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Three people walking along path amidst bleak moorland, with row of bare trees in foreground
Walkers at Divis and the Black Mountain, County Antrim | © National Trust/Bernie Brown
Northern Ireland

Divis and the Black Mountain summit trail

The 3-mile Summit Trail takes you along the Tipperary Road through open heath and blanket bog following a way marked trail to the highest peak in the Belfast Hills, Divis Mountain. Overlooking the city below and with panoramic views of Lough Neagh, the Mourne Mountains and Strangford Lough there is no better vantage point to take in the scenery that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Come prepared

Remember to bring appropriate footwear for this challenging walk.

Total steps: 5

Total steps: 5

Start point

Divis Barn, OSNI grid ref: J272744

Step 1

From the starting point at the barn, pass the pond on your right and on through the kissing gate. Take the marked route to your left for the Summit Trail. You are now on the Tipperary Road named after the time when the mountain was a training ground and fully kitted squaddies marched the long road.

Step 2

As the road forks, take the marked turn right heading for the summit. Take a slight detour to the viewing point. Retrace your steps 10m to the start of the steep accent to Divis Mountain.

Step 3

This part of the trail is lined with boulders to assist with water displacement and prevents the trail from being washed downhill. Ascend the path and continue until you reach the trigonometry pillar that marks the summit of Divis Mountain at 475m (1562ft).

Step 4

The descent is along the tarmac roadway to the left of the mast downwards.

View from Divis Mountain and Black Mountain, Northern Ireland
View from Divis Mountain and Black Mountain, Northern Ireland | © National Trust Images

Step 5

At the bottom of the hill follow the marked route and turn right back towards the barn.

End point

Divis Barn, OSNI grid ref: J272744

Trail map

Divis Mountain summit trail map, Northern Ireland
Divis Mountain summit trail map, Northern Ireland | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Divis Road, Hannahstown, near Belfast, County Antrim, BT17 0NG

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