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Shaftesbury Park

4 ha
FamilyPicnicWildlife
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome4 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
  • Pajo cafe — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Bike parkingCaféParking· FreePicnic spotPlaygroundToilets

Best for

9 activities

Family friendly

playground, café, toilets, picnic area; Urban park — family destination

Free

Picnic day out

picnic area, café, toilets, car park; Urban park — open green space

Free

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Playgrounds

playground, toilets, café, parking

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Black-headed Gull, Starling, Herring Gull +68 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Black-headed Gull, Starling, Herring Gull +68 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Large Yellow Underwing, Garden Carpet, Light Brown Apple Moth +128 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Large Yellow Underwing, Garden Carpet, Light Brown Apple Moth +128 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
North Down Coastal Path (Ulster Way Section)Walking route19.2 km
Named routeLength 19.2 kmRegional walking route
Ulster Way Link SectionsWalking route1000 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 routeLength 1000 kmRound trip
Causeway Coast and Glens - 7 - Woodburn ForestWalking route13 km
Named routeLength 13 kmRound tripLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network National Route 93Cycling 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 routeRef 93Point-to-pointNational Cycle Network
National Cycle Network National Route 93 ExtensionCycling route
Named routeRef 93National Cycle Network
North DownCycling route

Bangor to Newtownards via North Down Coastal Path

Named routeLocal cycle route
EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 1Cycling route
Named routeRef EV1International cycle route
N/ACycling route634 m
Named routeLength 634 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route473 m
Named routeRef 93Length 473 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

Photos

J4187 : Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus (3)

J4187 : Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus (3)

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