20/07/2005

Walkers taken on mountain history tour

Walkers from across Northern Ireland were given the rare chance to learn more about one of Belfast’s most visible natural features - Black Mountain - today.

Wednesday’s ‘Walking and Talking in the Hills’ tour told the story of the mountain’s history from stone age times to today, featuring the people that lived, worked and travelled along the Mountain Loney, Hatchet Field, Bottle Field and Rock Dam.

As well as the history of the area, today’s walk, led by Terry Enright, gave an insight into the wildlife of the Hills.

It also marks a 'rebirth' for the mountain, which was bought, cared for and opened to the people of Northern Ireland by the National Trust.

After securing the upland last November, the Trust along with over 200 workers have helped clear over 1,000 tonnes of debris from the site over the past six months. Work has also seen the creation a ‘floating path’ or boardwalk to the summit of Black Mountain, a car park as well as ensuring adequate signage in the area.

The National Trust's aim is to attract 20,000 to 30,000 visitors a year to the mountain range.

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 November 2024
SDLP Calls For Action On Food Bank Crisis
The SDLP has called on the Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, to outline how he intends to tackle food bank reliance across Northern Ireland.
27 June 2005
National Trust opens Divis and Black Mountain to public
One of Belfast’s most famous backdrop’s, Divis and Black Mountain, has opened to the public today thanks to the National Trust. The Trust, which secured the upland last November, said it had carried out a huge amount of work to secure the property, protect the natural habitat of “this unique landscape” and provide open access for all.
22 October 2024
Peace Wall To Make Way For Community Building Project
Over 40 meters of the peace wall on Ballygomartin Road in west Belfast will be removed in the second phase of a shared space project. The project, known as the Black Mountain Shared Space (BMSS), aims to create a more inclusive and welcoming community space.
16 December 2022
West Belfast Interface Wall Removed
Sections of a three-metre-high interface wall in west Belfast have been removed to make way for the construction of a new EU-funded shared community space. The Black Mountain Shared Space Project will see a new purpose-built, cross-community facility open in winter 2023 at an interface area between the Ballygomartin and Springfield communities.
28 April 2016
Woman Seriously Sexually Attacked In Co Tyrone
A woman has been seriously sexually assaulted in Dungannon, Co Tyrone. The attack happened in the Peatlands Park area on Wednesday afternoon, 27 April. The victim was walking her dog when she was assaulted by a man who fled the scene in a black mountain bike.