Plans for eight new greenway routes across Northern Ireland have been given a £200,000 boost.
The funding was announced today by the Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency.
The proposed traffic free paths include routes from Downpatrick to Newcastle, Downpatrick to Comber, Doagh to Larne, Craigavon to Aghagallon and Ballymoney to Ballycastle.
They also include routes from Portadown to Caledon via Armagh, Portadown to Moy and Banbridge to Scarva.
Each of the proposed routes will receive £25,000 for the development of detailed designs.
Five greenways - traffic-free paths used largely by cyclists and walkers - already exist in Northern Ireland, including the Comber Greenway and Foyle Valley Cycle Route.
But Andrew Grieve from the Department for Infrastructure said they hope to see the creation of a 1,000km network of such routes across Northern Ireland.
Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health Improvement at the Public Health Agency, added: "We are delighted to be working with the Department for Infrastructure to support Greenway development as the Greenways provide opportunities for children and adults to incorporate walking and cycling into their everyday lives, whether for active travel, recreation or health."
