Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Belfast

Ulster Way

A free 625-mile waymarked walking route circling NI — pick a short family-friendly section.

5 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
BelfastGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
625 milesDistance
Half a dayHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Bikes bestBest for

Ulster Way — A free 625-mile waymarked walking route circling NI — pick a short family-friendly section.

  • Distance: 625 miles (1,024km) total; walk any short section you like.
  • Surface: Varies by section — tarmac and forest gravel on Quality Sections, public roads on Link Sections.
  • Gradient: Varies — flat coastal stretches through to steep mountain ridges.
  • Traffic-free: Quality Sections are off-road; Link Sections follow public roads, so not fully traffic-free.
  • Bike hire: None — this is a walking route, not a cycle hire trail.
  • Buggy / scooter: Generally no — most sections are unsuitable for buggies; check tarmac coastal stretches individually.
Plan your visit

One route, 26 very different sections

The full Ulster Way is 625 miles (1,024km) and circles Northern Ireland through eight Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It splits into off-road 'Quality Sections' — clearly signposted tracks through forests, country parks, cliff paths and mountains — and 'Link Sections' that follow public roads to join them. Surface ranges from tarmac and forest gravel to grassy hill paths, and gradient swings from flat coast to steep ridges like the Antrim Hills and Moyle Way. Big named stretches it absorbs include the Mournes, the Sperrins around Gortin and the Causeway coast. Because every section is different, check the one you pick before you go.

Free Waymarked Walk it in sections 625 miles total Coast, forest & hills Day-walk, not a cycle path
Good to know before you go:

Greenways and trails across NI host seasonal sportives, family cycle days and ranger events — check listings for dates.

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
26 sections with different trailheads — pick one on the WalkNI section map and use its car park
Distance
625 miles (1,024km) total; walk any short section you like
Surface
Varies by section — tarmac and forest gravel on Quality Sections, public roads on Link Sections
Gradient
Varies — flat coastal stretches through to steep mountain ridges
Traffic-free?
Quality Sections are off-road; Link Sections follow public roads, so not fully traffic-free
Bike hire
None — this is a walking route, not a cycle hire trail
Buggy / scooter friendly
Generally no — most sections are unsuitable for buggies; check tarmac coastal stretches individually
Toilets / food
Depends on the section/trailhead you choose — none guaranteed, pack supplies
How long to allow
Half a day for a gentle out-and-back section
Address
Circular route around Northern Ireland; choose a trailhead via WalkNI's interactive section map
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How long is the route?
625 miles (1,024km) total; walk any short section you like
Is it traffic-free?
Quality Sections are off-road; Link Sections follow public roads, so not fully traffic-free
Can I hire a bike?
None — this is a walking route, not a cycle hire trail
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Generally no — most sections are unsuitable for buggies; check tarmac coastal stretches individually
Getting there

Ulster Way starts at 26 sections with different trailheads — pick one on the WalkNI section map and use its car park. 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

The Ulster Way was the idea of Wilfrid Capper, who conceived a waymarked trail through the six counties as far back as 1946, inspired by Tom Stephenson's Pennine Way. It was founded in the 1970s, originally running around 665 miles.

Over the decades parts of the route fell into disrepair or were lost to traffic and land-access disputes. After improvement work announced in 2003, a revised 625-mile route was completed and officially reopened on 16 September 2009, rerouted around the worst problem stretches.

Today it is managed by WalkNI with support from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and promoted as 26 sections with an interactive map so walkers can tackle a single day, a few days or the whole loop.