24030 makeup 24/9/06 4:11 pm Page 20

24030 makeup 24/9/06 4:11 pm Page 21

CaveCave Hill CountryHill Country Park Park

Route description* Trail 07 This route climbs up the Cave Hill over unsurfaced paths and gives breathtaking views over . History Distance There are many signs from 4.5 miles 7.2 km. the past illustrating man’s long association with Cave Hill. These include a stone Average Time cairn on the summit; a 2 hrs 30 mins. – 3 hrs. crannog or lake dwelling (now part of the zoo); several Access raths and ; McArt’s By bus - Belfast and Hazelwood entrance; fort and . Metro Services: 1A-1H (Mon-Sat) 1C-1E, 1H (Sun), The Belfast Castle Estate Carr’s Glen; 12, 61. was donated to Belfast by the Donegall family. Various By car - Car parking at Belfast Castle, parcels of land were acquired by Belfast City (Hazelwood), Upper Road, and Upper Council to make up Cave Trail Route Hightown Road. Hill Country Park. This is a challenging circular route beginning at Belfast Castle and following the green waymarking arrows. Go down the footpath a short way and take the path to Devil’s Punchbowl (3) HoweverTrail it can Routebe joined from Bellevue car park, Upper ContinuingThingsthe left. Climb of on, Interest over take the ridgethe nextand descend path on into your Belfast left. A local name for this steep-sided depression in the ground. Hightown road or Upper Cavehill road. Castle Estate. Return to the starting point by means of WoodlandThis skirts (1) round Planted the towards edge of theCaves Devil’s (4) It is not knownCaves for(4) Punchbowlthe footpath up(3) the, passes main driveway. below the largest cave (4) Begin at Thisthe interpretiveis a challenging panel circular in the carroute park beginning just before at the end of the 19th century, the sure whether the cavesIt is not on known the for sure whether the caves on the woodlandbefore veering contains to thea blend right. of Followhill arethis natural path as or it manhill are made. natural or man made. They may have been the entranceBelfast to BelfastCastle and Castle. following Climb the up thegreen path waymarking on your Things of Interest arrows. However it can be joined from Bellevue elm,climbs oak, steadily sycamore, up larchthe hill, and pausing They to may take have in the beenearly early iron mines. Only the lowest of five is any way left until you reach the first junction. Turn right. accessible and even this requires care. car park, Upper Hightown road or Upper pinesurroundingsWoodland trees. Dutch (1) and elm views disease on the ironway. mines. Only the lowest of Follow thisCavehill path throughroad. the woodland (1) keeping to hasPlanted decimated towards the the elms, end of the 19thfive century, is any the wayaccessibleMcArt’s and Fort (5) which are gradually being even this requires care. the left of any junctions you come to. This path leads up Continuewoodland climbingcontains a up blend the of steps elm, oak, to a sycamore, cattle grid A former defensive fort built on the promontory at replaced with other trees. andlarch fence and pine and trees. before Dutch reaching elm disease McArt’sthe escarpment.has Fort (5) A formerthe front of Cave Hill. Little remains today of the through theBegin trees, at the climbing interpretive on to panel a plateau, in the giving car park excel just- original fort, although the moat that once ViewsVeerdecimated to (2) the There the left elms, areand numerous whichfollow are the gradually grassdefensive beingpath fortto the built on the lent viewsbefore of Belfast the entrance and Belfast to Castle. (2). Climb up replaced with other trees. surrounded it can still be distinguished. the path on your left until you reach the first goodtop of viewing the hill points and McArt’s along Fort promontory(5). Pause again at the to front of Continuingjunction. on, take Turn the right. next path on your left. This skirts thistakeViews walk. in (2)the On magnificent a clear day you views beforeCave Hill.joining Little the remainsCave Hill (6) round the edge of the Devil’s Punchbowl (3), passes be- shouldmainThere path seeare numerous Strangfordon its gradual good Lough, viewing descent pointstoday down alongof thethe this original southCave fort, Hill stands some 368 metres above sea level. Scrabowalk. On Tower, a clear the day Mourne you should seealthough Strangford the moatIts that outline, once likened to Napoleon sleeping on the low the largestFollow cavethis path (4) before through veering the woodland to the right.(1) Followkeeping facing slopes of Cave Hill (6). MountainsLough, Scrabo away Tower, to the the south, Mourne Mountainssurrounded away it can stillhillside, be is one of the city’s most familiar landmarks. this path as it climbs steadily up the hill, pausing to take From the top, the city looks like a scale model set to the left of any junctions you come to. This path Slemishto the south, to the north andto the the north anddistinguished. the coast of ContinueScotland acrossdownhill the takingIrish Sea. the next lane on your out before you. in the surroundingsleads up through and views the trees, on the climbing way. on to a coast of Scotland across the plateau, giving excellent views of Belfast and left. This leads down past the topCave of HillCarr’s (6) CaveGlen Hill stands Continue climbing up the steps to a cattle grid and fence Irish Sea. Belfast Lough (2). and carries on for some distancesome before 368 reaching metres above sea and before reaching the escarpment. Veer to the left and Devil’sthe Upper Punchbowl Cavehill (3) Road. A local level. Its outline, likened to follow the grass path to the top of the hill and McArt’s nameLook for this out steep-sided for Napoleon sleeping on the Fort (5). Pause again to take in the magnificent views depression in the ground. hillside, is one of the city’s • kestrels, peregrines and buzzards flying overhead. before joining the main path on its gradual descent down most familiar landmarks. • wild orchids on the heathlandFrom on top the of top, the the hill. city looks the south facing slopes of Cave Hill (6). • some of the animals within Belfastlike a scale Zoo visible model from set outcertain parts of the hill! Continue*Advice downhill taking the next lane on your left. This before you. leads down past the top of Carr’s Glen and carries on for For more information see the Cave Hill Country Park and Belfast Castle leaflets. some distanceSuitable before warm reaching outdoor theclothing Upper should Cavehill be Road.worn when visiting Cave Hill. Go down the footpath a short way and take the path to the left. Climb over the ridge and descend into Belfast Route description Castle Estate. Return to the starting point by means of This route climbs up the Cave Hill over unsurfaced paths and gives breathtaking views over Belfast. the footpath up the main driveway. Distance Average Time History 4.5 miles 7.2 km. 2 hrs 30 mins. – 3 hrs. There are many signs from the past illustrating man’s long Access association with Cave Hill. These include a stone cairn on By bus - Belfast Castle and Hazelwood entrance; the summit; a crannog or lake dwelling (now part of the zoo); Metro Services: 1A-1H (Mon-Sat) 1C-1E, 1H (Sun), Carr’s several raths and ringforts; McArt’s fort and Belfast Castle. Glen; 12, 61. By car - Car parking at Belfast Castle, Belfast Zoo The Belfast Castle Estate was donated to Belfast by the (Hazelwood), Upper Cavehill Road, and Upper Donegall family. Various parcels of land were acquired by Hightown Road. Belfast to make up Cave Hill Country Park.

*Advice - Suitable warm outdoor clothing should be worn when visiting Cave Hill.