Carnmoney Hill (Named from the Irish - Carn Monaidh, meaning 'cairn of the bog) is a beautiful…read morewoodland area which offers a range of walking routes. In 1996 it was declared a Local Nature Reserve. There are over 57,000 native trees planted here, which mean this one of the largest native woodland creation projects in Northern Ireland. On offer is an array of nature; flowers, birds, insects, wildlife, ponds, there's also a children's play area and an old Victorian well. You can choose to follow one of three paths, the red being the longest and the blue is the shortest. The paths lead you to areas either wooded or clear, hilly or flat, gentle or tough going. Choose between a gentle stroll around the foot of Carnmoney Hill; a lower woodland walk (red - lasting about half an hour: this option is better for the less able) or you can try the hilltop walk (blue - takes one hour plus) go on be a daredevil and climb to the top, take in the gorgeous scenic views on offer covering the whole of Belfast, if you're lucky on a clear day you can see even as far as The Mournes. It's a great walk for taking the dog out, also very popular with mountain bikers. The climb can be steep so watch your footing, wear proper boots. Carnmoney Hill is a hugely recognisable landmark around the area. Once you've been up to the top, when you see it from afar you can think, oh wow, I've been all the way up to the top of that. Go me! For a bit of folklore, it's said the wife of Henry Joy McCracken hid out here after her husband was tried for treason and hanged in Cornmarket in 1798. If you listen carefully on a misty evening you can hear the cries of her ghost!

Took my two daughters on a wee trek here and must say we thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a bit…read moredemanding for an 8 and 4 year old but my girls loved it- we had a picnic and plenty of water!! Some interesting sites and ruins and great views.....and it's free!!!!

Great artwork of a 33ft long by artist John Kindness. This fish is a ceramic tile and located at…read morethe bank of Lagan River. It's very noticeable and well created. Glad that I visited.

We live laugh love the salmon of knowledge!!! Big Fish was a huge highlight of the trip, even…read morethough we only got to see it at night because of our timing.

I have been going for walks at Island Hill for many more years than I care to remember and I have…read morenow reached the stage in life when I take my own nippers there for some fresh sea air and a little bit of old fashioned exercise. The most exciting thing for children is that there is an actual island which is cut off at high tide, with a concrete walk way linking it to the land. So depending on when you visit, you may have a clearly exposed path to the island, a path just above the water or no path at all! When you can cross the walkway, you can get onto the island, which while tiny, still seems very exciting for children. There's a car park, toilets and a few picnic tables so if we ever get a nice warm sunny day you could happily spend a few hours at Island Hill. The views across Strangford are stunning, so it's a good little spot to take visitors to Belfast and let them see some great scenery.

Island Hill is a local secret. It's a little island with a circumference of about half a kilometre…read more There is a clear walkway around the island if you want to stay on dry land or you can walk along the shore. The fun part of Island Hill is that it's sometimes closed -there is only one way out to the island and when the tide is in that walk way gets totally submerged. To get out to the island you have to walk, often on a slippery path that is only broad enough for a bicycle or a horse. This can only be reached at particular times during the day as it will flood over and anyone who is on the island will have to either, swim, call the coast guard or wait the tide out. This sounds far fetched but people do get stuck out there. The views around Island Hill on a nice day are beautiful with Scrabo Tower on the hill to your left and Strangford waters all around. The car park has a grand Totum pole and other pieces or art on the cemented flood barriers. There are also picnic tables that are often used by families on sunny days. I walk my dog here at least once a week and so far I have avoided getting stranded on the island but I have had to roll up my trousers and wade back a few times. It's a lovely place to clear your head, look at the birds, and to poke the strange miniscule crabs and the large purple jellyfish that wash up.

A remarkable sculpture at Holywood Arches that depicts the author CS Lewis as he opens the door of…read morethe wardrobe where the journey to Narnia begins in the well loved series of children's books, of which the first is The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. CS Lewis grew up in nearby Ballyhackamore and some of the landscapes described in the Narnia books are identifiable with north Co Down nearby. Ross Wilson was commissioned to produce the sculpture in 1998, the centenary of Lewis's birth. The Searcher stands just outside the library, a surprising sight when you first see it, especially in a rather unassuming part of the city. As a landmark I suspect is not as well known as it might be.

