Ride the 565-metre Black Bull Run coaster through the trees at 25mph, then fly the long zip line over the valley — the thrill rides at Colin Glen Forest Park, west Belfast.
Big thrills on the slopes of Black Mountain in west Belfast — a 565-metre alpine coaster you steer through the forest, and a long, fast zip line over the valley — the adventure rides at Colin Glen Forest Park.
What you'll do — ride the Black Bull Run alpine coaster (said to be Ireland's first): a 565-metre carriage-on-rails that drops, climbs and twists through the trees, hitting up to 25mph — and you control the brake, so you set the pace. Then take on the zip lines.
The thrill — the coaster runs 12 twists and 2 tunnels down the wooded hillside. The zip line is billed as Ireland's longest — a fast flight high over the Colin River with big views over Belfast — with a shorter Forest Flyover line too.
More on the mountain — the same site has high ropes, a climbing wall and a free-fall drop, and the wider park adds the Gruffalo & Superworm trails, adventure play, walking trails and a café — plenty to build a full day around.
How long — allow 1 to 3 hours for the rides depending on how many you take on; a full day if you add the trails, play park and café.
Cost — you book per ride or as a combo pass (single rides, an alpine-coaster ticket that gives two goes, and multi-activity passes that bundle the ziplines and coaster). Prices aren't fixed here, so check the current rates and book on colinglen.org.
Height and age limits apply — check before you book. On the coaster, children aged 3–7 must ride with an adult and you need to be 7+ to ride solo; the zip lines are for ages 8–17 with an adult supervising (up to five children per adult). Read the ride rules first.
Pre-book timed slots. These are booked, timed activities that get busy in the holidays — reserve your ride times online in advance rather than turning up and hoping.
Plan your visit
Book your ride times ahead
The adventure attractions run from the Mountain Entrance at Colin Glen, open most days year-round — roughly 9am to 5pm in spring and summer, with shorter hours over autumn and winter (Fridays and weekends only in the quieter months), so always check the day before you travel. You book per activity: single rides, an alpine-coaster ticket that gives two goes, or multi-activity passes that combine the ziplines and the coaster. Prices vary, so confirm the current rates and reserve your timed slots on colinglen.org — busy holiday days book up. The rides run outdoors on the hillside, so they can pause in high winds or bad weather; check ahead if the forecast looks rough.
Café on siteFree parking at the parkHigh ropes, climbing & free-fallBooked, timed activities
Worth knowing:
The height, weight and age limits are set for safety and are checked on the day — an under-height child won't be allowed on solo, so read the rules on colinglen.org before you book to avoid disappointment at the top of the hill.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Trainers or grippy shoesYou're climbing and riding on a wooded hillside — closed-toe shoes with a bit of grip beat sandals or flip-flops.
🧥A light jacket, whatever the sky's doingThe rides are outdoors and you'll feel the breeze on the zip line — a jacket keeps a fresh or drizzly day just as much fun.
👖Comfy clothes you can move inHarnesses, seats and brakes mean you want to bend and stretch freely — leave anything too loose or precious at home.
💧Water and a hat on bright daysThe hillside catches the sun — a hat, water and a shady break by the café keep everyone happy between rides.
Good to know
Everything before you go
The coaster
The Black Bull Run is a mountain-side alpine coaster — a carriage on rails you ride down the hillside. It runs 565 metres with 12 twists and 2 tunnels, reaching up to 25mph (40kph), and you control the brake so you set your own speed. A standard ticket gives two goes.
The zip lines
There's a long, fast zip line billed as Ireland's longest — a high flight over the Colin River with views over Belfast — plus a shorter Forest Flyover line. Both run from the Mountain Entrance.
Height & age
On the coaster, children aged 3–7 must ride with an adult, and you must be 7+ to ride on your own. The zip lines are for ages 8–17, with one adult supervising up to five children. Weight limits also apply. Confirm the exact limits on colinglen.org before booking.
Cost
Booked per activity — single rides, an alpine-coaster ticket (two goes) and multi-activity passes that combine the ziplines and coaster. Prices aren't published as a flat rate, so check the current rates and book online.
Season & hours
Open most days year-round. Spring and summer run roughly 9am to 5pm daily; autumn and winter are shorter, typically Fridays and weekends only. Closed on some public holidays. Always check the day before travelling.
Other activities
The same site has high ropes, a climbing wall and a free-fall drop, and the wider Colin Glen Forest Park adds the Gruffalo & Superworm trails, adventure play, walking trails, a golf driving range and a café.
Food
There's a café at the park for hot food and drinks between rides. Bring water and snacks too, especially on busy or bright days.
Weather
The rides run outdoors on the hillside and can pause in high winds or severe weather. If the forecast is rough, check ahead — a bright or crisp day is perfect for it.
Parking
Parking is available at the park. Use the Mountain Entrance at 28 Colin Glen Road for the adventure attractions.
How long
Allow one to three hours for the rides, depending on how many you take on; a full day if you add the park's trails, play and café.
Questions
Before you go
Do I need to book?
Yes — these are timed, booked activities that get busy in the holidays, so reserve your ride times online at colinglen.org rather than turning up and hoping. Check the current prices while you book, as they vary by activity and pass.
How old do you have to be?
On the alpine coaster, children aged 3–7 can ride with an adult in control, and you need to be 7+ to ride on your own. The zip lines are for ages 8–17, with one adult supervising up to five children. Weight and height limits apply too, so read the ride rules first.
How fast is the coaster?
It reaches up to 25mph (40kph) over its 565 metres of twists and tunnels — but you control the brake, so you can take it gently or let it run. That's what makes it work for a range of ages and nerves.
Is the zip line really Ireland's longest?
Colin Glen bills it as Ireland's longest zip line — a fast, high flight over the Colin River. Whether or not it holds the exact record on any given day, it's a genuinely long, thrilling ride with big views over Belfast.
What if the weather's bad?
The rides are outdoors and can pause in high winds or severe weather, so check ahead if the forecast looks rough. A crisp or bright day is ideal — and the wider park's trails and café make a good backup either way.
Is there more to do here?
Plenty — the same site adds high ropes, a climbing wall and a free-fall drop, and the wider Colin Glen Forest Park has the Gruffalo and Superworm trails, adventure play, walking trails and a café, so you can easily make a full day of it.
Getting there
Mountain Entrance, 28 Colin Glen Road, Belfast, BT17 0LR — on the slopes of Black Mountain in west Belfast, a short run from the M1. Use the Mountain Entrance for the alpine coaster and ziplines, with parking on site.
Colin Glen runs along a wooded river valley on the slopes of Black Mountain, on the western edge of Belfast. For years it was known simply as a green escape — walking trails, the Colin River tumbling through the glen, and one of the city's best free stretches of woodland right on the doorstep of the Colin estates.
Then the park set about turning the mountain into an adventure destination. The Black Bull Run alpine coaster went in on the hillside — said to be the first of its kind in Ireland — a carriage on rails that lets riders drop, climb and twist their own way through the trees, brake in hand. Alongside it came the zip lines, high ropes, a climbing wall and a free-fall drop, stacking the slope with things to throw yourself down and across.
What's grown up here is a rare thing: a genuine thrill park welded onto a free forest park, so a family can spend the morning steering an alpine coaster and flying a zip line, and the afternoon on the Gruffalo trail, the play park or a quiet walk by the river. The wilder rides sit at the Mountain Entrance; the gentler glen wraps around them. Together they make Colin Glen one of west Belfast's biggest days out.