Cave Hill Country Park

Jun 16, 2023

2 min read

Updated: Sep 13

📍 North Belfast

💷 Free

🅿️ Free parking at Belfast Castle

🚻 Toilets and baby changing at Belfast Castle

♿️ Accessible around Belfast Castle and the main facilities, but not the summit trail

☕️ Tavern Coffee Shop at Belfast Castle

🧒 Play park suitable for different ages; summit walk best for confident walkers

🗺️ Antrim Road, Belfast, BT15 5GR

What You’ll Find

Cave Hill Country Park covers a huge area of woodland and open hillside surrounding Belfast Castle.

There are several walking routes to choose from, ranging from easier woodland paths to the more challenging climb towards Cave Hill’s summit and McArt’s Fort.

The higher you climb, the better the views become. On a clear day, you can see across Belfast, Belfast Lough and far beyond.

Families can also explore the grounds of Belfast Castle and visit the Cave Hill Adventurous Playground. The play park has climbing equipment, slides and plenty to challenge active children.

For the Grown Ups

The Tavern Coffee Shop is located in the cellar of Belfast Castle and serves hot and cold drinks, scones, muffins and traybakes.

There are toilets and baby-changing facilities inside Belfast Castle. The coffee shop also has a step-free entrance.

Bring your own drinks and snacks if you are heading up the hill, as there are no facilities once you leave the castle area.

Why We Loved It

✅ Incredible views across Belfast

✅ A choice of walks for different abilities

✅ The adventurous play park

✅ Belfast Castle and its beautiful gardens

✅ The fun cat trail for younger children

✅ Completely free to visit

Wee Adventurer Top Tips

⭐️ Start from the Belfast Castle car park for easy access to the castle, gardens and play park

⭐️ Wear proper walking shoes if you plan to climb Cave Hill

⭐️ Bring a baby carrier rather than a buggy for the higher trails

⭐️ The summit walk is steep and can become muddy and slippery

⭐️ Keep children close around McArt’s Fort and the cliff edges

⭐️ Bring water and snacks for the walk

⭐️ The car park can become busy during weekends and good weather

Overall Verdict

Cave Hill Country Park is a brilliant free family day out with something for all ages.

Younger children can enjoy Belfast Castle, the cat trail and the adventurous playground, while older children can take on the climb to McArt’s Fort.

Whether you stay around the castle or head all the way to the summit, the views make this one of Belfast’s most memorable outdoor adventures.

Have You Visited?

Have you explored Cave Hill Country Park with your wee adventurers? Let us know how far you climbed and tag @WeeAdventurers in your family adventures!