Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Newtownabbey

Newtownabbey Greenway

A free, flat greenway up the Three Mile Water valley from the Lough shore

5 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
NewtownabbeyGreenway & cycle trail
6km one wayDistance
2 hoursHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Newtownabbey Greenway — A free, flat greenway up the Three Mile Water valley from the Lough shore.

  • Distance: About 6km one way (part of the wider 14.5km Newtownabbey Way).
  • Surface: Mix of tarmac, concrete and an accessible boardwalk over the river.
  • Gradient: Flat throughout.
  • Traffic-free: Mostly traffic-free, with two road crossings to watch (near Mossley station and between Monkstown and Bleach Green).
  • Bike hire: No bike hire on site - bring your own.
  • Buggy / scooter: Yes - wide flat paths and an accessible boardwalk.
Plan your visit

A flat 6km ride along the Three Mile Water

The greenway stretches roughly 6km from Whiteabbey on the Lough shore up to Mossley and Monkstown, following the Three Mile Water river valley the whole way. The ground is flat, with a surface that mixes tarmac and concrete paths with a purpose-built accessible boardwalk that descends to the river. You pass through Three Mile Water Conservation Park, a stretch of meadow and forest popular with local walkers and the angling club, and ride under the Bleach Green railway viaducts, a genuinely impressive set of arches with trains still running overhead. It is waymarked with National Cycle Network Route 93 signage, so it is easy to follow. Mostly traffic-free, but two points cross live roads, near Mossley station and between Monkstown and Bleach Green, so slow down and keep kids in front of you there.

Free 6km Flat Mostly traffic-free Tarmac & boardwalk 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 local 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, open all year
Start / parking
Top end at Corr's Corner / Global Point business park; bottom end at the Lough shore near the Glenavna Manor / Shore Road junction (grid ref J310846). Parking near Mossley Mill and at Loughshore.
Distance
About 6km one way (part of the wider 14.5km Newtownabbey Way)
Surface
Mix of tarmac, concrete and an accessible boardwalk over the river
Gradient
Flat throughout
Traffic-free?
Mostly traffic-free, with two road crossings to watch (near Mossley station and between Monkstown and Bleach Green)
Bike hire
No bike hire on site - bring your own
Buggy / scooter friendly
Yes - wide flat paths and an accessible boardwalk
Toilets / food
Toilets and refreshments at Mossley Mill civic centre; play park in the Monkstown area
How long to allow
Around 2 hours there and back at a relaxed family pace
Address
Newtownabbey Greenway, Three Mile Water valley, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim (Mossley Mill, Carnmoney Road North, BT36 5QA)
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free, open all year
How long is the route?
About 6km one way (part of the wider 14.5km Newtownabbey Way)
Is it traffic-free?
Mostly traffic-free, with two road crossings to watch (near Mossley station and between Monkstown and Bleach Green)
Can I hire a bike?
No bike hire on site - bring your own
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Yes - wide flat paths and an accessible boardwalk
Getting there

Newtownabbey Greenway starts at Top end at Corr's Corner / Global Point business park; bottom end at the Lough shore near the Glenavna Manor / Shore Road junction (grid ref J310846). Parking near Mossley Mill and at Loughshore.. Tap below for directions to the start.

Nearby

Make more of the day

The story

About this trail

The Newtownabbey Greenway follows the Three Mile Water river valley and forms the central section of the Newtownabbey Way, a roughly 14.5km route managed by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and signed as National Cycle Network Route 93. The full route runs from Global Point at Corr's Corner down to the shore of Belfast Lough, linking Mossley, Monkstown and Whiteabbey.

Along the way you pass Mossley Mill, the council's restored civic centre, and the woodland of Three Mile Water Conservation Park, with Monkstown Wood cared for by the Woodland Trust. The standout landmark is the Bleach Green viaducts, a tall railway crossing that the path ducks beneath as the valley opens toward the sea.

At its lower end the greenway joins the Loughshore path and the developing Belfast to Newtownabbey Greenway, a traffic-free coastal route running between the Lough shore and the M2 and M5 toward Belfast, so the ride can be extended well beyond Newtownabbey itself.