The people of East Belfast are always proud to refer to the likes of George Best and Van Morrison…read moreas having come from the area, and rightly so. Oooh, story time... [The podiatrist I worked for has dealt with Van Morrison's feet, and this somewhat excited me, though he never appeared while I was working for her. I was quite gutted to say the least...I had rather hoped he would serenade me with "Brown Eyed Girl", but it just wasn't to be.] Anyway, back to the review! One of the most famous and recognisable stars to have come from this side of Belfast is CS Lewis, though he is often forgotten about amidst the other names, such as the aforementioned Best and Van Morrison. I absolutely love this sculpture, as it epitomises CS Lewis' most famous work, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by including him in it, as the narrator of another of his books from the Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew. I remember The Searcher being erected, and I can't believe it was 12 years ago in commemoration of the centenary of Lewis' birth! Since then, CS Lewis has become a bigger talking point for the tourist industry, with tours based on his life occurring every Sunday of the month from June to the end of September, and on the first Sunday of every month from October to March. Tickets are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre. I truly hope this wonderful and inspirational man is remembered for another hundred years, and East Belfast will continue to be proud of a man who was born here, educated in Campbell College, and lived here for much of his life.

I found myself in Donaghadee for the first time ever recently as I'd agreed to meet a friend for…read morecoffee. It's a lovely little fishing village with picturesque views of the Irish Sea. I was very early having over estimated the distance from my gaff so I decided to walk out to the lighthouse for a sneaky peek. I was disappointed it wasn't red and white striped with a family of sea loving misfits guarding it like a childrens TV show I used to watch in the early 90's. I was also disappointed that you can't get inside as I would have loved to have climbed to the top and had a better look at the Copeland Islands which are with in eye shot of the lighthouse. It was a very windy day and there really wasn't much historical information around so I asked a local fisherman for more information. He told me that the lighthouse was built using limestone bricks from North Wales and that it was built in 1836. He also said that the lighthouse was the first in Ireland to run from electricity. He was friendly but didn't really know much else. It is a shame that there isn't a tourist information board as this is clearly a town that attracts visitors and the lighthouse is one of the main attractions of the area. I enjoyed the walk down to the lighthouse and the views of Copeland Island but it would be better if you could get inside!

Donaghadee lighthouse and harbour is one of the most picturesque seaside places I know. There is…read morejust something about it that captures not only the eye but the heart too. The lighthouse is so beautifully kept and maintained and is well known and recognised as being an extremely useful landmark in the area. It's beam is seen for miles out to sea ensuring the safety of all boats big and little , in and out of the mouth of Belfast Lough, something which we tend to take for granted. The lifeboat has its mooring in Donaghadee harbour under the shadow of the lighthouse and there is something very reassuring to see it there. The boat and it's crew do an amazing job which again we tend to take for granted Us landlords don't always appreciate that along the coast are many people who make their livelihood from the sea and the lifeboat is vital to their safety. The lifeboat upkeep is run by a charitable organisation and the crew are all part time volunteer staff. To me it is hard not to think of the lighthouse without thinking of the lifeboat because they both play such a big role in maintaining our maritime safety and are both picturesque features of Donaghadee.

Having lived in Northern Ireland all my life, and being a massive fan and reader of great…read moreliterature, I decided it was completely sacrilegious to still not have visited this important place. It is of course the homestead where Patrick Bronte, father of the three famous sisters was born into a farming family. There are several buildings that you can visit, including the Church he visited, the school and various cottages including the cottage he was born in. It's a truly fascinating area to visit, and really worth a look if you're at all interested in the lives of the Brontes, or even just if you are interested in farming life and history in Northern Ireland. The picnic site is really lovely too, a great place to sit and take a break with your family or fellow travellers and enjoy the gorgeous countryside, while sitting in the site of a former 'shebeen' - an illegal drinking den...very Irish indeed!

Mesmerisingly beautiful forest park located in South Belfast which is less cultivated and more…read morenatural in style. Really comes into its own during autumn when leaves turn golden. There are numerous trails to follow whether your walking, running or just aimlessly wandering. The air is filled with birdsong and sounds of running water from the Lagan River; I never listen to music or podcasts when walking through Belvoir as the sounds of nature are so relaxing. This is fast becoming one of my favourite locations in Belfast.

Let me start by clarifying the name of this forest park. Despite the spelling, its name is…read morepronounced 'Beaver'. Yes, it's odd I know. So, anyhoo, it's got an odd name, what else can I tell you about Belvoir? Well, it's a beautiful green space close to the centre of Belfast and in my experience, one that not that many people know about. Obviously, there is plenty of space taken over by lush green trees and shrubs which is ideal for kids and dogs. I think dogs are meant to be kept on leads but not everyone sticks to that and as long as the dogs behave, no-one gets too bent out of shape. There's also a river running through the forest park which dogs can splash about in although I don't let the kids go in it as I have a little bit of a rat phobia. Squirrels are everywhere, so take some nuts and they will come quite close to you to eat them. Cultured types will also be interested in the historical aspects of the forest like the 12th century motte. More simple types like me will just enjoy the fresh air, the greenery and the squirrels.

