Colin Glen Forest Park 521 ha
Plan your visit
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🦋 Insects
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 521 ha
Getting here
54.56898, -6.02228
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🐦 57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blue Tit and Goldcrest 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking 283m away — 6 car parks within reach 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🐦 57+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Blue Tit and Goldcrest 🐕 Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails 🅿️ Parking 283m away — 6 car parks within reach £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Robin +54 more · last seen 2026
Free
Birds — Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Robin +54 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Cryptic Wood White, Large Yellow Underwing, Small Tortoiseshell +136 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, Lesser Celandine +26 more · last seen 2024
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
🍄 Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Magic Mushroom, Farysia thuemenii, Pale Bramble Rust +4 more · last seen 2025
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 10 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Lough Trail, Belfast Area Walking route 1.5 km ▾
Follow the gently sloping path along its length, taking in sights such as Lough Neagh & the Sperrin Mountains to the west. Curve back on yourself through open hillside & past a viewpoint highlighting the history of the region, including a rath.
Named route Length 1.5 km Duration 00:30 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Giant's Ring Circular Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Summit Trail, Belfast Area Walking route 4.8 km ▾
Walk along the Tipperary Road through open heath & blanket bog following a waymarked trail to the highest peak in the Belfast Hills, Divis Mountain. Overlooking the city below and with panoramic views of Lough Neagh, the Mournes & Strangford Lough.
Named route Length 4.8 km Duration 00:50-01:30 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Ridge Trail, Belfast Area Walking route 6.7 km ▾
On this circular, take in 180-degree views across Belfast & further afield, including the Antrim Plateau to the north, Scotland to the east & the Mournes to the south. There's also a huge variety of wildlife and flora to look out for along the way.
Named route Length 6.7 km Duration 03:00 Round trip Local walking route
Show on map The Rose Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map 16 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network National Route 9 Cycling route ▾
Belfast to Newry
Named route Ref 9 National Cycle Network
Show on map Clarendon Park Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Clement Wilson Park Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part Northern Ireland Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref EV1 International cycle route
Show on map Musgrave Park Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Woodvale Park Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map 3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Blue Trail Mountain bike route ▾
Barnett Demense Blue Trail. For confident through to experienced mountain bikers.
Named route Ref Blue Listed length 3.9 km Round trip Local cycle route
Show on map Red Options Mountain bike route ▾
Barnett Demense - Red trail options
Named route Ref Red Point-to-point Local cycle route
Show on map Green Trail Mountain bike route ▾
Barnett Demense Green Trail. Aimed at beginners.
Named route Ref Green Listed length 3.4 km Point-to-point Local cycle route
Show on map Photos J2870 : Visitors Centre at the Colin Glen Forest Park
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Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
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Wildlife to spot
4,852 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 4,852 records · National Biodiversity Network Blue Tit · Coal Tit · Goldcrest · Long-tailed Tit · Willow Warbler +36
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Coal Tit Periparus ater2024 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2024 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2023 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2023 Great Tit Parus major2023 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2024 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix2024 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2023 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2023 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2024 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2024 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula2023 Magpie Pica pica2023 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2023 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2023 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2023 Swallow Hirundo rustica2023 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2023 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2023 Dunnock Prunella modularis2023 Skylark Alauda arvensis2023 Linnet Linaria cannabina2023 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2023 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2023 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba2024 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2023 House Martin Delichon urbicum2023 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2023 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2023 Rock Dove Columba livia2023 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2023 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus2023 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2023 Rook Corvus frugilegus2023 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2023 🦌 Mammals 5 species
winter summer autumn
2025 ▾
Badger · Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Pine Marten · Hedgehog
Badger Meles meles Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Pine Marten Martes martes Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus2023 Slider Terrapins
