Distance 3 miles (4.8km)
Classification Easy
Duration 1 hour 30 minutes
Begins Minnowburn car park
OS grid reference J327685
Walk in a nutshell
Historic woodland, ancient monuments, rare wildlife and spectacular views across the Lagan valley: all in Belfast, and covered by a short and generally well-surfaced circuit. You will cross farmland, and may encounter grazing livestock so, although dogs are certainly welcome, they must be kept under control, especially in Sandpit Field.
Why it's special
The Giant's Ring would be impressive anywhere, but finding it without even leaving Belfast is remarkable. It is an enormous earthwork henge, roughly 180m across, with a stone passage tomb at its centre. The whole construction is thought to be more than 4,000 years old, and has had some sort of public use throughout its history. Nearby, there is Shaw's bridge, a crossing that also dates back to the stone age. The bridge you see today was built in 1709.
Keep your eyes peeled for
Spawning salmon or sea trout, kingfishers or dippers, or even an otter or a seal in the river. The Minnowburn woodlands are a marvel in themselves, with the stupendous Minnowburn beeches that tower over the Ballylesson Road and produce an interesting array of fungi in the autumn. Among the more recently planted sections are the Belvoir oaks, which were planted with acorns from the Belvoir forest, maintaining a direct link with Ireland's ancient trees.
Recover afterwards
Across Shaw's bridge there is the beautiful and very reasonable Barnett restaurant at Malone House, open for lunch from 12pm to 3.30pm every day. Or, in the Malone Room in the same building, you can get snacks and light meals until 4.30pm. Otherwise, try the excellent seasonal menus at Lily's Pub and Eatery over on Lisburn Road. If you're there on a weekend afternoon, you might even catch some live music.
If it's tipping down
There are three superb places to visit just 2.5 miles (4km) up Malone Road. The Naughton Gallery at Queen's University displays a mixture of mostly modern art, including pieces from its own collection and touring shows. The Botanic Gardens, though largely outdoors, are home to the Palm House and the Tropical Ravine, two large buildings filled with rare and extraordinary plants. And, of course, there is the Ulster Museum, which houses a diverse collection of art and artefacts, including many relics from prehistoric Ireland.
How to get there
From the Europa bus station in the centre of Belfast, take either routes 13D or 513 and stop at Shaw's bridge.
Step by step
1 From the car park, follow the Lagan riverbank path upstream. After about 200m, take the first path you come to on the left-hand side.
2 Follow this path, cross Edenderry Road and continue with the mature woodland on your left. You'll enter young, broadleaved woodland. Carry on until you reach Ballynahatty Road. Cross the road and take the path opposite.
3 Follow the path that has fields on either side for about half a mile, until you reach the Giant's Ring. Make your way out through the gate at the opposite side from which you arrived. Pass through the car park and carry on down the avenue until you reach the road.
4 Cross the road, taking care to watch out for traffic, and climb over the stile opposite. You're now in the Sandpit Field, a natural amphitheatre that was carved by retreating glaziers during the last ice age. Follow the track around the top of the big pit until you come to a stile beside a road.
5 Climb over the stile and cross the road. Go through the pedestrian gate opposite, follow the path through a second gate and continue on the old tarmac path up Terrace Hill. Carry on until you reach the rose garden. Go back the way you came and take the path on the left, leading downhill through a young woodland.
6 Follow the path until you reach the Minnowburn river; here you'll walk along the banks of the river downstream until you reach Minnowburn bridge and the car park beyond.
