5K walks with incredible views to try out in Northern Ireland
A simple walk can help improve your well-being 🚶♂️🐶⛰️
It's easy to forget to make time to enjoy the outdoors, especially if you work a hectic 40 hour week - heading to the hills or even the local park for a short stroll is a great way to get started.
Walking is free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.
It’s recommended that people walk 10,000 steps a day. According to the NHS, the average person here walks between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day.
You don't have to spend a full day hiking the Mourne Mountains to avail of the health benefits, we've put together a list of 5K walks suitable for beginners.
Few countries can match Northern Ireland's dramatic landscapes. You can enjoy these great trails your own way, take the family or pets.
Grab your walking boots and check out our favourite 5K walks:
Glenariff Waterfall Trail, Ballymena
Who knew that waterfalls exist in Northern Ireland? Glenariff is one of the nine stunning Antrim Glens covering over 1,000 hectares. It is home to several walking trails through the forest which where you can catch glimpses of rare wildlife.
The Glenariff Waterfalls and boardwalk which winds through Glenariff Nature Reserve is a must do experience. Access to the falls is on foot only starting from the main car park in the forest park (follow the red arrows) or by parking in the restaurant car park at the bottom of the waterfalls beside the lodge. Be prepared for a short steep climb, with steps.
Pack a picnic, from the top of the nature reserve take a moment to relax, from here you can enjoy spectacular views of Scotland on a clear day.
Cave Hill, Belfast
Visible from almost everywhere in the city, Cave Hill is an iconic landmark of Belfast rising to 370m (1,207ft) but you don't have to go right to the top to enjoy the best views on offer.
Begin your walk at Belfast Castle and follow the blue waymarked "Estate Trail" for a shorter walk (2.4 mile / 3.9km) or follow the green arrows for the more challenging circular route to the top. This path leads up through the trees, climbing on to a plateau. Stop here to admire the fabulous views over Belfast Lough.
Benone Strand, Limavady
Benone Strand forms part of one of Ireland's longest beaches. A Blue Flag beach, it is popular throughout the year for a variety of outdoor activities and events with great views along the North Coast to Inishowen in Donegal and to Scotland.
Stormont Woodland Walks, Belfast
A walk through attractive woodland and parkland with many interesting features including Parliament Buildings. Only five miles out of the city, Stormont Woodland Walk and Fitness Trail, is a great place to walk, run and relax.
This route follows the waymarked "Long Woodland Walk" through the grounds of the estate. Follow the orange coloured arrows around the grounds.
Follow the gravel path from the car park past the playground, keeping left. Cross the Prince of Wales Avenue and continue through the woodland, skirting the Stormont Estate boundary.
Castle Coole, Fermanagh
With a magnificent mansion, set in a woodland park, there is much more to see on the estate, such as the Grand Yard, Ice House and Pump House. Castle Coole's trails are perfect for a relaxing stroll to refresh and revive. Take a turn around Lough Coole or through the Beech woods.
Fairhead, Ballycastle
Enjoy breath-taking views from the cliff edge of Fairhead on this ruggedly beautiful, wild and remote walk. Expect stunning coastal views towards Ballycastle and Rathlin Island and look down on the picturesque Murlough Bay. You'll also pass historic loughs and open green farmland on one of the many walk options which are guaranteed to invigorate the senses.
Please be aware that sections of these walks are situated near a cliff edge and due care must be taken particularly during windy conditions and in poor visibility. the walks are marked and parking is £2
Silent Valley, Newcastle
An easy family walk. The area around Silent Valley Dam provides a spectacular mountain backdrop, and a 2 1/2 km circular walk. For a longer still, Walk from the car park towards the dam up to Ben Crom reservoir (3 miles) and return on the same route back to Silent Valley reservoir. A regular bus service operates in the summer season to Ben Crom.
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