Metropolitan Lisburn’s biggest
Colin Glen Forest Park
Park or garden
69 ha (169 acres)4.5 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.5 km of path
96 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi northfrom the centre
Directionsto the park
First Presbyterian Church (Non Subscribing) · Photo: NateBergin · CC BY 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Metropolitan Lisburn · parks, paths & countryside
86% of Metropolitan Lisburn’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
The Lagan Valley AONB reaches the edge of Metropolitan Lisburn. Parks and playing fields in Metropolitan Lisburn add up to 4.1 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical town in England and Wales has 2.1. 99 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 3.7 for every square kilometre. Metropolitan Lisburn has no Outdoors Grade: Northern Ireland’s towns aren’t graded on the outdoors yet.
Green space
4.1 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical town in England and Wales 2.1
Near a park
86%
of residents within 400 m
Typical town in England and Wales 83%
Footpaths
99 km
3.7 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical town in England and Wales 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
22%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Lagan Valley AONB
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Metropolitan Lisburn?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Countryside close byThe Lagan Valley AONB starts 0.0 mi south.Historic parksSeymour Hill is a registered historic park (Grade B).
Metropolitan Lisburn’s strongest suit is the Lagan Valley AONB close by, followed by its historic parks.
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Metropolitan Lisburn’s settlement.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · DAERA
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Metropolitan Lisburn
The biggest is Colin Glen Forest Park, 69 ha (169 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 24 named parks by size: 245 ha (605 acres) and 26 km of path
Parks & gardens 237 haPlaying fields 7.2 haPlay spaces 0.1 ha
The two biggest, Colin Glen Forest Park and Colin Glen Forest Park, are 56% of the named green space and carry 9 km of path between them. 14 of the 24 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
Colin Glen Forest Park
Park or garden
69 ha (169 acres)4.5 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.5 km of path
96 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi northfrom the centre
Directionsto the park
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
Park or garden · 70 m outside town
54 ha (134 acres)9.3 km of path
2 h 5 minto walk all 9.3 km of path
76 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.9 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the park
Historic park · Grade B
Derriaghy Glen Linear Park
Park or garden
8.9 ha (22 acres)1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
12 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the park
Carnanmore Park
Park or garden
10 ha (26 acres)
15 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.7 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the park
Jubilee Park
Park or garden
7.0 ha (17 acres)1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
10 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the park
McIlroy Park
Park or garden · 210 m outside town
5.7 ha (14 acres)0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
8 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.6 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the park
Old Golf Course Road Park
Park or garden
4.0 ha (10 acres)0.9 km of path
15 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
6 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi eastfrom the centre
Playground
Directionsto the park
All 24 named parks and green spaces
Colin Glen Forest ParkPark or garden · 69 ha · 4.5 km of path
DirectionsColin Glen Forest ParkPark or garden · 69 ha · 4.5 km of path
DirectionsSir Thomas and Lady Dixon ParkPark or garden · 54 ha · 9.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDerriaghy Glen Linear ParkPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsCarnanmore ParkPark or garden · 10 ha
DirectionsJubilee ParkPark or garden · 7.0 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsMcIlroy ParkPark or garden · 5.7 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsOld Golf Course Road ParkPark or garden · 4.0 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsBells Lane ParkPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsLenadoon ParkPark or garden · 2.3 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsHalf Moon LakePark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsTwinbrook Wildlife ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsDunmurry ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsFullerton ParkPlaying field · 1.6 ha
DirectionsMcComb ParkPlaying field · 1.0 ha
DirectionsDerriaghy Cricket ClubPlaying field · 0.9 ha
DirectionsLisburn Distillery Football ClubPlaying field · 0.8 ha · just outside town
DirectionsDerriaghy CC Football ClubPlaying field · 0.7 ha · just outside town
DirectionsAshley ParkPlaying field · 0.7 ha
DirectionsRichardson ParkPlaying field · 0.6 ha
DirectionsNapier ParkPlaying field · 0.5 ha
DirectionsLagmore Activity ParkPlaying field · 0.4 ha
DirectionsBelle Steele GardenPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsOld Golf Course Road PlaygroundPlay space · 0.1 ha
DirectionsClose to home
How close Metropolitan Lisburn’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (NISRA Census 2021 data zones against OpenStreetMap’s parks).
Within 400 m (86%)Further (14%)
Metropolitan Lisburn86%
Belfast towns91%
Towns in England and Wales83%
About 5,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 37 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 882 residents.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty around Metropolitan Lisburn
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the settlement; circle size shows each one’s area. Northern Ireland has no National Parks.
