McArt's Fort
An ancient, probably Iron Age fort on the cliff edge with the widest view over Belfast, the Lough and, on clear days, Scotland.
Look north from almost anywhere in central Belfast and a giant is asleep above the rooftops: a basalt cliff profile the city calls Napoleon's Nose, which Jonathan Swift is said to have stared at while living in these parts, and which local tradition credits with the recumbent giant of Gulliver's Travels. Cave Hill tops out at a modest 368 m, yet it does what far taller mountains do: it lays the whole city, Belfast Lough and, on a clear day, the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man out beneath your boots like an unfolded map. The hill sits inside Cave Hill Country Park, run by Belfast City Council, and it is free with no ticket and no booking. The usual starting point is Belfast Castle, a Victorian mansion on the slope reachable by car or by Metro bus 1 along the Antrim Road. From there three clearly waymarked trails fan out: the short Castle Trail (1.3 km) around the castle gardens, which suits pushchairs and grandparents; the Estate Trail (3.9 km) through woodland on the lower slopes; and the full Cavehill Trail (7.2 km), climbing 256 m to McArt's Fort, an ancient promontory fort, probably Iron Age, on the very lip of the cliff. The view from up there is the real reason to come. Be realistic with children. The long loop takes two to three hours, needs proper footwear, and the ground turns slick and muddy after rain, which in Belfast means most of the year. The five caves that gave the hill its name, possibly early iron mines, are for looking at from below; do not attempt to scramble up to them. And as of autumn 2026 the upper stretch between the Devil's Punchbowl and McArt's Fort is partly closed for erosion repairs, with a diversion through the old limestone quarry, so read the boards at the entrance before you set off. The park opens at 7:30 every morning, but closing time slides with the seasons: 7:30 pm in mid-September and later still at the height of summer, then down in steps to 4:30 pm from late November into early January, when it is dark before four and an afternoon start is a bad idea. Cattle graze the upper slopes and the wind on the summit is far stronger than it feels at the car park, so pack a layer even in July. A family after a good photo and a gentle stroll should settle for the Castle Trail and the gardens; anyone who makes the summit will take home the best picture of Belfast there is.
An ancient, probably Iron Age fort on the cliff edge with the widest view over Belfast, the Lough and, on clear days, Scotland.
The basalt profile said to have given Swift the giant of Gulliver's Travels, visible from across the city.
A short, level loop around a Victorian mansion and its gardens, fine for pushchairs and anyone skipping the climb.
Antrim Road at the Innisfayle Park junction, Belfast BT15 5GR
With under-tens stick to the Castle or Estate Trail: the full climb takes two to three hours, the mud is slippery, and in autumn 2026 there is a diversion for repair works. For comfortable walkers the summit is worth every step; nothing else in Belfast gives you that view.
Metro bus 1 (routes 1A to 1H) from the city centre runs up the Antrim Road to the Belfast Castle entrance in about 20 to 25 minutes, and the trails start from the castle car park. Driving takes around 15 minutes from the centre; the park has seven free car parks at its entrances, but they fill on sunny weekends.