NEWTOWNABBEY TO CARRICKFERGUS GREENWAY
“Knockagh and Back Line Greenways”
A 7km route along the disused ‘Back Line’ railway bewteen Monkstown and Greenisland to create a new community greenway in the mould of the Connswater or (nearby) Newtownabbey Greenways, and/or using the A2 corridor to developed a dedicated active travel route on into Carrickfergus.
ROUTE DETAILS
| Length | 7 kilometres |
| Estimate | £1.3 million |
| Timescale | 2026 to 2040 |
| Type | Former railway |
| Title | Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (NCC) |
| Border area | No |
| Councils | Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council |
| Mid and East Antrim Borough Council |
Article: Monkstown Greenisland Greenway (January 2014)
“A golden opportunity to link two communities with a new greenway centres on a disused railway just six miles north of Belfast. The ‘Back Line’ between Monkstown and Greenisland has been dormant for over 50 years, yet the land is still in public ownership.
Developing a new 2.7km traffic-free path could provide great options for locals trips without the car, and build upon the success of the recently opened Newtownabbey Way.”
PROGRESS UPDATES
Idea stage
Feasibility
Construction
Completed
June 2016: MEABC applies to Stage 1 of the DfI Small Grants Programme for Greenways competition
November 2016: MEABC secures DfI £8,000 grant funding for a feasibility study
March 2017: Greenisland Greenway Feasibility Study published (PDF, 2.7MB) with maps appendix (PDF, 2.5MB)
August 2017: MEABC secures £25,000 grant funding at DfI Small Grants Programme stage 3
RESOURCES ELSEWHERE
GREENWAY PROJECTS WHICH INTERSECT
BELFAST TO NEWTOWNABBEY GREENWAY
A 9km traffic-free route through the western side of Belfast Harbour and along Belfast Lough shore beside the M2 and M5 motorways to Whiteabbey.
A 6km greenway route from the Belfast Lough Shore under the Bleach Green railway viaducts and into Monkstown and Mossley.
NEWTOWNABBEY TO LARNE GREENWAY
A 26km route from Newtownabbey, linking into the former railhead at Doagh, and on towards the port town of Larne on the Irish Sea coast.
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 Newtownabbey to Carrickfergus Greenway, or if you want to submit a picture or video to this page, please get in contact.