AONBThe 5 km the grade counts
22% of the land within 5 km of Metropolitan Lisburn is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
5 waymarked walks pass through or near Metropolitan Lisburn
99 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Metropolitan Lisburn and the kilometre around it, 3.7 km for every square kilometre (the typical town in England and Wales has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
RegionalLocalOther waymarked
Lagan Towpath6.9 km
The Rose Walk1.6 km
Slievenacloy - Stoneyford River1.5 km
Riverside Circular Walk, Minnowburn1.0 km
Ridge Trail, Belfast Area0.3 km
The regional route here is the Lagan Towpath.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
A historic park in the middle of Metropolitan Lisburn
HED’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Metropolitan Lisburn’s named parks.
Registered park · Grade B
Derriaghy Glen Linear Park
8.9 ha. Part of Seymour Hill, a registered historic park (Grade B). 0 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge.
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OpenStreetMap outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. HED, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Metropolitan Lisburn: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 7.8 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 17.2 | 16.7 | 14.9 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.3 | 7.3 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 91 | 73 | 76 | 64 | 65 | 78 | 82 | 90 | 81 | 100 | 110 | 97 |
April is the driest month (64 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 19 °C). Winter days are short, about 7 hours of daylight in December, and 110 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 36 nights a year. The climate in Metropolitan Lisburn →
Things to do
37 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Metropolitan Lisburn is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Newtownabbey Bay (Hazelbank) Beach8.0 mi from Metropolitan Lisburn’s edge
DirectionsSeapark Beach9.3 mi from Metropolitan Lisburn’s edge
Directionsjordanstown beach9.5 mi from Metropolitan Lisburn’s edge
DirectionsBrompton Bay15 mi from Metropolitan Lisburn’s edge
DirectionsSkippingstone Beach15 mi from Metropolitan Lisburn’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. DAERA tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Up high. Collin, at 328 m, is the highest named top within 2 km of Metropolitan Lisburn.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 1
Plus 1 viewpoint without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 2
Collin328 m (1,076 ft) · 0.5 mi from town
DirectionsBlack Hill360 m (1,181 ft) · 1.1 mi from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Slievenacloy Nature Reserve117 ha · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 37
Fullerton Parkin town
DirectionsOld Golf Course Road Playgroundin town
DirectionsLambeg Play Park0.5 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 34 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
LisburnBelfastCarryduffHillsborough and CulcavyMetropolitan CastlereaghMetropolitan NewtownabbeyMetropolitan Lisburn
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Lisburn | – | 4.1 | 86% | 22% |
| Lisburn 3.0 mi | – | 0.9 | 74% | 13% |
| Belfast 4.3 mi | – | 3.6 | 95% | 10% |
| Carryduff 6.1 mi | – | 1.4 | 66% | 18% |
| Hillsborough and Culcavy 6.6 mi | – | 11.6 | 38% | 0% |
| Metropolitan Castlereagh 6.7 mi | – | 2.1 | 83% | 16% |
| Metropolitan Newtownabbey 9.0 mi | – | 3.2 | 74% | 0% |
Hillsborough and Culcavy has at least twice Metropolitan Lisburn’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Metropolitan Lisburn
What is the biggest park in Metropolitan Lisburn?
Colin Glen Forest Park, 69 ha (169 acres), with 4.5 km of path. Colin Glen Forest Park (69 ha) is second. 24 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Metropolitan Lisburn near an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?
It covers 39 km² and was designated in 1965.
What are the best walks near Metropolitan Lisburn?
5 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Lagan Towpath, The Rose Walk and Slievenacloy - Stoneyford River. Colin Glen Forest Park alone has 4.5 km of path.
What is the nearest beach to Metropolitan Lisburn?
Newtownabbey Bay (Hazelbank) Beach, 8.0 mi from the edge of the town, then Seapark Beach (9.3 mi). Metropolitan Lisburn itself is inland.
How many people in Metropolitan Lisburn live near a park?
86% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (NISRA Census 2021 data zones against OpenStreetMap’s parks). The typical town in England and Wales is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Metropolitan Lisburn?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Metropolitan Lisburn are historic?
Seymour Hill (Grade B) is on HED’s register of parks and gardens.
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Metropolitan Lisburn’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Metropolitan Lisburn’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: © OpenStreetMap contributors (parks, public gardens, pitches and recreation grounds, playgrounds), Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik’s Ireland and Northern Ireland extract. Ordnance Survey’s OpenStreetMap covers Great Britain only.
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: DAERA (Northern Ireland Environment Agency) boundaries, areas and designation dates, via Open Data NI, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, October 2026. Places over the border are marked Republic of Ireland.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Department for Communities, Historic Environment Division, via Open Data NI, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) and Tailte Éireann provinces (CC BY 4.0, © Tailte Éireann) as land. Residents near a park: NISRA Census 2021 data zones.
- Grade: Northern Ireland towns have no Outdoors Grade yet.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.