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Carnmoney Hill is owned and managed by The Woodland Trust Northern Ireland. This 52.46 acre (21.23 ha) site is home to wildlife such as foxes and Irish Hare and has an abundance of ancient features including a network of prehistoric engineered, underground tunnels called souterrains.
Carnmoney Hill sits at 207 metres above sea level and is steeped in history and folklore. Its name comes from the Irish Carn Monaidh, meaning ‘cairn of the hill’. There was likely to have been a cairn or stone pile on the hilltop which could place human influence on Carnmoney Hill as far back as the Bronze Age, two thousand years ago.
Carnmoney Hill is a green oasis in an urban area, and is rich in both history and wildlife. Walkers can choose between a gentle stroll around the foot of Carnmoney Hill; a lower woodland walk (lasting approx 30 mins); or a hilltop walk (lasting over an hour).
With awe-inspiring views of the city, Belfast Lough and the coast, Carnmoney Hill is a must visit. Steeped in history and folklore with a mix of ancient woodland, floral grassland and wetland, it is home to a wealth of wildlife and has a wide range of walks to suit all abilities.
- Carnmoney Hill
- Dunanney Lane
- Heading Up The Carnmoney Hill
- Dunanney Farmhouse
- The Victorian Water Fountain
- Visiting Carnmoney Hill
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Plants and Flowers
Carnmoney Hill lies 6 miles north of Belfast. It rises to a height of 761ft allowing beautiful views over the city, shoreline and Belfast Lough. The hill is a mixture of ancient woodland, flower meadows and marshlands. The eastern third of the hill is owned by Newtownabbey Borough Council and is a popular walking and hiking area with trails and paths suiting different abilities. The Woodland Trust have planted 60,000 native trees on the slopes of Carnmoney Hill including rowan, silver birch,...
Birds and Wildlife
The hill is also home to hares, foxes and badgers as well smaller animals. The abundance of butterflies, dragonflies and insect life attract a wide range of birds such as chaffinch, bullfinch, robins and blue-tits and bigger birds – long-eared owls, sparrowhawks and buzzards.
We began our walk on Dunanney Lane just off the O’Neill Road in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. The area is said to be named after the Celtic goddess Aine. Dun Aine in Irish meaning Aine’s fort. Aine is the goddess of summer, love and fertility. She is associated with crops, animals and agriculture. The gorgeously scented wildflower Meadowsweetis said...
Not far up Dunanney Lane is a limekiln, a common sight throughout Ireland and part of our industrial heritage. A kiln is a furnace or oven for burning, baking, or drying something, especially one for firing pottery, calcining limestone, or baking bricks. As the kilns were double-chambered and had to be accessed both at the top and the bottom they a...
Remains of the House
Further up the lane are the ruins of an old farmhouse known as Dunanney Farmhouse. This dwelling place on the slope of the hill has far reaching views to the north and east. While the walls have tumbled down, the location of the rooms, windows, hearth and outbuildings are still clearly visible. The farm is recorded on an Ordnance Survey map of 1833. It was originally a one-storey, two-roomed habitation. Over the years extra rooms were added and an upstairs level. Sheds and barns and a separat...
Keeping to the path as it slopes down through the woodland, you come across a surprising sight – A Victorian brick-built water fountain. In past times the hills in this district were more widely populated than today. Many families lived in the local caves which have since been filled in. This well channelled one of the local mountain streams, provi...
The paths on Carnmoney Hill are well laid out but suitable footwear is recommended especially in the winter months as the pathways can be muddy and slippery in places. There is a small carpark off the O’Neill Road, Dunanney Lane entrance (next to the garage) with room for 4-6 vehicles. For an unspoilt nature walk with magnificent views it is a good...
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Located just on the periphery of Newtownabbey, the trail meanders alongside Carnmoney hill rising significantly in elevation in its short distance. There are some of the old woodland paths that are beautiful to walk through with impressive views of North Belfast along the way.
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Carnmoney Hill provides a vital wildlife haven in the middle of an otherwise urban landscape. The hill consists of a number of habitats such as wetland, long established woodland, newly planted areas and open farmland which are home to animals such as badgers and foxes.
