Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🦋 Insects
Dogs welcome
Places › Northern Ireland › Belfast Getting here
54.66109, -5.93972
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit ✦ Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days 🌤️ Visiting this summer
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit ✦ Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days 🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mallard +56 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mallard +56 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White +99 more · last seen 2026; Insects — Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White +99 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Ivy, Holly, Hawthorn +17 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Ivy, Holly, Hawthorn +17 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍄 Mushroom foraging
Good match
Fungi — Alexanders Rust, Candlesnuff Fungus, Podosphaera aphanis · last seen 2024; Fungi — Alexanders Rust, Candlesnuff Fungus, Podosphaera aphanis · last seen 2024
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 8 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ulster Way Link Sections Walking route 1000 km ▾
"The Ulster Way Link Sections are not waymarked and mainly on public roads some of which can be very busy. Walkers are actively encouraged to make use of public transport along these sections"
Named route Length 1000 km Round trip
Show on map Belfast Castle Estate Trail Walking route ▾
Hilltop Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Gentle Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Cave Hill Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map 45 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Ballysillan Playing Fields Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Grove Playing Fields Cycling route ▾
Named route Round trip Local cycle route
Show on map Route (93) Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref (93) Local cycle route
Show on map EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 1 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref EV1 International cycle route
Show on map National Cycle Network National Route 93 Cycling route ▾
"National Route 93 of the National Cycle Network is formed of sections of traffic-free route between Derry and Larne." (most of the route was de-designated in Summer 2020)
Named route Ref 93 Point-to-point National Cycle Network
Show on map National Cycle Network National Route 93 Extension Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 93 National Cycle Network
Show on map Photos J3281 : Junction 2 on the M2 Approaching
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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id: 2d0f9dd3-9611-455c-abab-c9f9668da503
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
Wildlife to spot
5,915 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 5,915 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 41 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Robin · Wren · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Goldfinch +36
Robin Erithacus rubecula Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Magpie Pica pica Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Great Tit Parus major Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Jay Garrulus glandarius Herring Gull Larus argentatus Blackbird Turdus merula Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Coot Fulica atra Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus House Martin Delichon urbicum Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Greenfinch Chloris chloris Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus2024 Rock Dove Columba livia Coal Tit Periparus ater Dunnock Prunella modularis Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Gadwall Mareca strepera Swift Apus apus Linnet Linaria cannabina Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Swallow Hirundo rustica Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Starling Sturnus vulgaris Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Greylag Goose Anser anser Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Red Grouse (scotica) Lagopus scotica2024 🦌 Mammals 4 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Pygmy Shrew
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus Common Lizard
Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara Speckled Wood · Eristalis tenax · Orange Ladybird · Hawthorn Shieldbug · Orchid Beetle +33
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria2025 Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2025 Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025 Orchid Beetle Dascillus cervinus2025 Acrossus rufipes Acrossus rufipes Alexanders Rust · Candlesnuff Fungus · Podosphaera aphanis
Alexanders Rust Puccinia smyrnii Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon Podosphaera aphanis Podosphaera aphanis Hawthorn · Ivy · Holly · Snowberry · Bracken +6
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Ivy Hedera helix Holly Ilex aquifolium Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Hazel Corylus avellana Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 5,915 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 41 species
spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Robin · Wren · Woodpigeon · Magpie · Goldfinch +36
Robin Erithacus rubecula Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Magpie Pica pica Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Great Tit Parus major Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Jay Garrulus glandarius Herring Gull Larus argentatus Blackbird Turdus merula Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Coot Fulica atra Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus House Martin Delichon urbicum Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Greenfinch Chloris chloris Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus2024 Rock Dove Columba livia Coal Tit Periparus ater Dunnock Prunella modularis Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Gadwall Mareca strepera Swift Apus apus Linnet Linaria cannabina Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Swallow Hirundo rustica Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Starling Sturnus vulgaris Stonechat Saxicola rubicola Greylag Goose Anser anser Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Red Grouse (scotica) Lagopus scotica2024 🦌 Mammals 4 species
spring summer
2025 ▾
Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel · Red Fox · Pygmy Shrew
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus Common Lizard
Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara Speckled Wood · Eristalis tenax · Orange Ladybird · Hawthorn Shieldbug · Orchid Beetle +33
Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria2025 Eristalis tenax Eristalis tenax Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata2025 Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2025 Orchid Beetle Dascillus cervinus2025 Acrossus rufipes Acrossus rufipes Alexanders Rust · Candlesnuff Fungus · Podosphaera aphanis
Alexanders Rust Puccinia smyrnii Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon Podosphaera aphanis Podosphaera aphanis Hawthorn · Ivy · Holly · Snowberry · Bracken +6
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Ivy Hedera helix Holly Ilex aquifolium Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Hazel Corylus avellana Japanese Knotweed Reynoutria japonica Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2025
2025
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare2025
Melanostoma scalare Melanostoma scalare2025
Norwegian Wasp Dolichovespula norwegica2025
Norwegian Wasp Dolichovespula norwegica2025
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax2025
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax2025
Large White Pieris brassicae2024
Large White Pieris brassicae2024
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus2024
Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus2024
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2025
Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina2025
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae2025
Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae2025
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas2025
Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas2025
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum2025
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum2025
Chrysotoxum bicinctum Chrysotoxum bicinctum2025
Chrysotoxum bicinctum Chrysotoxum bicinctum2025
Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum2025
Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum2025
Comma Polygonia c-album2025
Comma Polygonia c-album2025
Common Stiletto Thereva nobilitata2025
Common Stiletto Thereva nobilitata2025
Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia2025
Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia2025
Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus2025
Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus2025
Platycheirus Platycheirus2025
Platycheirus Platycheirus2025
Bibio pomonae Bibio pomonae2025
Bibio pomonae Bibio pomonae2025
Melanostoma Melanostoma2025
Melanostoma Melanostoma2025
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2025
Scathophaga stercoraria Scathophaga stercoraria2025
Portevinia maculata Portevinia maculata2025
Portevinia maculata Portevinia maculata2025
Blackberry Skeletoniser Schreckensteinia festaliella2025
Blackberry Skeletoniser Schreckensteinia festaliella2025
Peacock Aglais io2025
Peacock Aglais io2025
Golden Dot Stigmella aurella2024
Golden Dot Stigmella aurella2024
Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella2024
Nut-tree Dot Stigmella microtheriella2024
Beech Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter maestingella2024
Beech Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter maestingella2024
Agromyza anthracina Agromyza anthracina2024
Agromyza anthracina Agromyza anthracina2024
Beech Dot Stigmella hemargyrella2024
Beech Dot Stigmella hemargyrella2024
Holly Leaf Gall Fly Phytomyza ilicis2024
Holly Leaf Gall Fly Phytomyza ilicis2024
Small White Pieris rapae2024
Small White Pieris rapae2024
Black-horned Gem Microchrysa polita2024
Black-horned Gem Microchrysa polita2024
Platycheirus albimanus Platycheirus albimanus2024
Platycheirus albimanus Platycheirus albimanus2024
Nebria brevicollis Nebria brevicollis2024
Nebria brevicollis Nebria brevicollis2024
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Ramsons Allium ursinum
Ramsons Allium ursinum
Cleavers Galium aparine
Cleavers Galium aparine
Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum
Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Events & activities nearby Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
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