, from the Mountains of Mourne looking down onto Murlough and out towards Dundrum Bay, through to the fantastic coastline including Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant’s Causeway.’

Dave Astin, Cotswold Outdoor Belfast store manager.

40 41 Want to go a bit further?

You’ll find hundreds more walks, events and lots of inspiration on our dedicated walking pages at

nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou National Trust Images/Joe Cornish/John Millar/Elaine Hill/Robert (You can search by walk length and suitability) Thompson/David Armstrong/Craig McCoy/Chris Hill/Brian Graham/ Bernie Brown/Dermot McCann/Arnhel de Serra/Brian Morrison/ If you’ve got a favourite walk and want to help Roger Kinkhead/NickMeers/Andrew Butler/Peter Muhly/Jonathan others discover, love, and look after it too, share Howe/Andrew Upton/Artward Photography/WalkNI.com. it with #nationaltrust on Twitter, Instagram Maps © MAPS IN MINUTESTM 2015. Contains Ordnance Survey data and Facebook. © Crown Copyright and database right 2014.

Printed by Park Lane Press on 100% recycled paper, using fully #nationaltrust sustainable, vegetable oil-based inks and waterless printing technology. nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou Please recycle this leaflet after use.

42 Find great walks near you nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou

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Stores nationwide cotswoldoutdoor.com

If you’d like this information in an alternative format please call 0344 800 1895 or email [email protected]

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