BALLYNAHINCH GREENWAY
“Mountains of Mourne Greenway”
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea could be host to a greenway linking Newcastle up through the historic town of Downpatrick – with its working heritage railway – and on to Comber and the existing greenway link into Belfast.
This former branch line into Ballynahinch could provide an important leisure, commuting and tourism link.
ROUTE DETAILS
| Length | 6 kilometres |
| Estimate | £0.9 million |
| Timescale | 2026 to 2040 |
| Type | Former railway |
| Title | Belfast and County Down Railway |
| Border area | No |
| Councils | Newry, Mourne and Down District Council |
Article: Mountains of Mourne Greenway (October 2014)
“The first flourish of railway development in Ireland 150 years ago helped to establish towns like Newcastle into prime seaside tourist locations. While Bangor and Portrush still benefit from active railway links, Newcastle lost its rail connection in the 1950s.
The time is right to build a greenway sweeping all the way from Belfast to the Mourne Mountains – a signature tourism project which will promote the best we have to offer to the world, and drive significant economic redevelopment in this part of the country.”
IMAGES
PROGRESS UPDATES
Idea stage
Feasibility
Construction
Completed
June 2016: NMDC applies to Stage 1 of the DfI Small Grants Programme for Greenways competition
October 2016: Northern Ireland Greenways publishes article on “Mountains of Mourne Greenway”
November 2016:NMDC secures DfI £8,000 grant funding for a feasibility study
August 2017: Comber to Newcastle Greenway misses cut at DfI Small Grants Programme stage 3
INTERSECTING GREENWAY PROJECTS
Extending the Comber Greenway route by 55km through Ballygowan, Saintfield, Crossgar, Ballynahinch and Downpatrick to the Mournes.
GET INVOLVED
Successful greenway projects are driven by the passion of local people. If you have an update to share, a story to tell about the history of the route or future of the Ballynahinch Greenway, or if you want to submit a picture or video to this page, please get in contact.