Cave Hill Conservation Campaign
Established in 1989
Awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2019.
Annual Guided Walks Programme 2026
The Cave Hill is popular with walkers and joggers. There are eight marked trails which range
from short easy strolls to challenging 5-mile treks over the summit.
There are five access points are Hightown Road, Carrs Glen, Upper Cavehill Road, Belfast Castle and Hazelwood.
We will be running a series of guided walks on Cave Hill. These walks generally take place on the third Saturday of each month from April to October, and usually run between 1000 to 1300, though some events will be early morning between 0600 and 0800, or later in the afternoon. The time and dates are listed below.
Most walks will have a theme where an expert will talk about a particular aspect of the Hill. In the absence of a theme, there will be a walk over the top of Cave Hill with a guide who will give a general overview of the historical and cultural aspects of the Hill and will bring participants to some of its most important sites.
Details of planned events for 2026 are outlined below in the schedule of Walks and Activities.
Schedule of walks and activities for 2026
Geology Walk
Saturday 25 April, 10am to 1pm - meet at Belfast Castle.
The rocks of Cave Hill is led by Kirstin Lemon.
Kirstin Lemon is an enthusiast for her geology profession, and she will delight in explaining the origins of Cave Hill on this walk over the hill. (Grade M).
Dawn Chorus
Saturday 5 May 5am to 7am Meet at the gates of the Park at Innsfayle Park
Aaon Kelly will lead a dander across the Park to allow us to hear and identify birds. Dawn Chorus, for the early risers (Grade E)
Bird Misting
Saturday 23 May 10am to 1.00pm Meet at Belfast Castle.
Bird Misting, the birds of Cave Hill, is led by Aidan Crean who is a licensed bird ringer. Aidan will catch, ring and release birds, allowing us to see them in beautiful detail. This walk is an opportunity to get up close to our native birds. (Grade E)
Solstice Walk
Saturday 20 June 3.30am to 5.30am. Meet at Belfast Castle.
Cormac Hamill will lead this walk, giving us the opportunity to greet the sun at dawn on a summer solstice morning before most of Belfast has stirred. (Grade M)
Botany Walk
Saturday 27June 10am to 1.00pm. Meet at Ballyaghan.
Ballyaghaghan, at the back of Cave Hil, lis a nature reserve full of wildflowers. Judy Meharg will walk us through and identify a variety of plants. Ballyaghagan, at the back of Cave Hill, is a nature reserve full of wildflowers. Meet at the Cave Hill Country Park entrance at the Upper Hightown Road car park (Grade M)
Forage on Cave Hill
Saturday 4 July 10am to 1.00pm. Meet at Belfast Castle
Phil Simpson, who has a fund of practical knowledge and plant lore, will guide us on this walk. in his company and see what useful plants we can find (Grade M)
A Bug Bonanza
Saturday 25 July 10am to 1.00pm. Meet at Belfast Castle.
Debbie Nelson runs a wildlife rescue centre and has a phenomenal knowledge of nature in all its variety. She will lead us on a walk, looking for and talking about some of the many varieties of bugs found in the Park. (Grade E)
The Archaeology of Cave Hill
Saturday 29 August 10am to 1pm. Meet at Ballyaghan.
Local archaeologist Cormac McSparron will lead a trip to the various remains on the hill from the Neolithic period to the early Christian period. Meet at the Cave Hill Country Park entrance at the Upper Hightown Road car park. (Grade M)
Bat Walk
Friday 4 September 8pm to 10pm Meet at Belfast Castle.
Aidan Crean will introduce us to the bats of Cave Hill. We will also have the opportunity to hear these enchanting nocturnal animals during an evening dander. (Grade E)
Fungi Foray
Saturday 26 September. 10am to 12pm. Meet at Belfast Castle.
Debbe Nelson will lead us on a snuffle through the Cave Hill woods to see what fungi we can find and identify.(Grade E)