Leisure & Usage

The path has been used for many generations for walking, running, swimming, playing and dog walking. More recently it has been opened up to include cycling which create many more ways for the public to enjoy it. Different sections along the path offer a range of opportunities for leisure and attractions. There are beaches and playparks along the route for children and families to enjoy, woods and rocky shores to do some bird watching or observe nature, and an opportunity to use the path to visit the towns and villages along the way for a bite to eat and explore. There are a variety of access points along the route so that different parts of this great coastline can be visited.

The Path for Walkers and Wheelers

The North Down Coastal Path runs for approximately 16 miles from Holywood in the west to Orlock in the east. It has been ranked amongst the top ten finest walks in Northern Ireland – an accolade that is justly deserved, given the fact that it has something to offer everyone. It tends to be most frequently used by people who access it from one of the many points along the route for a short stroll, but those who are fitter can walk or cycle the whole route, perhaps starting from the east and then finishing up in one of the many bars or restaurants in Holywood before getting the train back again! Although the application for a Greenway along the route has been thankfully withdrawn, it is acknowledged that there are some stretches that would be challenging to access for the infirm or those with mobility issues. A Working Group is to be set up to address these areas and to discuss how to undertake improvements without damaging the sensitive ecosystem, biodiversity and aesthetic appeal of the path. The entire route is an easy walk for anyone with moderate fitness.

Wheelchair Users

There are access points along the path from which a wheelchair is accessible, however some of these points have hills which make it challenging to reach the path. Flatter areas that are more accessible include:

• Banks Lane car park, Ballyholme
• Pickie car park, Bangor
• Crawfordsburn Country Park
• Helen’s Bay
• Seapark, Holywood

There are several other access points to the path without steps such as at Brompton, Stricklands Glen car park, Carnalea Glen (via Ker Wood), Seahill and others, however many of these include hills, uneven surfaces and/or poor parking facilities which may prevent those with mobility problems from easily accessing the path there. The access to the path is something which could be addressed by the working group. Indeed, our group will continue to argue that the greatest obstacle to the enjoyment of the area for the mobility impaired is access to the path, rather than a requirement for full access along its length.

The stretch of path from Banks Lane, with a short section on Seacliff Road which utilises the footpath at the side of the road, is approximately four miles long, and accessible for all. Stretches of the path which would be challenging for wheelchairs include Swineley Bay, which is a sandy beach. The beach is normally quite easily navigated using a bike or pushchair, but at high tide can be covered with water, and although the sandy cove is beautiful, it could prove challenging. The Grey Point Fort area is beautiful, but the path is narrow and uneven as it passes though woodland. Great care should be exercised here and although members of our group report managing quite well with a baby’s buggy, it would not be recommended for those with a wheelchair. Some resurfacing here might be possible after consultation with the working group. There are some areas between Rockport and Royal Belfast Golf Course where the path largely disappears, that would be completely impossible for a wheelchair user and will hopefully be addressed as a priority. The area from Royal Belfast Golf Course towards Holywood is once again of a surface which would be accessible by all.

The importance of the North Down Coastal Path for families and children

There are frequent events on the path, such as sponsored walks, and in February and March 2023 a fantastic exhibition called ‘Our Place in Space’ organised by the Ulster Folk and Transport and created by Oliver Jeffers. Sculptures representing each of the planets were distributed along the coastal path as a fun and informative way to get a feel for the relative distance between them. The exhibition is now resting in the museum, accessible from the coastal path at Cultra.

For many people in Northern Ireland, the North Down Coastal Path has been part of memorable experiences throughout life, of visiting the area or of being brought up in the locality. There are opportunities for families along the full length of the path – from learning about the natural environment and birds in places such as Orlock. Here, the meandering pathway brings you to little hidden coves and rocky beaches, alongside areas of thick vegetation and gorse. Such terrain is great for nature and appealing to children, who can escape from the urban environments which dominate our lives. The unique appeal of the North Down Coast is that these areas are such a short distance from urban areas where we can buy an ice cream or coffee and use facilities. The area also incorporates play parks such as at Banks Lane in Ballyholme, Pickie fun park, Crawfordsburn Country Park with its visitors centre, waterfall, and lots of areas to play and relax as well as a large sandy beach. Helen’s Bay also has a beautiful sandy beach, great for families. At the Holywood end there is also a great area for recreation as well as a stone’s throw from the train station there.

