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North Down Coastal Path

24.6 km one way · Strenuous · one-way walk · starts at The Esplanade, Holywood

A long one-way route along the southern shore of Belfast Lough from Holywood, past beaches, parks and coves towards Bangor and beyond; easy to do in shorter sections.

Terrain

Tarmac, stone and grass paths.

Dogs

WalkNI says dogs must be kept under close control. Keep dogs close near livestock and cliff edges.

Start: The Esplanade, Holywood. Directions to the start

Route, map and full directions: WalkNI (Outmore NI). Summary in our own words, checked 30 October 2026. Paths, tides and conditions change, so check the route before you go.

Route

Route line from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), 20.1 km. It can differ a little from the official route, so follow the waymarks and the WalkNI (Outmore NI) directions. Use two fingers to move or zoom the map on a phone.