Randalstown Forest
Randalstown Forest is a mixed conifer forest that contains an owl conservation centre, Deer Park, and several walking routes, with two small adjacent Nature Reserves at the forest edge on the shores of Lough Neagh.
County Antrim
Distance 2.5 miles
OS Map Sheet 14
Terrain Off-road paths
Nearest Town Randalstown
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J082886
Route Type Woodland
While there is the option of following several trails within the forest, this one follows the route indicated by the red arrows. From the parking area, follow the path into the forest, past the World of Owls Centre and through the turnstile. Immediately after passing thorugh the turnstile, turn right and follow the path around the western side of the forest. Continue following this path for approx. 1,500m until you reach a ‘cross-roads’ of tracks. The red arrow indicates that you turn left but, for a small diversion, turn right at this point and follow the track through another turnstile to the Randalstown Forest and Farr’s Bay Nature Reserves. Then, return to the ‘cross-roads’ of tracks and continue following the red route. The track soon leads you back to the starting point where you turn right, pass through the turnstile and walk back to the car park.
These walks are situated in a working forest environment and may be subject to diversion and closure from time to time.
Up to date information is available on the Forest Service web site – link below.
The rich birdlife of the Lough
Follow New Street in Randalstown onto the Moneynick Road. Then turn left onto the Staffordstown Road, following the signs for Toome, before turning left again following the signs for Randalstown Forest.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Car parking/ picnic facilities
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We want everyone to be able to enjoy the walking routes listed on WalkNI safely and easily.
If you have come across any problems whilst walking a route, please let us so we can pass on any issues to the appropriate management body responsible for maintaining the walk.
Walk Route
Randalstown Forest
Very good walk with several routes and birdhide on lough shore, final minute of GOT filmed here