Colin Glen Forest Park is a beautiful wooded river glen on the edge of Belfast and Lisburn. It comprises 200 acres of scenic woodland, river, open grassland, waterfalls and wildflower areas.

Colin Glen was a major player in the Belfast linen industry with the McCance family establishing flax and beetling mills along the Colin River. The remains of the mill race can still be seen at the weir bridge. Water was also diverted to the nearby Half Moon Lake – now an area for wildlife in the heart of the Lenadoon housing estate.

Colin River flows past a fantastic fossil bed with spate floods bringing down a range of material including ammonites, crinoids and even sharks teeth.

The site contains the SkyTrek activity course and has Green Flag status.

Where to walk….

Ballycullo Trail

Blue route. A 2.8 mile (4.5km) route, which takes in panoramic views of Belfast including the Mourne Mountains, Stormont and Harland and Wolff.

Walks for everyone Download walk map

Hannahstown

Red route. This 4 mile (6.5km) route is most suited to the serious walker and leaves lower Colin Glen into the National Trust owned upper Glen.

Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. May include unsurfaced rural paths. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. Download walk map

Englishtown Trail

Yellow route. This 2.3 mile (3.5km) route follows the river along much of its route through broadleaf woodland and is both pram and wheelchair friendly.

Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. May include unsurfaced rural paths. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. Download walk map

Tom of the Tae End

Green route. This 1.5 mile (2km) route leads you as far as a Gamekeeper’s bridge where a toll was once charged for crossing the river. A section of steps are optional.

Walks for everyone, including people with conventional wheelchairs and pushchairs, using easy access paths. Comfortable shoes or trainers can be worn. Assistance may be needed to push wheelchairs on some sections: please enquire. Download walk map

Google Streetview links of Colin Glen Trails

Click on Images and explore!

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River entrance

Spring/Summer 9am – 8pm

Autumn/Winter 9am – 5pm

Mountain entrance

Winter:

Mon – Thurs closed

Fri  1pm – 5pm

Sat & Sun 10am – 5pm

[email protected]

Tel: 028 9061 4115

Further Information….

River Entrance By car (BT17 0HW) Leave M1 at Junction 3. Turn right off slip road under M1 bridge, straight onto Blacks Road. Go to T junction at the end of Blacks Road and turn left. After the next set of traffic lights continue for 100 metres. Colin Glen car park is on the right

Colin Glen River entrance

Mountain Entrance By car (BT17 0HW) Leave M1 at Junction 3. Turn right off slip road under M1 bridge, straight onto Blacks Road. Go to T junction at the end of Blacks Road and turn left. After the next set of traffic lights turn right onto the Suffolk Rd and drive to end of the road. At the T junction turn left. Drive for another mile and the Car Park is on the left.

Colin Glen Mountain entrance

Buy OS Map 

OS Map

Public transport

Translink Metro* 10C/10D/10G/10H from Queen Street, Belfast. Alight Woodbourne. Colin Glen Forest Park is country-bound past the church on the corner. Look for brown sign bearing name. Go into car park and the gates of the park are directly in front of you.

West Belfast Taxi Association from King Street, Belfast. *Check timetables before setting out at www.translink.co.uk

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Colin Glen Forest Park is a hub for lots of exciting outdoor leisure activities including a High ropes activity course, Alpine Coaster, Zip line, archery, mountain biking, lazer-tag etc.  Click here more more details and to book.

Green Flag Award

Green Flag Award