Cycling on the Path

Until 2014 there was a bye law prohibiting cycling on the North Down Coastal Path. This meant that children could not legally cycle along the path, and therefore was extremely restrictive for families for whom young children may not have been able to walk far along the route. However, in August 2014, new bye laws for pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces were introduced. Although cycling would still by default be prohibited, it gave councils power to create designated routes for cycling. As such, North Down Borough Council agreed on 9th December of the same year to designate the North Down Coastal Path between Kinnegar, Holywood and Bank’s Lane Car Park, Ballyholme as a ‘cycle way’ in accordance with the bye laws.

Now cycling is encouraged on the path, and this has opened up a great new way of enjoying the beautiful coastline which we fully endorse. This path however is very different from many other shared-use paths and due to its environmental importance, aesthetic value and volume of use by families, the elderly and disabled and dog walkers, should be cycled with great care. For Another Path will be asking that there is sympathetic signage at access points to the path, asking that cyclists travel no faster than a keen runner (approx 10mph) so that the path can be enjoyed by all and remain safe for wildlife also.

Cycling is a fantastic way to stay fit and enjoy the outdoors. The group has a vision of the North Down Coastal Path linking to various parts of other cycling routes, enabling easy and safe access to this wonderful destination. There is a local group of campaigners who are fighting hard for safe and accessible cycling infrastructure in the Borough. Please support the group by following their Facebook page – and visiting their website when it is ready. We fully support this group, and believe that together we can work to ensure that there is a safe way for people to use cycling in everyday life in North Down and that the North Down Coastal Path remains the scenic and biodiverse destination that we all enjoy.

Sea Swimming

There are several excellent bathing areas along the North Down Coast, and sea swimming has really picked up in popularity in recent times – with the health benefits being well known for many years; it can reduce anxiety, help with blood pressure and even contribute to a great night’s sleep.

A number of beaches along the route are designated as bathing areas, including Groomsport Beach, Ballyholme Beach, Crawfordsburn Beach and Helen’s Bay Beach. However, lesser-known spots that have also become very popular for cold water swimming are Brompton Beach, with its old jetty and beautiful surroundings and Skippingstone Beach, closer to Bangor and at the same location as the old Victorian ladies’ swimming area.  In recent years a shelter was constructed at Skippingstone which further enhances the experience for swimmers who now have somewhere to change and shelter. Also popular is the hidden cove at Portavoe, near Orlock Point, a pleasant and sheltered place to have a dip with great views of the Copeland Islands.  This is a quieter beach than some of the others along the path, although paths are narrow and parking can be an issue. We are advised that the best place to park would be near the Portavoe bus stop, just past Orlock.

It is of course, important always to check with local authorities for up to date information in regard to safety, any life guard services and up to date water quality which are updated regularly.

Dog Walking

Northern Ireland has the highest number of households owning dogs in the United Kingdom (approximately a third)(Belfast Telegraph, 12 March 2019) with 19551 dog licences issued in between April 2022 and March 2023 in Ards and North Down Borough Council (Council Dog Summary Statistics, updated 31 May 2023). This being the case, there is a dual issue with responsible owners needing to give a dog the exercise he/she needs for their health and mental wellbeing, and with folk who are less keen on our canine companions being confident that dog owners are aware of their responsibilities in our public places, and that bye laws are in place to ensure that dogs are kept in control.