In all honesty I'm not overly impressed with Pottinger's Entry. Certainly it has historical…read morerelevance and there's always a busker hollering, but I would never direct a tourist or friend here. Pottinger's Entry ultimately is just another Belfast street with nothing exceptional to make it worthwhile of a visit. It's also often filled with smelly bins which are off-putting but I guess bins must go somewhere for collection. What's great is that it's home to Grapevine Cafe, Morning Star pub and some other independent shops and eateries which are very, very good. However the strength lies with these businesses alone and has nothing to do with their location. Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend Pottinger's Entry itself as a place to make a beeline for as I personally think it lacks any distinctive features, art or ambience. A lot of the other Belfast entries have greater character - this is nothing special.

Having wandered through Belfast's many alleyways and entries on a daily basis I thought it was…read moreabout time I put my feelings toward them on Yelp. I'll start with the freshly renovated Pottinger's Entry. This is one of Belfast's five oldest streets and boasts used to be home to The Newsletter and a few other newspapers making it comparable with London's Fleet street. The 'entry' is now a convenient cut through leading to local businesses. You can often find an acoustic guitar-wielding busker belting out the tunes in Pottinger's Entry. Cutting through here will give you an insight in to what old Belfast was like especially if there is folk music bouncing off the bricks - you'll feel like your walk has been given its very own soundtrack. Banners hang at the entrance and exit of Pottinger's Entry saying, "The Entries - the close knit passageways where Belfast was born and bred" This sums up the importance of these wee snickets in Belfast's current architectural make up.

History and modern clash here in the Cathedral Quarter which is in the shadow of Belfast's Saint…read moreAnne's Cathedral. I spent most of my time along Hill Street but there's more. The narrow cobblestone alleyways are lined with classic pubs, fashionable bars and a spectrum of restaurants for different tastes and budgets. Many of the walls here are covered with street art, either sanctioned or unsanctioned. This makes for a colorful (colourful?) tour as you stumble from one drinking establishment to the next. Thankfully, my hotel was not too far away from Hill Street so I didn't have to stumble too far after enjoying drinks in the Dirty Onion and the Dark Horse the Garrick bar and the Duke of York. Lots of traditional Irish music, some whiskey, some Guinness and more. Don't miss the Yardbird which smelled amazing with their rotisserie chicken cooking. [Review 1994 of 2024 - 896 in United Kingdom - 23016 overall]

It has become a trend of modern times to quarter off cities into distinct areas. A technique to…read moreimprove the tourist experience and enhance city environments for locals. Some commentators criticise this, pointing to gentrification as a side effect of such urban planning. However, Belfast as a city emerging from decades of turmoil due to The Troubles, needed urban improvement more than any other UK city. The Cathedral Quarter has given Belfast an area to be proud of and I personally think it's brilliant. With cobbled streets, the continental feel of St Anne's Square, street art, The MAC, Black Box, Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast Print Workshop, Duke of York, 2Taps, Coppi, The Merchant and many more pubs, restaurants, independent shops and galleries the Cathedral Quarter brings a long awaited vibrancy to Belfast. It's my favourite area in Belfast to hang out and relax with friends and family. An area buzzing with people, music and culture which makes me proud of my city. Also don't miss it on Culture Night which is an event occurring annually in September. On this one night, the best night of the year for Culture Vultures, Cathedral Quarter abounds with live art, music, performance, dance, fire, colour and entertainment that will make you glad to be alive. You would be a fool to miss it - and bring the kids as it's family friendly up until 9pm.

It looks like a jewelry box but it's actually the Jaffe Memorial Fountain. Striking and brightly…read morecolorful it was originally erected in 1874 by Sir Otto Jaffe to honor his father, Daniel Jaffe. It was initially placed in Victoria Square but was later moved to the Botanic Gardens, where it remained until 2008 It is intricate and elegant, made of Portland stone with each of the smaller columns featuring a female figure that represents each of the four seasons. It stands at the Victoria Street entrance to the Victoria Square shopping center. The original yellow and white were apparently selected to reflect the aesthetic preferences of the Victorian era, as these were popular colors to symbolize purity and light and optimism. It is indeed a fountain but in September it was dry. I'm not sure if it is ever filled with water. [Review 1883 of 2024 - 866 in United Kingdom - 22905 overall]

I bet you've walked past this wee gem hundreds of times but never given it a second look, I'm right…read morearen't I? Well now it's time to be enlightened. This is the Jaffa Fountain, not named after everyone's favourite cake/biscuit but actually named after Belfast's first Lord Mayor Otto Jaffa. The fountain itself was actually built in 1879 and it was erected in its current location, but here's the strange part. As industrial and commercial Belfast grew it was moved out to Botanic Gardens - mature students might recognise it from those days. Once Victoria Square was commissioned the decision was made to bring the old fellow back to its rightful place. I for one am glad they did as I think it provides a welcome nod to Belfast's past in the centre of its current commercial renaissance.