Summit trail opensup new route to DivisThe Belfast Hills Partnership is encouraging walkers to boot up thisspring and try out a new hilltop path that has been created onBelfast’s highest peak.

All roads now lead to the NationalTrust’s Divis Mountain with theopening of a new £100,000 pathknown as the Divis summit trail.Work on the “category five roughand mountainous” 800 metre pathbegan in December.Visitors who want to get to the top ofDivis Mountain usually walk themain access route through theNational Trust property.

Now a new specifically designedloop walk has been created to takein the whole of the Tipperary Roadmeaning it can now be enjoyed bythe 70,000 visitors who flock to Divisand Black Mountain each year.

With stone pitching as its mainfeature, the Divis summit trail isdesigned to maintain the condition

of the mountain slope whileproviding public access. Theunique design of the path hasbeen specially constructedwith the aim of protecting the

rich upland heath.Strategically-placed rocks

also allow drainagethat prevents the

channelling of rainwater that wouldotherwise wash away the path.

David Scott, projects officer for theBelfast Hills Landscape PartnershipScheme who has overseen the buildurged walkers to try out the new route.

“For years the site was inaccessible,but thanks to innovative design andconstruction techniques, we havecreated an excellent newwalking path which providesusers with a circular routethat includes the Divissummit. We aredelighted with thepath and we hopeit will bring lotsof enjoymentand healthbenefits to thepeople of thecity below andthe widerpopulation ofNorthernIreland.”

The project is acollaborationbetween the

Belfast Hills Partnership’s HeritageLottery-funded LandscapePartnership Scheme, the NationalTrust and Outdoor Recreation NI. Ithas been completed with thesupport of other funders includingthe Rural Development Programme,the Alpha Programme, Ulster

Garden Villages Limited andthe NI Environment

Agency.

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This year’s Belfast Hills Partnership’s big dig may not uncover anything as significant as theremains of King Richard III – famously found in a car park in England – but it could still unlockremains of early settlements. A community archaeology dig which is happening this spring isseeking to unearth what lies beneath, on Divis and Black Mountain.

Get signed up to our E-NewsletterTo receive updates and events go to www.belfasthills.org and click on ‘sign up for our E-Newsletter’. Become our Friend! - Why not support the Partnership by becoming a Friendof the Belfast Hills? Get free entry to most events and enjoy other benefits for just £10 a year.Details are on our homepage. We’re at ‘Belfast Hills Partnership’ on Facebook, ‘Belfast Hills’on Twitter and ‘Belfasthills’ on YouTube!

Above: Schoolchildren enjoying a live excavation in the Belfast Hills

Left: King Richard III who was killed in battle in 1485 was found in acar park at Leicester in February

Everyone will have anopportunity to take part in the digwith a chance to excavate possibletreasures of the past. It followsour highly successful communityarchaeology dig on Cave Hill atBallyaghagan which revealed a400 year old farmstead.

Divis and Black Mountain boastsa staggering 223 locations forarchaeological interest - 222identified since 2004 when theNational Trust acquired the site.

The 2013 dig will take placebehind the Long Barn visitors’centre over April and May.Schools and community groupswill have a chance to excavatealongside experts from Queen’s

University’s centre forarchaeological fieldwork, NIEnvironment Agency’s BuiltHeritage and the UlsterArchaeology Society.

Public open days will allow peopleto take part in a livearchaeological dig. These will takeplace on Saturday April 27 andFriday May 4 from 10am to 4pm.

Archaeology site survey coursesare running around the dig andslots are available for booking. Soif you would like to learn moreabout archaeology, just contactthe Belfast Hills Partnership.

Landscape partnership schememanager Lizzy Pinkerton said it

was going to be a “dynamic dig”.

“We hope to attract people livingin the hills and those living andworking around Belfast, Lisburn,Antrim and Newtownabbey whohave an interest in local history.”

If you are interested in takingpart in the Divis dig, contact uson 028 9060 3466 orinfo@belfasthills.org.

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A school of salmon have been streaming into local classrooms tohelp children learn about the wonders of the rivers in the BelfastHills. The Partnership’s River Awareness Project has schools andcommunity groups hooked on discovering our local waterways.

