A half-day outing for older children and adults, built around the 7.2km climb to McArt’s Fort and a slower hour in the Belfast Castle grounds. It costs nothing for a family of four apart from anything you buy in the cafe, and it needs dry weather, because the view is the point of the climb.
At a glance
- Time needed: half day, about 4 hours
- Cost: free. Parking, the park and the castle are all free
- Driving between stops: none. Every stop is on the same site
- Best months: April to September, dry and clear
- Suits: older children and adults with a good level of fitness. Dogs on a short lead in the park, but not in the castle gardens or playground
The plan, stop by stop
Start at 10am.
- Cave Hill Summit Loop, 2 hours 30 minutes. Walk the waymarked Cavehill Trail from the second car park on the castle drive. It climbs 256m, past the caves, to McArt’s Fort and its view over Belfast Lough. Wear sturdy shoes. The trail is partly closed above the Devil’s Punchbowl because of erosion, so follow the signed diversion through the limestone quarry to reach the fort.
- Five Caves, Cave Hill, 20 minutes. The caves are cut into the cliff face below the summit, and they give the hill its name. You pass them on the way up and get the clearest view from the path below. Only the lowest cave is safe to reach; do not climb to the others.
- Belfast Castle, 1 hour. Back at the car park, spend an hour in the castle grounds. The gardens have views over the city, the visitor information centre runs a self-guided tour, and the Castle Trail is a 1.3km circular path if you want an easy leg-stretch.
Where to eat
The Tavern Coffee Shop at Belfast Castle is open daily from 10am to 5pm and is the only place to eat on the site. The Cellar Restaurant is temporarily closed. If you want a full lunch after the walk, eat before you climb or bring supplies, because the cafe is a coffee shop rather than a restaurant.
If the weather turns
Drop the summit and stay low. The Estate Trail is a 3.9km circular route through the woodland on the lower slopes, and the Castle Trail is a 1.3km loop through the gardens. Both start from the same car park. If it rains hard, the Cave Hill Visitor Information Centre and the Tavern Coffee Shop are the only cover on the site, so treat the castle as the wet-weather plan and leave the hill for a dry day.
What to bring
Sturdy walking shoes or boots, waterproofs, and water. There is nowhere to buy drinks on the hill, and disposable barbecues are not allowed in the park.
Before you go
Check the park closing time and the Cavehill Trail closure notice on the Cave Hill Country Park page. Check the castle opening hours and any private event closures on the Belfast Castle contact page.
This is one of two days out in Belfast on this site. If you want a flatter, more sheltered day, see the Botanic Gardens Family Day. Browse the rest on the Belfast hub.