Slider Terrapins Trachemys 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet · Clouded Magpie · Red Mason Bee · St Marks Fly · Comma +26
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae Clouded Magpie Abraxas sylvata Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis St Marks Fly Bibio marci Comma Polygonia c-album Brachyptera risi Brachyptera risi2023 Volucella bombylans 🍄 Fungi 4 species
winter spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Farysia thuemenii · Pale Bramble Rust · King Alfred's Cakes · Yellow Club
Farysia thuemenii Farysia thuemenii Pale Bramble Rust Kuehneola uredinis King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica2024 Yellow Club Clavulinopsis helvola2023 Japanese Knotweed · Himalayan Balsam
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 4,852 records · National Biodiversity Network Blue Tit · Coal Tit · Goldcrest · Long-tailed Tit · Willow Warbler +36
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Coal Tit Periparus ater2024 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2024 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2023 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2023 Great Tit Parus major2023 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2024 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix2024 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2023 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2023 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2024 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2024 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula2023 Magpie Pica pica2023 Treecreeper Certhia familiaris2025 Siskin Spinus spinus2023 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2023 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2023 Swallow Hirundo rustica2023 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2023 House Sparrow Passer domesticus2023 Dunnock Prunella modularis2023 Skylark Alauda arvensis2023 Linnet Linaria cannabina2023 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2023 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major2023 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea flammea/rostrata2025 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba2024 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos2023 House Martin Delichon urbicum2023 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2023 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2023 Rock Dove Columba livia2023 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis2023 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus2023 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2023 Rook Corvus frugilegus2023 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2023 🦌 Mammals 5 species
winter summer autumn
2025 ▾
Badger · Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Pine Marten · Hedgehog
Badger Meles meles Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Pine Marten Martes martes Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus2023 Slider Terrapins
Slider Terrapins Trachemys 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring
2026 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet · Clouded Magpie · Red Mason Bee · St Marks Fly · Comma +26
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae Clouded Magpie Abraxas sylvata Red Mason Bee Osmia bicornis St Marks Fly Bibio marci Comma Polygonia c-album Brachyptera risi Brachyptera risi2023 Volucella bombylans 🍄 Fungi 4 species
winter spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Farysia thuemenii · Pale Bramble Rust · King Alfred's Cakes · Yellow Club
Farysia thuemenii Farysia thuemenii Pale Bramble Rust Kuehneola uredinis King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica2024 Yellow Club Clavulinopsis helvola2023 Japanese Knotweed · Himalayan Balsam
Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Volucella bombylans
Volucella bombylans
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Mesembrina meridiana Mesembrina meridiana
Mesembrina meridiana Mesembrina meridiana
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare
Phytomyza ranunculi Phytomyza ranunculi
Phytomyza ranunculi Phytomyza ranunculi
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata2024
7-spot Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata2024
Sericomyia silentis Sericomyia silentis2024
Sericomyia silentis Sericomyia silentis2024
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum2024
Hairy Shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum2024
Empis digramma Empis digramma2024
Empis digramma Empis digramma2024
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata2024
2-spot Ladybird Adalia bipunctata2024
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus2024
Helophilus pendulus Helophilus pendulus2024
Large Alder Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter froelichiella2023
Large Alder Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter froelichiella2023
Polyporivora ornata Polyporivora ornata2023
Polyporivora ornata Polyporivora ornata2023
Tropidosteptes pacificus Tropidosteptes pacificus2023
Tropidosteptes pacificus Tropidosteptes pacificus2023
Catops fuliginosus Catops fuliginosus2023
Catops fuliginosus Catops fuliginosus2023
Chrysolina banksii Chrysolina banksii2023
Chrysolina banksii Chrysolina banksii2023
Spruce Carpet Thera britannica2023
Spruce Carpet Thera britannica2023
Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor2023
Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila elpenor2023
Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella2023
Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner Cameraria ohridella2023
Protonemura meyeri Protonemura meyeri2023
Protonemura meyeri Protonemura meyeri2023
Tipula vittata Tipula vittata2023
Tipula vittata Tipula vittata2023
Leuctra Leuctra2023
Leuctra Leuctra2023
Philopotamus montanus Philopotamus montanus2023
Philopotamus montanus Philopotamus montanus2023
Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa2023
Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa2023 