How To Walk The Summit Trail At Divis Mountain, Belfast
One of our favourite places to walk in Northern Ireland, is at Divis & The Black Mountain, located not-too-far outside the centre of Belfast.
There are a few trails you can do on these mountains, all which offer spectacular views across Belfast & beyond.
In this post we’ll share with you details on the Summit Trail at Divis Mountain, which is the walk we usually choose to do the most, along with how you can get there & where to park!
How to get to Divis & The Black Mountain
The absolute best way to get to Divis & The Black Mountain is by car.
If you are driving from Belfast City Centre, it may take anywhere from 14-20mins to get there, depending on traffic!
The address is: Divis & The Black Mountain, Divis Road, Hannahstown, BT17 ONG.
Click HERE to see the exact location on Google Maps!
If you are visiting Belfast or Northern Ireland itself, & you really want to do this walk, we would suggest either hiring a car or getting a taxi. If you are in a campervan you should also have no problem!
(Personally we wouldn’t consider getting a bus or trying to walk here from Belfast City Centre as it would be an absolute TREK even before you’d start the trail lol.)
Parking for Summit Trail
There is FREE parking in the Lower Car Park which is located on Divis Road at the Long Barn. It’s really easy to spot as you drive in, you couldn’t miss it!
You can also park for free in the Upper Car Park at Divis Coffee Barn, which is located nearer to the start of the Summit Trail. You simply drive down through the gate opposite the Lower Car Park, & you’ll see it in the distance.
We usually prefer to park in the lower car park, although it does add maybe 10 minutes additional walking to the start of the trails, but we don’t mind.
Just beware during the summer months the trails may be busier, so leave yourself a little extra time to park if you need to.
We generally like to go quite early in the mornings (the mountains are a great place to watch the sunrise!), and we’ve never had any bother parking.
Quick Details On The Summit Trail at Divis Mountain
Distance: the trail is about 3 miles long (4.8km) Average time needed: at most 1.5 hours. Will depend on your walking speed. Suitable for dogs: Yes, but must be on leash as cattle graze freely around the paths. Difficulty: Intermediate/Challenging. Moreso on the way up to the summit. Coming down is much more manageable! Refreshments/Toilets: Yes, located at Divis Barn. What to bring/wear: recommend bringing water for yourself (& your doggy!), and wear comfortable footwear - preferably walking shoes, boots or suitable trainers.
How To Walk The Summit Trail at Divis & The Black Mountain
As mentioned above, you can park in the lower car park for this walk – you just walk across the road and through the big gates straight to the next gate (adds around 10 mins walk on). Or if you want to be closer to the start – park in the upper car park at the coffee shop.
The beginning of the Summit Trail starts as you go through the ‘Kissing Gate’, which is located just after you pass the coffee shop & upper car park.
Once you head through the gate, we would recommend turning immediately left (you’ll see a sign for the Summit Trail), then just follow the ‘Tipperary Road’ until you reach a fork in the path. Take the path on the right following the markers up toward the summit trail peak.
On this path you will pass a viewpoint, where, on a clear day, you can take in the views over Lough Neagh, Mourne Mountains and beyond.
Continue on up the rocky path to the Divis Mountain trigonometry point (475m), you’ve reached the summit!
Follow the path on round to take in some spectacular scenes over Belfast City. This is a great spot for a sunrise by the way!
Once you’re ready, simply follow the pathway down the mountain (still taking in those views as you go!), turning right at the bottom of the slope and then walk back towards the kissing gate you first entered from.
Is Divis & The Black Mountain dog-friendly?
Yes, this is a great place to bring your dogs for a lovely mountain walk!
HOWEVER, do take note that there are cattle roaming free about on the grass close to the trails, & it is suggested that you keep your dog on a leash at all times.
Moreso if you have a reactive dog like ours who loves to bark at the cows (or any animal for that matter lol), it’s definitely a good idea lol!
So yes, bring your dog along, but just keep them out of the way of the animals.
I would suggest carrying some water for your dog (especially on a hot day) as the mountain can get a bit steep at some points. However there is a water bowl outside the coffee shop too!
*If your dog maybe isn’t used to steep climbs or long walks, we probably wouldn’t suggest this trail as it can be challenging. However you could always do part of it & turn back if you need to!
Here are other posts on Northern Ireland Outdoors you may enjoy:
- The Summit Trail at Divis Mountain
- Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park
- Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast
- Duncan’s Park, Lisburn
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