Life

Weekend Walk: Belfast's Botanic Gardens

The Palm House is home to wonderful collections of tropical plants
The Palm House is home to wonderful collections of tropical plants The Palm House is home to wonderful collections of tropical plants

Distance: 0.8 miles circular

Map: Sheet 15 of Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Discoverer Series available from Land & Property Services osni.gov.uk or nidirect.gov.uk/map-shop-information.

Nearest town to start: Belfast.

Facilities: There are numerous amenities and coffee shops along the Stranmillis Road and Botanic Avenue.

Developed By: Belfast City Council.

Terrain: Well surfaced paths, some steps in places.

Walk Description: Come and explore one of Belfast’s most historic parks, boasting many interesting buildings and features including some renowned botanical collections. Just a short walk from the city centre and a stone’s throw from Queen's University, you will find this a picturesque haven away from the city traffic.

It is possible to start your walk around the park from any of the seven entrances to Botanic Gardens; however, the main entrance is just off the Stranmillis Road. Once inside the main gates you'll notice an impressive statue of Lord Kelvin, physicist and founder of the Kelvin temperature scale, who was born in Belfast in 1824.

The path leads past the front of the Ulster Museum towards the entrance of the Tropical Ravine which was constructed by Charles McKimm between 1887 and 1889. Today the ravine contains a fascinating collection of exotic species growing in a sunken glen and is well worth a short diversion from the main path. The main path is easily followed around the park, soon leading to the Palm House.

Designed by Charles Lanyon and built between 1839 and 1852, the Palm House is home to wonderful collections of tropical plants arranged in a cool wing, a stove wing and the higher central dome. Amazingly, many of the fascinating species on display have been growing here since the 19th century.

Next weekend is a fantastic time to visit the gardens for the annual Autumn Fair taking place on Saturday and Sunday September 19 and 20. A weekend of food, music, flowers and family fun.

Responsible Walking: Please remember to practice the principles of ’Leave No Trace’ when enjoying the outdoors in order to minimise your impact on the environment. For more information, visit www.leavenotraceireland.org

Disclaimer: This information has been provided by WalkNI.com in association with The Irish News. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information. However, neither WalkNI.com nor The Irish News can accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Where such are brought to our attention, the information for future publications will be amended accordingly.

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