Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Comber

Comber Greenway

A flat, traffic-free tarmac path from east Belfast to Comber - free and brilliant on bikes.

4 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
ComberGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
7 milesDistance
Half a dayHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Comber Greenway — A flat, traffic-free tarmac path from east Belfast to Comber - free and brilliant on bikes.

  • Distance: About 7 miles / 11km one way (linear route).
  • Surface: Smooth tarmac (around 91% asphalt), recently widened to four metres.
  • Gradient: Flat - it follows an old railway line.
  • Traffic-free: Almost entirely (Sustrans report ~98.9% traffic-free).
  • Bike hire: No bike hire on the route - bring your own.
  • Buggy / scooter: Yes - flat, wide tarmac suits buggies, scooters and balance bikes.
Plan your visit

Flat tarmac the whole way - no hills, no cars

The greenway runs about 7 miles (11km) along the old railway line, which means it's level from Belfast to Comber with no climbs to wear small legs out. Sustrans report it as 98.9% traffic-free and around 91% asphalt, so for practical purposes you and the kids are on smooth tarmac with no road crossings to worry about. The path was widened to four metres, giving walkers and cyclists room to share comfortably. Along the way you'll pass CS Lewis Square, ride within sight of Stormont and Scrabo Tower, and finish near the Enler River and wetlands on the approach into Comber. It's Route 99 on the National Cycle Network.

Free Traffic-free Flat Tarmac 11km / 7 miles Buggy-friendly
Good to know before you go:

Greenways across NI host seasonal sportives, family cycle days and ranger-led 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
No formal car park at the Belfast end; popular starts at CS Lewis Square (east Belfast) or in Comber town. On-street and town parking nearby.
Distance
About 7 miles / 11km one way (linear route)
Surface
Smooth tarmac (around 91% asphalt), recently widened to four metres
Gradient
Flat - it follows an old railway line
Traffic-free?
Almost entirely (Sustrans report ~98.9% traffic-free)
Bike hire
No bike hire on the route - bring your own
Buggy / scooter friendly
Yes - flat, wide tarmac suits buggies, scooters and balance bikes
Toilets / food
Cafes in Comber town; cycle repair stations at CS Lewis Square and Billy Neill playing fields. Few facilities along the middle of the route.
How long to allow
Half a day if you ride to Comber and back; less for a short out-and-back
Address
East Belfast end near CS Lewis Square / Holywood Arches; Comber end at Belfast Road, Comber, Co Down. National Cycle Network Route 99.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How long is the route?
About 7 miles / 11km one way (linear route)
Is it traffic-free?
Almost entirely (Sustrans report ~98.9% traffic-free)
Can I hire a bike?
No bike hire on the route - bring your own
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Yes - flat, wide tarmac suits buggies, scooters and balance bikes
Getting there

Comber Greenway starts at No formal car park at the Belfast end; popular starts at CS Lewis Square (east Belfast) or in Comber town. On-street and town parking nearby.. 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 ComberSee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

The greenway follows the line of the old Belfast and County Down Railway between Belfast and Comber, a passenger route that closed in the 1950s. The trackbed sat unused for decades before Sustrans developed it into a traffic-free walking and cycling path, completed in November 2008.

Today it forms part of the National Cycle Network as Route 99, linking the heart of east Belfast out through Dundonald to the County Down town of Comber. The Belfast end sits close to the Titanic Quarter and CS Lewis Square, a nod to the Narnia author who grew up nearby.

More recent improvements widened the path to four metres to give walkers and cyclists more room to share, keeping it one of the most popular everyday cycle and walking routes in greater Belfast.