School of fishgets pupils hooked

Pupils of Good Shepherd in Poleglass and Dunmurryprimary schools have been incubating salmon andreleasing them into the Colin River as part of theBelfast Hills’ landscape partnership scheme which isconnecting communities to the hills

The fishy arrival created waves ofexcitement for the children ofGood Shepherd primary inPoleglass, and Dunmurry primaryschool when the baby salmonarrived in special refrigeratedincubators.

And it all went swimmingly as 100salmon eggs were given to eachschool to look after under thecareful instruction of local fishexpert Mark Patterson.

Pupils learned about the salmonlifecycle, the impact of pollutionand the importance of lookingafter our rivers. After a few weeksthe children released their fishinto the Colin River.

The project, which is part of theBelfast Hills landscapepartnership scheme and fundedby the Heritage Lottery Fund, isaimed at developing a greaterappreciation of our rivers.

The initiative is part of the riversawareness project in the hills.

Joe Boylan, Belfast HillsPartnership outreach officer saidthe pupils learned about thefascinating life of the salmonbefore releasing them on theirepic journey to the Atlantic.

“This project is fostering greaterknowledge about the Colin Riveras it flows through localcommunities, highlighting theheritage of the river as well as itswildlife and threats,” she said

“Many of our rivers are in poorcondition due to pollution andinvasive species. However theyhave a rich heritage which is alsoundervalued.”

“These children are leading theway in reconnecting communitieswith these local rivers and helping people to look after and value them.”

Hannahstownsquare takesshapeWork is underway on a £320,000village makeover for theHannahstown community thatwill improve this importantgateway to the hills.

The scheme - due for completionthis summer - will see part ofthe land at Lámh Dhearg gaelicclub transformed into a villagesquare for the local community.

It includes a children'splayground and a Highway toHealth walking route withexternal gym equipment forpublic use. The works will alsofeature new signage and otherenvironmental improvements.

The initiative is a joint venturebetween HannahstownCommunity Association andLámh Dhearg. The two groupssecured funding from theDepartment of Agriculture andRural Development (DARD) andBelfast and Lisburn city councilslast autumn.

Jim McCormick, chair ofHannahstown CommunityAssociation said: “This firstphase will provide activityopportunities for both the youngand old members of ourcommunity and beyond. Futureplans include the urgentprovision of a footway from LámhDhearg CLG to the top ofHannahstown Hill and thecommunity centre, therebyproviding a link between the twocommunity hubs in the village.’’

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For the latest list of Events log onto www.belfasthills.org/events

Please note: All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable clothing and footwear should be worn.

Dogs are allowed on some walks but only if kept under control. Parts of some walks can be steep or difficult.

We have a gorgeous new-look programme totally brimming withawesome things to do and see in the Belfast Hills this year. Our eventsbooklet is hot off the press this spring, revealing a big, bumper yearwith plenty of activities for all the family.

We’re calling all hands on deck forour community archaeology dig onin April. Time teams of all ageswill be getting down and dirty insearch of ancient artefacts on Divisand Black Mountain.

Our awe-inspiring series of insectand wildflower watches willenthral nature lovers and you caneven go undercover at ourmammal watch to view thefantastic animals of the BelfastHills from specially-designedwildlife hides.

We’ll be at the waterside lookingfor flowers in Carr’s Glen park,peeping out bugs at Slievenacloynature reserve and listening to thedawn chorus at Cave Hill CountryPark.

A team will be down on the farmfor a vintage tractor convoy fromDundrod racing pits to DivisMountain, and revving up for awacky car treasure hunt.

We’ll be listening for bats, flyingour kites and enjoying canine

capers on our doggie dayout.

Our bumper booklet alsocontains details of otherevents happening in thehills organised by ourpartners. So there isnowhere better to find outwhat’s happening in theBelfast Hills than in ourdefinitive and comprehensiveguide.

So get out and enjoy our eventsthis year and discover thehistory, wildlife and beauty ofthe Belfast Hills!

programmeBumper events

Remember, most of our events are freefor children and unemployed whichmeans getting the family into theBelfast Hills is now cheaper than ever.

Our booklet will be available todownload from our website or you canpick one up at libraries, variousvisitors’ centers and tourist offices.

