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

Nearest Town

Stranmillis, Belfast

Route Shape

Circular

Route Type

Parkland & Grassland, Riverside

Terrain

Surfaced and unsurfaced paths

Grid Reference (Start)

J333705

Grid Reference (End)

J333705

Point of Interest

Lesters Dam, woodland, Morelands Meadow

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Lagan Valley

Route Description

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.