Source: Colin Glen Circuit

There is little doubt about the benefits of walking for both mind and body.  Colin Glen is easily accessible from Belfast city centre and boasts a whole range of walks from a short stroll on a well-marked path to an all day trek across the hills.

http://www.walkni.com/walks/81/colin-glen/

On Sunday, we started at the Colin Glen Centre and car park, 163 Stewartstown Road, Dunmurry. We followed the river to the point where it crosses under the Glen Road and then onward to the disused quarry.  At this point, you can head for the aerials on Divis and Black mountain and even make it an all day walk as far as Cave Hill.

However, that is a walk we intend to enjoy later in the summer.  On this occasion, we followed the track to the left and it brought us to the waterfall, locally known as the ‘Rumble Hole’.  This is quite spectacular, but the immediate surroundings could do with

a cleanup.  We then followed a track on the other side of the glen through a sea of bluebells and even the occasional orchid to reach the mass rock.  This route does involve

some scrambling but it is well worth it, the mass rock is in a beautiful shady place, perfect for a bite of lunch.  From here, we made our way back through Colin Glen to the car park.

Source: The Most Stunning Views in the World – Dunseverick to Giant’s Causeway

When the weather is good, as it was yesterday, this walk must have some of the most stunning views on the planet.  It is 16 kilometres there and back and I would classify it as easy to moderate as there are some steep stone steps.    For more information, a map and statistics go to https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=17627538

We started at the car park at the ruins of Dunseverick castle and followed the grassy track to the left as far as the Giant’s Causeway and then back again.  The views were equally amazing in both directions.  We not only had full sun but a sea mist rolled in from time to time and gave us a wonderful display of meteorological effects.

Source: Comber Greenway

Yesterday we walked part of the Comber Greenway.  The Greenway is a 7mile traffic-free section of the National Cycle Route running from Belfast to Comber along the old railway line which closed in 1950.  The traffic-free walking and cycling route begins in Dee Street in East Belfast and from the Holywood Arches to the Comber Road it provides a delightful green finger through that part of the city.

We started at C S Lewis Square, the old Hollywood Arches where the Newtownards and Holywood Roads meet.  The first few hundred metres were disappointing as we had to negotiate the makings of this year’s bonfire.  However, once past this point, the Greenway is very well maintained and broad enough to accommodate walkers, cyclists and dogs.

We intend to continue walking the Greenway as far as Comber.  It is also possible to start in the city centre and to reach C S Lewis Square via the very beautiful Victoria Park.  However, these are both walks for another day.

For a map and statistics go to

https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatialArtifacts.do

http://www.walkni.com/walks/432/comber-greenway/