DIVIS & THE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Circular distance 1,451m / 0.9 mile. A way marked flat, low contour walk – this trail offers views across Lough Neagh towards the Sperrin Mountains and down Collin Valley towards the Mourne Mountains. Starting point is opposite the Long Barn. On the hillside to your right are the remains of a bronze age homestead, the area to the left was once used as a rifle range during the Second World War.

Circular distance 4,769m / 3 miles. A roughly-stoned and stepped trail – this steep walk to the summit of Divis Mountain offers panoramic views towards Donegal, Scotland, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Wales and everything in-between. Follow the waymarked Tipperary Road trail, the left after the Long Barn. Return via the tarmac roadway turning right at the bottom of the hill. The trigonometry pillar on the summit was the first point used in the mapping of Ireland in 1825.

Due to limited path access, and evidence of increased footfall damaging habitat and disrupting wildlife on the heath trail on Divis and the Black Mountain, this trail is now closed to the public.

For further information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/divis-and-the-black-mountain/features/the-heath-trail

Circular distance 6,225m / 4 miles. A stoned roadway, heathland and blanket bog trail – this can be a mucky route around the northern slope of Divis Mountain, offering views towards Slemish Mountain. Follow the way marked posts from the end of the Tipperary Road, linking to the Standing Stone Road and then turn right to return, and right again at the bottom of the hill. Turf was once extracted on Divis Mountain and today remains to a depth of four metres in places.

Circular distance 6,780m / 4.2 miles. A gravel and stone pitched trail – this multi-use trail takes you towards the large Divis transmitter masts, turning right across the wooden boardwalk and onward to the summit of the Black Mountain, which is marked by a trigonometry pillar. Follow the trail crossing two stiles and onwards to the Collin River wooden bridge for return. Belfast’s most spectacular viewpoint and on a clear day, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Cumbria are also visible. The stone paving you are walking on comes from County Clare, Ireland.