Lisburn and Castlereagh: Forest, Water and History

In Hillsborough Forest, signposted walking trails meet a lake that provides a habitat for waterfowl. Historic gardens, waterside paths and cultural attractions also shape the experiences on offer in Lisburn and Castlereagh. You can tailor your trip to the themes that interest you most: nature and outdoor activities, history, or exhibitions and activities.

Forest, Water and Trails

Hillsborough Forest covers almost 200 acres and has signposted walking trails. Three permanent orienteering courses were established there in 2022. The lake has a wildlife sanctuary where both resident and overwintering waterfowl live. The forest brings together walks and orienteering with opportunities to observe nature.

The Lagan Towpath offers a different perspective on the trails: it is a continuous, flat, traffic-free route between Belfast and Lisburn, as well as a high-quality section of the Ulster Way. The Lagan Valley Regional Park also has woodland and meadow paths recognised as high-quality short walks. These details describe different trail options—a route between Belfast and Lisburn on the one hand, and short walks through woodland and meadows on the other.

At Moat Park, a walk takes you around the historic motte. The wild garden there creates microhabitats for plants and animals and supports learning about biodiversity. Nearby stands the Church of St Elizabeth, whose history dates back to 1306. Those interested in habitats can also explore the varied landscapes of Slievenacloy Nature Reserve: grassland, meadows, marsh and heath are especially important for orchids, birds and fungi.

Moira Lakes has a different focus, offering beginner-friendly stand-up paddleboarding on calm water and supervised open-water cold-water swimming. When planning your trip, you can choose between trails on land, observing nature and activities on the water.

Gardens and History

Castle Gardens is on the site of Lisburn Castle. The fortified manor house, built in the 17th century, was constructed by the Conway family. Another historic garden estate is Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, the royal residence in Northern Ireland. It includes 100 acres of picturesque gardens. Moira Demesne also combines parkland and history: the grounds cover more than 40 acres, with paths and picnic areas. Biodiversity areas and mature horse chestnut, oak and beech trees benefit a range of wildlife.

The design of Moira Demesne is associated with Sir Arthur Rawdon (1662–1695). He had trees and exotic plants from Jamaica planted there and built Ireland’s first greenhouse. Wallace Park, meanwhile, has largely retained its original layout and much of its Victorian character. Mallards, black-headed gulls and other bird species draw the eye at the pond. The examples highlight different features: horticultural history at Moira, a preserved park character at Wallace Park, and historic buildings in Lisburn and Hillsborough.

Religious sites also tell stories spanning long periods of time. Christian worship has taken place on the site of Lisburn Cathedral for more than 400 years. At St Malachy's Parish Church, worship on the site dates back to 1636; the current church building was completed in 1772. This distinction between the history of a site and the age of a building is especially useful if you are interested in how these places have developed.

Museums, Art and Unique Experiences

Lisburn Museum regularly presents exhibitions on the history of Lisburn, its people and the surrounding area. It uses the historic 17th-century gallery of the Market House. In Glenavy, Ballance House is a restored historic 19th-century house and the birthplace of John Ballance, the 14th Prime Minister of New Zealand. Visits are available on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm, April to September. The visit includes the restored parlour, the “Half a World Away From Here” exhibition on New Zealand’s history, and an exhibition of 19th-century agricultural machinery. Check seasonal opening times before your trip.

The Ulster Aviation Society displays more than 54 aircraft and vehicles in two authentic Second World War hangars at Maze Long Kesh. If you are more interested in local production and drinks, you can plan a tour of Hinch Distillery. It ends in an exclusive tasting bar, where guests can sample whiskies from the Hinch collection. Down Royal Racecourse hosts 13 race days throughout the year; check the specific dates before your trip.

The Hillsborough Forest Digital Sculpture Trail takes you past ten sculptures using an augmented reality app. The same app also offers a Royal Hillsborough Village Trail about the village’s history. In Lisburn, you can follow public art and literary trails using QR codes; a map is available from the Lisburn Visitor Information Centre. Complete all the brass rubbings along these trails to receive an image from the classic book “Guess How Much I Love You”.

The ISLAND Arts Centre brings together events and art across theatre, music, dance, visual and applied arts, film, new media and community arts. It also offers artist-led workshops, galleries and a sculpture trail. The Coca-Cola Visitor Experience offers a view of the production floor, an American-themed heritage theatre and an interactive zone. It explores the past, present and future of some popular soft drinks, as well as Coca-Cola HBC, one of the island’s leading companies.

Activities for Different Interests

At Let's Go Hydro, you can choose between wakeboarding, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. There is also a large inflatable water park where you can jump, climb and slide. Laganvale Farm combines paths alongside animal enclosures with an activity tunnel, a large sand play area, tipis and a petting farm. The indoor soft-play centre is open year-round for babies and children up to the age of ten. A seasonal maize maze is available from August to October; at the end of October, “Pumpkin Days” bring Halloween activities and the chance to pick your own pumpkins. Dates and availability may vary.

The Lisburn Visitor Information Centre provides information about accommodation, visitor attractions, tours and events in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area and across Northern Ireland. This can help with further planning if you want to include opening times, events or seasonal offers in your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Castlereagh, Belfast, Newry, Antrim, Carrickfergus, Ballymena, Banbridge, Dungannon and South Tyrone.

For the wider travel overview: Northern Ireland.