Slievenacloy - Ballycolin

About

Experience the lowland meadow and rush pasture habitats of Slievenacloy, some of the rarest grassland habitat in Ulster. The fields are alive with delicate flowers, insects & birds, and watch out in the autumn for rare grassland fungi. Dogs must be kept on a lead due to grazing animals.

Start Point:
J250713

Finish Point:
J250713

Route:
Walk south from the farmhouse down the hill towards the road following the yellow butterfly markers. At the bottom of the hill, climb over the field gate to the left & walk through the lowland meadow, following the fenceline on your right, parallel to the road. At the intersecting fenceline, use the stile, then cross over the Stonyford stream. Follow the earth bank up the slope ahead & then through the rush pasture, watching out for wet & boggy areas! At the next fenceline, turn left following the waymarker posts north until you drop down & cross over the stile onto the surfaced track. Turn left & follow the surfaced track west, turning left at the road junction back towards the farmhouse.

Distance:
1.5 miles

Terrain:
Off-road paths, rough pasture

Point of interest:
Wild orchids, Irish hare and waxcap fungi.

Facilities:
Visitors should park where they can find a safe spot, for example across one of the double gates at the start of the path leading to the derelict farmhouse, leaving space for tractor access. Refreshments can be bought from the Glen Colin filling station at the junction of the Ballycolin/Colin Glen Road, or at the Ballymac Hotel on the Rock Road. There are toilet facilities on site however you need to contact the UWT to arrange for these to be opened.

Publication:
None

Publication availability:
n/a

Nearest town:
Stoneyford near Lisburn

OS map:
Sheets 14 & 15

Accessible terrain:
Uneven unsurfaced tracks.