Explore Divis & Black Mountain: A Belfast Hiking Guide

Belfast is known as a city break destination, but there is a mountain experience to be found on the edge of the city: The Divis & Black Mountain trails.

The National Trust managed landscape in the heart of the Belfast hills is the perfect place to walk whilst enjoying panoramic views of Belfast and beyond.

Divis & The Black Mountain

The twin peaks of Divis and Black Mountain are to be found just 6 miles out of central Belfast in Hannahstown. The distance between the city and the hills isn’t far as the crow flies but it feels like a different world.

Divis stands at 478m and Black Mountain at 390m making this a great place to stretch the legs and get some gorgeous views, weather permitting.

Ah, the weather. This is Northern Ireland, it’s unpredictable. Come prepared. Layers, sturdy footwear, waterproofs etc.

You can laugh at me in a minute for saying this. Dear Reader, I walked on a changing weather day and did not, ‘come prepared’.

Point of interest, the reason this hilly, heathland place remained wild is because it was for many years a controlled military training area. In 2004 the National Trust purchased the area, creating a space open to all.

The Ridge Trail

A moderately easy 4 mile-ish circular route on a well marked path. This is a good route if you want something a little wild but also a ‘soft hike’.

Leaving the cafe and carpark behind, the Ridge Trail veers off into the open hills. In order to manage high numbers of walkers, The National Trust has created a cleverly engineered trail of stone slabs, stiles and bridges to navigate soft land and natural streams. It makes for a very pretty walk.

The area is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including pretty tufts of cotton grass. Not just natural beauty either; this wild looking place was once lived and worked by people and traces of that can be picked out.

The only inhabitants now are wildlife and grazing cattle. The cattle aren’t just there for their own benefit; they play a key role in managing the land and supporting the flora and fauna found there. More on them in a minute.

As you hit the highest point in the walk you are rewarded with knock out views across Belfast and beyond. If Trigbagging is your thing, you’ll find one to collect here. It’s a good place to pause, along with the views there’s a curved seating- cum- shelter type thing.

Heading back down towards the start point, the views remain wild and pretty. You pass the landmark transmitting station and towers, a slightly strange sight that reminded me a little of hiking by the Brocken Transmitter in the Harz Mountains in Germany.

Coming to the end of the trail, make a choice: you could veer off and join the Black Mountain Summit Trail, combining the two peaks into one walk. Or, do as we did and follow the road back in. Save the summit for another day.

One week later…

The Summit Trail

A shorter walk at 3 miles, but more challenging on the ascent and the terrain underfoot.

The Summit Trail starts out on the same road as the Ridge Trail. The start point is well signed, but I recommend doing this walk back-to-front.

Doing it this way means when you come down the mountain, you’ve only a short walk back to the carpark. Get the longer, gentler stretch of walking in at the start. Makes a nice little warm up.

The first section of the route is (deceptively) easy. One foot in front of the other, just follow the road ahead. Soon enough, the climbing section of this walk comes into view, but the views that come with it make it worth the effort.

Note the guide poles along the road to both walking routes. They are needed; off road the land is boggy. The weather can change in a heartbeat. You can be cloaked in cloud, visibility reduced in minutes. It’s generally wetter and colder up here than in the city.

It rained heavily off and on for the duration of our walk to the summit. Very unfortunate that I forgot to pack my raincoat and did the whole walk, sometimes in driving rain, in a hoody. Don’t be me. Do better.

To their credit, my husband and son offered to turn back. But I’m stubborn. I came to walk up and down that mountain, and that’s exactly what I did. Let me tell you, that hoody was wet and heavy by the time we got done.

At the top, more views. Fleetingly glimpsed through rain and clouds. Another Trig Point for the taking.

On the way down, viewpoints guide you as to what you might see. The Sperrin Mountains, Slemish Mountain, Lough Beg, Lough Neagh. The views are the reward for the climb, the names and places noted as future adventures.

On the descent we met some grazing cows. I’m no cow expert, but I’ve declared them ‘Austria cows’ as they look similar to cows we saw when camping in Austria. They add a sweet Alpine touch, all that’s missing is the cow bells. Any Black Mountain farmers reading this, you know what to do.

I had a nice chat with this chap on the way back in. Called him Schnitzel, I think we’re friends now. Think he’s wondering where my coat is.

Divis & Black Mountain: Are there any Facilities?

There are two car parks, both free. One is situated at the end of the access road to the hiking routes so will involve a little more walking.

A small cafe on site where you’ll also find toilets and a map of the walking routes.

Divis & Black Mountain is a dog friendly location. Dogs must be walked on lead. Plenty of bins around and drinking water is provided.

All details from the National Trust can be found here.

And Finally…

Haven’t finished a post with , ‘and finally’ for ages, so this is exciting!

We finished both walks with coffee and Dutch style waffles, prepared in the little kitchen set up of our converted Ford Transit van. She’s called Vera.

We bought her quite some time ago. The pace of work on the conversion has been glacial, but she’s up, running and in use- an update on all of that coming soon.

If you’ve any questions about the buying and building process please do drop them in the comments. I’d love to answer them in the update post.

If you liked this post, try this one next : The Lansdowne Monument & Cherhill White Horse

Also linking up to Jo’s Monday Walk.

Helen x