One of Belfast’s prettiest parks, and originally home to the Donegall family. Gracious paths run through the park for about 1 km, with a combination of trees and open space, passing by numerous sports facilities. We recommend combining with the Botanic Gardens, which date back to 1828 and contain the Palm House, Tropical Ravine, and the Ulster Museum. From Ormeau Park, turn LEFT (heading south) on Ormeau Embankment along the River Lagan for ~1 km, and then cross Kings Bridge into the Botanic Garden. Run through the Garden, and come back out onto Stanmills Embankment, heading north. The SHORT run crosses back over the river on A24, returning to the start through Ormeau Park.
Longer Option: Continue north along Stranmillis Embankment along the river path for 1.5 km to East Bridge St., and cross over the bridge. The final 0.7 km is not as pretty, using the B506 to get back to Ormeau Park (alternative: various side street options).
Lots of options to vary the run with waterfront paths and other overlapping Belfast routes.
Botanical Gardens
One of Belfast’s prettiest parks, and originally home to the Donegall family. Gracious paths run through the park for about 1 km, with a combination of trees and open space, passing by numerous sports facilities. We recommend combining with the Botanic Gardens, which date back to 1828 and contain the Palm House, Tropical Ravine, and the Ulster Museum. From Ormeau Park, turn LEFT (heading south) on Ormeau Embankment along the River Lagan for ~1 km, and then cross Kings Bridge into the Botanic Garden. Run through the Garden, and come back out onto Stanmills Embankment, heading north. The SHORT run crosses back over the river on A24, returning to the start through Ormeau Park.
Longer Option: Continue north along Stranmillis Embankment along the river path for 1.5 km to East Bridge St., and cross over the bridge. The final 0.7 km is not as pretty, using the B506 to get back to Ormeau Park (alternative: various side street options).
Lots of options to vary the run with waterfront paths and other overlapping Belfast routes.
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Essentials
Short Run: 5.9 km (3.7 miles) loop; Long Run: 7 km (4.3 miles) loop
A 10 km 'runseeing' tour of Belfast, taking in many of the city's most important sites: section along the River Lagan, Gasworks, City Hall, shopping district, Central Library, St. Anne's Square, Ulster & Queen's Universities, Albert Memorial Clock.
A historic running tour of west Belfast, where one can get a true sense of some of the conflicts that have divided the city. See the murals, memorials, and Peace Wall through Republican and Loyalist neighborhoods.
Good waterfront running along the River Lagan, with paths and embankments on each side with numerous bridge crossings. One can do a loop of nearly 10 km, with options to vary the distance.
Home to Northern Island Government Buildings and Parliament, these are beautiful grounds for running. A grand, wide, 1.2 km 'approach road' to Parliament flanked by grand trees, landscaped paths, and woodland trails.
Wonderful, hilly trail running on open heath land only a few miles west of Belfast. More moderate is the 6.7 km (4.2 mile) Black Mountain Ridge Trail loop. The 4.8 km (3 mile) Black Mountain Trail is shorter but more challenging.
Belfast landmark that makes for a scenic but challenging 7.2 km run/hike. Only 5 miles north of town, the well waymarked loop winds through woodland to a plateau, and along a grass path to the top of the hill and McArt’s Fort.
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Essentials
Short Run: 5.9 km (3.7 miles) loop; Long Run: 7 km (4.3 miles) loop
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