You can also get details on the eventssection of our website and throughsigning up for our email alerts. Followus too on Twitter and Facebook.

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Cave Hill’s Limestone quarrywas once served by a tramwaythat transported limestone toBelfast docks during the19th century.The line is now a gated lanewaywhere the upper Cavehill Roadends. It was opened on Sept 10,1840 and the railway closed about1896. There was much opposition tosuch a monstrosity being built onthe hill at the time.

Extract of a report in 1839 fromengineer William Bald afterinspecting the railway construction.

“In concluding I beg leave to mentionthat I carefully examined the CaveHill Railway on the 13th instant bywalking twice over the whole linelooking attentively at its connectionwith the port and town of Belfastand again at the extensive andinexhaustible quarries of fine whitelimestone which everywhere aboundat its upper terminous and theimmense demand which exists for

The limestone quarry railway on Cave Hill

this most valuable material in thecity of Glasgow and also in the wholetowns and ports of the Clyde andthose situated in many parts of thewest of Great Britain. I have nodoubt but this little railway ortramway will not only turn out to bea profitable one for the moneyinvested in its construction but it isone that will give much permanentand useful employment to thelabouring population in itsneighbourhood but its mostcharacteristic feature will be thecreation of an almost new branch ofmaritime trade to the port of Belfastwhile on the other hand it willconfer much benefit on variousbranches of trade connected withthe ports and country on this side ofthe Irish Channel.”

Belfast News letter 11/9/1840“On Tuesday, this railway wasformally opened for traffic, thoughthe experimental opening took placeon Monday. We are sorry to say thatan unfortunate accident occurred on

the occasion, on account of the ropehaving been neglected to be drawntight on the drum which lets downthe laden waggons, and draws upthe empty ones. One of the waggonsran off the line and five men werethrown out – one of them namedMcQuillan was severely injured. Theothers were not much hurt.“In addition to the above we mayadd that the preparations were, inevery respect, complete, and theoccurrence of the accident noticeswas in no degree attributable to anywant of proper arrangement. Acorrespondent on whose accuracywe can rely, assures us that at thetime when the accident occurred, thewaggon was going at the enormousvelocity of 100 miles an hour – aspeed unprecedented in the historyof railways. The place at which theoccurrence happened is one of themost level and most secure upon thewhole line, and afterwards a numberof gentlemen passed down inperfect safety to the water’s edge.”

The railway rolled through cottagesat the top of what is now upper Cavehill Road

The Limestone quarry brought the sought-after stoneto the docks to be shipped to Scotland and England

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The Belfast Hills Partnershiprecently ran a training courseaimed at bolstering the localtourism economy.Four half-day courses ran fromNovember through to January onDivis Mountain and taught thosetaking part the basics of bringingtourists into the spectacularBelfast Hills. It is hoped theinitiative will help increase visitoraccess to the hills while

empowering local communities -including unemployed people - tolearn new skills.

Our volunteer officer FreddieHarris said: "We had lots of greatpersonalities on this course andeveryone received acomprehensive introduction thehills. They learned aboutopportunities for local communitytourism while protecting theenvironment.

"We want to promote the Belfast

Hills as part of the Belfast citytourism package.

"We feel the best experience fortourists is to have local peoplefrom the communities surroundingthe Belfast Hills, taking visitorsonto these sites to promote all thiscity has to offer."

To sign up to courses provided bythe Belfast Hills Partnershipcontact Freddie Harris on 028 9060 3466 or emailfreddie.harris@belfasthills.org

It’s your Belfast Hills: The Partnership brings together statutory bodies with a role to play in the Belfast Hills,including Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Antrim councils. These representatives are joined by people from thefarming, community, commercial, recreation and environmental sectors. All have pledged to work together tobenefit the Belfast Hills. Charity No: XR70288 Company No: NI053189

Address: 9 Social Economy Village, Hannahstown Hill, Belfast, BT17 OXST: 028 9060 3466 • F: 028 9030 9867 • E: info@belfasthills.org • www.belfasthills.org

New Hills tour guidesachieve lofty ambitions

Funders of theBelfast HillsPartnership

Lurgan Print & Design Tel: 028 38 321 255

Newly qualified tour guides on Divis Mountain after taking a course provided by the Belfast Hills Partnership

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