Upper Ballysillan, a region in Belfast, offers a diverse environment for outdoor activities. Situated within the Belfast Hills, the area features a mosaic of grassland, heathland, and ancient woodlands, providing a varied landscape for exploration. Distinctive basalt cliffs and prominent viewpoints contribute to the region's natural character. This terrain supports several sports like mountain biking, jogging, hiking, road cycling, and more.
Upper Ballysillan provides 5 routes across several sports like mountain biking, jogging, hiking,…
68
Routes
4.3
(113)
Average rating
1788
People visited

4.7
(51)
489
hikers
5.27km
01:41
220m
220m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(5)
133
hikers
3.81km
01:08
110m
110m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
82
hikers
4.37km
01:34
270m
270m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2.0
(1)
18
hikers
3.59km
01:03
100m
90m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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10
runners
8.69km
01:11
330m
330m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(7)
113
runners
10.4km
01:20
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(7)
82
runners
8.60km
01:12
380m
380m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
53
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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2.5
(2)
4
riders
34.4km
03:11
650m
650m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
27.0km
02:41
600m
590m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
17.5km
01:45
380m
380m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
47
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
62
riders
33.8km
01:29
100m
100m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(3)
33
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

24
riders
67.1km
02:56
470m
480m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

24
riders
80.5km
03:30
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(1)
14
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
riders
78.4km
04:40
510m
510m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
11.5km
01:12
330m
330m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
11
riders
16.9km
01:03
90m
90m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Upper Ballysillan offers a range of outdoor activities including Mountain biking, Jogging, Hiking, Road cycling, and Touring cycling. The region provides 5 routes for exploration, catering to various interests and fitness levels.
Mountain biking is available in the Upper Ballysillan area, particularly within the broader Belfast Hills. Cave Hill features a short downhill mountain bike track. For more details, consult the MTB Trails around Upper Ballysillan guide.
Hiking trails in Upper Ballysillan are found within Cave Hill Country Park and the Belfast Hills. Routes include the Cave Hill Country Park loop and the Cave Hill – Belfast Castle loop. These trails offer varied terrain and scenic ascents. More information is available in the Hiking around Upper Ballysillan guide.
Upper Ballysillan provides trails suitable for jogging and running, primarily within Cave Hill Country Park and the Belfast Hills. These paths traverse basalt cliffs, ancient woodlands, and open heathland. The Running Trails around Upper Ballysillan guide offers specific route information.
Road cycling routes in Upper Ballysillan cater to various fitness levels, from easy rides on paved surfaces to more challenging segments. Notable routes include the Carmoney Hill loop and the Belfast Harbour Office – Bleach Green Railway Viaducts loop. Detailed routes can be found in the Road Cycling Routes around Upper Ballysillan guide.
Upper Ballysillan offers routes suitable for beginners, particularly for hiking and road cycling. Easy hikes are available within Cave Hill Country Park, and road cycling routes can have modest elevation gains. The Easy hikes around Upper Ballysillan guide provides specific options.
Family-friendly options exist in Upper Ballysillan, such as walks in Carr's Glen and accessible paths within Cave Hill Country Park. These areas provide diverse landscapes suitable for various ages and activity levels.
Upper Ballysillan is characterized by its location within the Belfast Hills, featuring basalt cliffs, ancient woodlands, and expansive open heathland. These natural elements contribute to the region's diverse landscape and scenic beauty.
Panoramic views are available from various ascents and viewpoints within the Belfast Hills, which encompass Upper Ballysillan. These locations offer extensive views across Belfast city, Belfast Lough, and on clear days, distant landmasses.
Upper Ballysillan's outdoor routes are popular on komoot, with more than 32,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The 5 available routes have an average rating of 4.41 out of 5 stars.
Komoot offers several guides for Upper Ballysillan, including MTB Trails around Upper Ballysillan, Running Trails around Upper Ballysillan, and Hiking around Upper Ballysillan. Additional guides cover easy hikes, road cycling, and general cycling in the area.
For activities within Cave Hill Country Park, which is accessible from Upper Ballysillan, main car parks are located at Belfast Castle, Belfast Zoo, and Upper Hightown Road. Another entrance with parking is available at Carr's Glen via Ballysillan Road.

