Divis and the Black Mountain from the lower car park

From the lower car park on Divis Road, walk up the road for about a kilometre to the Barn. Take the National Trust's Summit Trail across the heath and blanket bog to Divis at 478 m, the highest hill in the Belfast Hills, then follow the ridge east to Black Mountain at 389 m. The walk then loops back south of the ridge to the Barn and down the road to the car park.

It is 10.1 km round with 209 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Moderate: paths and tracks over open ground, with steps on the climb and wet going on the bog in any weather. There is no shelter on the tops, and the views over Belfast and beyond disappear in cloud.

The National Trust has closed the upper car park and café at Divis until Spring 2027 for building work, so this walk starts at the lower car park, which stays open from dawn to dusk. The Trust says there is no safe and legal way to reach the mountain on foot, because the public roads have long stretches with no footpath: that applies to the first kilometre of this walk too, so keep to the verge and watch for traffic. Cattle graze freely on the mountain from April to November, and dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

Parking at both car parks is free and limited; the Trust asks you to come back another time if they are full.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.