Minnowburn

Minnowburn is a stretch of meadow, woodland and riverbank on the southern edge of Belfast where the Minnowburn flows into the River Lagan; the National Trust first became involved in June 1945, when the Minnowburn Beeches were threatened with felling. Climb Terrace Hill to the garden built by linen merchant Ned Robinson for views over the Lagan valley, then follow the Giant's Ring circular walk past the Sandpit field, site of the 1969 Pop for Peace concert endorsed by John Lennon, to the Neolithic henge and tomb, or take the riverside circular walk to the mill village of Edenderry and Shaw's Bridge, named after an officer in Cromwell's army. Dogs are welcome on leads. Reviewers call it peaceful and hard to believe it lies inside the city, and two of them mention the coffee and pizza van in the car park. Parking is free, there are no toilets, and paths include steps, steep slopes and uneven gravel, grass and wood bark.