With that it mind, the value of the North Down Coastal Path is a wonderful place to exercise our dogs. There is a mix of open spaces to run and play, with plenty of opportunities for dogs to sniff and socialise. In the mornings and evenings, the path is very busy with walkers who exercise their pets before work, come rain, wind or shine. On some online forums it is promoted as one of the best places for dog walking.

However, about ten years ago, there was a proposal by Council to change the dog control orders. This suggested that the entire route should be dogs on leads only. The dog walking community had a very vigorous public campaign, which centred on the limited number of places that dogs could freely exercise and the fact that ‘out of control’ is very different than being ‘off the lead’. A compromise situation was reached, which resulted in a mixture of ‘on lead’ areas and ‘on lead by direction’ areas, should an official ask a dog to be restrained. Areas that are dogs on leads are from Bangor through to Wilson’s Point, Ballyholme main beach at specific times of the year (signposted) and on leads on the main promenade there. Crawfordsburn Country Park is on lead in the park and on the beach, with some off lead areas marked at the wildflower meadows.

Because we are anxious to retain the freedom for our dog owners to exercise their dogs off lead, we would advise dog walkers here to observe local protocol which might include:

• Respect other people’s right not to be approached by your dog
• Never let your dog chase wildlife
• Do not let your dog approach an on-lead dog
• Never let your dog approach children
• If a child approaches your dog, ensure the parent is aware and gives permission also
• For your dog’s and public safety, do not let your dog lift or eat dead birds or rodents.

All the above is only possible if your dog has basic training for recall and ‘leave’. If your dog is not trained to this level then the coastal path is not the ideal place to exercise your dog off lead. Please use a dog park or an area not widely used by the public.

With so many local people owning and loving their dogs, we would have a strong desire to retain the off lead areas that already exist, and to follow some simple guidelines means that this can continue. Many people who support our group do so because they love using the path to walk their dogs both on and off lead at appropriate places.

Access, Parking and Facilities

There are many access points to the North Down Coastal Path via small paths from towns and residential areas, but parking remains an issue and there are limited areas in which car parking and facilities are available. Some car parks are relatively small and quickly filled up (such as Helens Bay) with visitors then parking along residential areas. However, areas with dedicated parking include:

• Bangor Marina and Pickie Car Park (Cafe, toilets, free parking)
• Banks Lane Car Park, Ballyholme (toilets, free parking, occasional mobile refreshments)
• Helens Bay Car Park (toilets, free parking)
• Seapark, Crawfordsburn (free parking)
• Seapark, Holywood (free parking)

How many people use the path?

This is the million dollar question, and one which is difficult, if not impossible, to quantify. It was, our group believes, also a statistic which was extremely underestimated in the literature accompanying the Greenway application. The figure of 81,256 annual trips was given in the business case, which was suggested would increase to 191,948 after the Greenway development. We simply could not understand how this figure was reached, given that that number was exceeded many times over simply by looking at Pickie Fun Park and Crawfordsburn annual figures. We would suggest that there are a variety of ways in which a number of visitors can be estimated:

• Extrapolating from existing statistics derived from visitor attractions along the route
• Taking figures from counters along the route
• Using anecdotal evidence from experience and photographs
• Making informal counts during walks

However, there are a number of confounding variables which mean that anecdotal evidence would only ever be a very rough estimate. These include:

• Few people will walk the full length of the path and for most their visits will be less than a mile of the 16 mile routes
• For most people, a ‘visit’ will include a return journey
• For some their visit to the path is as simple as crossing it to reach a beach, or a short walk to a playpark
• Some people will walk the path multiple times a day (some dog walkers, for example) and others once or twice a year
• Usage at certain parts of the path is variable depending on the weather and time of the year.
• There are multiple access points to the path, including in some instances from private properties and it is not practical to measure each of these

Given that some of the attractions along this route, such as Pickie Fun Park and Crawfordsburn have had official statistics revealing several hundred thousand visits and that the path is used by local walkers 365 days a year, that it is safe to say that the North Down Coastal Path and the attractions along it form one of the best used tourist and visitor destinations in Northern Ireland.