Knockbracken Reservoir 16 ha
Plan your visit
🦉 Wildlife🦅 Birds🍄 Fungi
Free entry Dogs welcome 16 ha
Places › Northern Ireland › Lisburn and Castlereagh Getting here
54.52645, -5.89504
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 🍄 Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 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 🍄 Mushroom foraging is at its best in summer here 🐕 Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦉 Wildlife
Very strong match
Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mallard, Moorhen +50 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mallard, Moorhen +50 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍄 Mushroom foraging
Strong match
Fungi — Fragrant Funnel, Blackening Waxcap, Parrot Waxcap +10 more · last seen 2022; Fungi — Fragrant Funnel, Blackening Waxcap, Parrot Waxcap +10 more · last seen 2022
Varies
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Platycheirus albimanus, Neoascia podagrica, Eupeodes latifasciatus +87 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Platycheirus albimanus, Neoascia podagrica, Eupeodes latifasciatus +87 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Giant Hogweed, Nipplewort, Pineappleweed +19 more · last seen 2023; Plants — Giant Hogweed, Nipplewort, Pineappleweed +19 more · last seen 2023
Free
Plants — Ramsons, Dandelion, Red Dead-nettle +1 more foraging species
Varies
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 10 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Memories of Castlereagh Heritage Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map Meadow Trail Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Connswater Community Greenway Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Lagan Trail Walking route ▾
Named route 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 15 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 Connswater Community Greenway Cycling route ▾
Named route Regional cycle route
Show on map Clement Wilson Park Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Lagan Towpath 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 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 J3666 : The Knockbracken Reservoir, Carryduff
‹ ›
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
All Historic
Visitor access unverified. We don't yet have confirmed information about walking routes or public access at this reservoir. If you've visited, please help us improve this page.
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Bookable tours Wildlife to spot
6,764 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 6,764 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 38 species
winter spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Great Spotted Woodpecker · Moorhen · Little Grebe · Mallard · Black-headed Gull +33
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Jay Garrulus glandarius Raven Corvus corax Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Magpie Pica pica Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2024 Coal Tit Periparus ater Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Robin Erithacus rubecula Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Dunnock Prunella modularis Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Carrion Crow Corvus corone2024 Blackbird Turdus merula Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Rock Dove Columba livia Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Starling Sturnus vulgaris Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Pica pica pica Pica pica pica Great Tit Parus major Rook Corvus frugilegus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto House Sparrow Passer domesticus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Greenfinch Chloris chloris2024 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2024 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2024 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2024 Grey Squirrel
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
summer
2025 ▾
Common Frog
Common Frog Rana temporaria 🐝 Insects 6 species
winter spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Brimstone Moth · Volucella pellucens · 22-spot Ladybird · Dryomyza anilis · Grey Dagger +1
Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata Dryomyza anilis Dryomyza anilis2024 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 6,764 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 38 species
winter spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Great Spotted Woodpecker · Moorhen · Little Grebe · Mallard · Black-headed Gull +33
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Jay Garrulus glandarius Raven Corvus corax Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Magpie Pica pica Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2024 Coal Tit Periparus ater Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Robin Erithacus rubecula Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Jackdaw Coloeus monedula Dunnock Prunella modularis Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Carrion Crow Corvus corone2024 Blackbird Turdus merula Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Rock Dove Columba livia Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Starling Sturnus vulgaris Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Pica pica pica Pica pica pica Great Tit Parus major Rook Corvus frugilegus Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto House Sparrow Passer domesticus Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Greenfinch Chloris chloris2024 Mute Swan Cygnus olor2024 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo2024 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2024 Grey Squirrel
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis 🐸 Amphibians 1 species
summer
2025 ▾
Common Frog
Common Frog Rana temporaria 🐝 Insects 6 species
winter spring summer autumn
2025 ▾
Brimstone Moth · Volucella pellucens · 22-spot Ladybird · Dryomyza anilis · Grey Dagger +1
Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata Dryomyza anilis Dryomyza anilis2024 Grey Dagger Acronicta psi Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2024
2024
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2024
Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale2024 