Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Belfast

Belfast to Whiteabbey Lough Shore Greenway

9km of flat, mostly traffic-free tarmac along Belfast Lough — easy miles for little legs.

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Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
BelfastGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
9kmDistance
1-2 hoursHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Belfast to Whiteabbey Lough Shore Greenway — 9km of flat, mostly traffic-free tarmac along Belfast Lough — easy miles for little legs.

  • Distance: About 9km along the lough shore (linear — ride as much or as little as you like, there and back).
  • Surface: Tarmac, good quality.
  • Gradient: Flat — reclaimed shoreline, no climbs.
  • Traffic-free: Mostly — the dedicated greenway along the lough shore is traffic-free, but the wider route crosses the Belfast Harbour Estate on a shared path and has a short on-road stretch on the Shore Road near Loughshore Park, so keep children close at those points.
  • Bike hire: None on the trail — bring your own.
  • Buggy / scooter: Yes — smooth flat tarmac suits buggies and scooters.
Plan your visit

Flat tarmac with the lough on one side the whole way

The path runs about 9km along the shore on a relatively flat, good tarmac surface, graded as suitable for novice and family cyclists of all ages. It sits on reclaimed land between Belfast Lough and the motorway, so the views are out over the water to the city while the dedicated greenway keeps most of the traffic well away from your bikes. Note the wider route is only mostly traffic-free — it crosses the Belfast Harbour Estate on a shared path and has a short on-road stretch on the Shore Road near Loughshore Park — so pick your section to suit the youngest rider. You'll pass Hazelbank Park, follow the waterside through Whiteabbey village, and can continue toward Loughshore Park in Jordanstown at the northern end. The North Foreshore path carries the route on toward central Belfast at the southern end. Being old reclaimed ground rather than a hill, there are no climbs to wear small riders out. There are some chicane gates along the way, including in Hazelbank Park, which can be a squeeze for trailers or non-standard cycles.

Free Mostly traffic-free Flat Tarmac 9km Buggy-friendly
Good to know before you go:

Greenways like this host seasonal sportives, family cycle days and ranger events through the year — check listings for dates near you.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🚲Bikes (or hire on the day)Check whether you bring your own or can hire at the start.
  • 🪖Helmets for everyoneEspecially the kids — a comfy helmet makes the whole spin better.
  • 💧Water and snacksNot every route has a café on it, so pack a little something.
  • 🧥A light layerYou warm up cycling but cool down at stops — easy to peel on and off.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Start / parking
Hazelbank Park, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 9JQ — free car park (entrance at the Shore Road / M5 roundabout). Also Loughshore Park, Jordanstown at the northern end.
Distance
About 9km along the lough shore (linear — ride as much or as little as you like, there and back)
Surface
Tarmac, good quality
Gradient
Flat — reclaimed shoreline, no climbs
Traffic-free?
Mostly — the dedicated greenway along the lough shore is traffic-free, but the wider route crosses the Belfast Harbour Estate on a shared path and has a short on-road stretch on the Shore Road near Loughshore Park, so keep children close at those points
Bike hire
None on the trail — bring your own
Buggy / scooter friendly
Yes — smooth flat tarmac suits buggies and scooters
Toilets / food
Toilets at Hazelbank Park, with an ice-cream or food van often near the car park in warmer months; cafes in Whiteabbey village and at Loughshore Park (check opening times before you go)
How long to allow
1-2 hours for a there-and-back, or a half-day with a play-park and cafe stop
Address
Hazelbank Park, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim BT37 9JQ
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How long is the route?
About 9km along the lough shore (linear — ride as much or as little as you like, there and back)
Is it traffic-free?
Mostly — the dedicated greenway along the lough shore is traffic-free, but the wider route crosses the Belfast Harbour Estate on a shared path and has a short on-road stretch on the Shore Road near Loughshore Park, so keep children close at those points
Can I hire a bike?
None on the trail — bring your own
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Yes — smooth flat tarmac suits buggies and scooters
Getting there

Belfast to Whiteabbey Lough Shore Greenway starts at Hazelbank Park, Shore Road, Newtownabbey BT37 9JQ — free car park (entrance at the Shore Road / M5 roundabout). Also Loughshore Park, Jordanstown at the northern end.. Tap below for directions to the start.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around BelfastSee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

This shore-side path forms part of the Lagan & Lough Cycle Way, a roughly 21-mile mostly traffic-free route on National Cycle Network routes 9 and 93 that links Lisburn, Belfast and Jordanstown. The lough-shore section threads along reclaimed land between Belfast Lough and the M2/M5 motorways, connecting the North Foreshore near central Belfast up through Whiteabbey to Loughshore Park.

At its northern end the path joins Hazelbank Park and ties into the separate Newtownabbey Greenway, which follows the Three Mile Water valley inland toward Mossley and Monkstown. Ongoing council and Sustrans-backed upgrades, including a planned crossing near Giant's Park, aim to knit these shore-side miles ever more tightly into the wider Belfast cycle network.