Glencairn and Heath Trail

If the aim of your day on the trails is to stay pretty close to Belfast but still get a solid workout in and experience some stunning views, then you should definitely explore the Glencairn and Heath Trail. This awesome walking route will likely cause you to break a sweat, as you climb up the steep slopes of Divis and take in some stunning views of Belfast.

Setting out from the trailhead, you will make your way to the northwest through Glencairn Park, following Glencairn Road as it leads you up the lower slopes of Divis. After leaving the city behind, the road will transition into a footpath, at which point you will continue uphill through the steepest portion of the route to meet up with the Heath Trail.

From here, you will follow the Heath Trail to the southwest, as it skirts around the summit of Divis and provides some exceptional views of Belfast and the Belfast Lough. After a short stint along the road, you will once again make your way onto a footpath and follow it northeast to complete the loop around Divis. Eventually, you will meet up with your initial path that brought you uphill. Turn left here and descend the mountainside, once again traversing Glencairn Park on the way back to the trailhead where you started.