Walkmates
Walk
Route by PaulWalkmates
Save the route to find it later. Follow it to hear when a date is added.
Start at the public Shaw's Bridge car park on the west side of the Lagan, reached from the Malone Road side. Take the short marked connection beside the old bridge onto the Lagan Towpath and follow it upstream towards Lisburn. This out-and-back stays on the towpath throughout, passing the wooded edge of Barnett Demesne, the Gilchrist Bridge junction and the canal reaches near Edenderry. Continue beside the canal past Locks 4 and 5 to the towpath footbridge near Drumbeg, then retrace the same route to Shaw's Bridge.
The route is mainly flat on a shared surfaced path. There are canal and river edges, narrow bridge approaches and cyclists, so keep children close, keep dogs under control and give other users room. Stay on the towpath rather than using the side bridges or neighbouring estate drives. Cross the towpath footbridge over the Lagan near Drumbeg and turn around immediately beyond it. Retrace the crossing and towpath without joining the road or park paths. Allow about 3 hours 15 minutes for the walk and short stops; you can shorten it by turning back earlier.
Park only in the signed public car park and check its entrance signs for any restrictions or closing time. The Lock Keeper's Cottage is downstream of this walk and its opening hours vary, so do not rely on it for facilities on this route. Follow notices on the day and turn back if a section is closed or flooded.
Route and access information checked against Lagan Valley Regional Park's Towpath Leaflet and Department for Infrastructure towpath notices, 4 October 2026. The listed July-August maintenance closure is on the Lock 3 to Shaw's Bridge stretch, downstream of this route. Sources: https://www.laganvalley.co.uk/sites/default/files/PDFs/Finaltowpathwhite.pdf and https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/lagan-towpath .
Cover photograph: Shaw's Bridge, Belfast (2013), copyright Albert Bridge, taken 19 August 2013. Source: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3608963 . Reused without alteration under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ . The dated photograph illustrates the bridge, not current water or path conditions.
Use the route details to plan your walk
If the map image does not load, the route description and starting-point details are still on this page.
The interactive map will load when you reach this section.
Start when you're ready and add the walk to your history. No group date needed.
For walkers
Watch: portrait video or landscape video.
Saved Walks needs an account. Reopening the website needs a connection; check access, weather and your own navigation before you go.
Not ready to pick a date? Follow it and you'll hear when somebody else does.
No commitment. You can follow it now and pick a date later.
Other routes starting close to this one
Explore more: Walks in Antrim
A few things to know before you make plans.
You can be the first to join a scheduled walk. A suggested date is an idea for a group walk; choose Set this date up to organise it. Check the participant list and meeting details before setting off.
Choose Put a date on this walk to organise a group walk. Not ready to choose a day? Follow the route for scheduling updates, or save it for later.
The organiser sets the date and meeting details and helps the group get started. They are a fellow walker and may be new to the route too.
Each walker is responsible for their own safety and navigation. Check the route, weather, equipment and whether the walk suits your experience and fitness.
Yes. Choose Walk this route on your own to open the start screen, then start when you are ready. Finish the walk to add it to your walking history. You do not need a group date.
Use the walk page to check meeting details, updates and who is going. Check in from 24 hours before the start to let the group know you still plan to come.
Check the participant list and check-ins, and message the organiser or other walkers to confirm where to meet and who is coming. This is especially useful when the group is small.
Necessary storage keeps Walkmates working. With your permission, Google Analytics, Mixpanel and Simple Analytics help us understand how the site is used. Optional analytics stay off until you choose.