Skegoneill is a townland situated in North Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. While primarily residential, this area serves as a gateway to significant outdoor activity opportunities, largely due to its proximity to Cave Hill Country Park. The landscape features the prominent basaltic outcrop of Cave Hill, offering a diverse mix of woodland, heath, and moorland terrain suitable for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and more.
Skegoneill provides access to a variety…
83
Routes
4.5
(168)
Average rating
2667
People visited

4.7
(51)
489
hikers
5.27km
01:41
220m
220m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(3)
89
hikers
5.40km
01:23
20m
20m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
151
hikers
3.77km
00:58
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
86
hikers
5.23km
01:38
210m
210m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.5
(2)
9
riders
35.5km
02:15
310m
310m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
3
riders
37.7km
02:33
460m
470m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(16)
178
riders
31.4km
01:50
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(11)
59
riders
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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2.5
(2)
4
riders
34.4km
03:11
650m
650m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
27.0km
02:41
600m
590m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
17.5km
01:45
380m
380m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
47
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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128
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(7)
106
runners
10.3km
01:19
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(7)
82
runners
8.60km
01:12
380m
380m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

77
runners
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
62
riders
33.8km
01:29
100m
100m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(3)
33
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

24
riders
67.1km
02:56
470m
480m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

24
riders
80.5km
03:30
590m
590m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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Skegoneill provides access to various outdoor activities, including Hiking, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, Jogging, and Road cycling. These activities are largely concentrated within the adjacent Cave Hill Country Park. The area features more than 10 routes, catering to different interests and fitness levels.
The Cave Hill Country Park loop is a popular hiking route, covering 3.3 miles (5.3 km) with an ascent of over 650 feet (200 meters). Other favored trails include loops from Belfast Castle, such as the 5.7-mile (9.1 km) route from Mount Vernon or the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) route directly from Belfast Castle. These trails offer a mix of woodland and summit climbs. More options can be found in the Hiking around Skegoneill guide.
Yes, Skegoneill offers easy hiking routes, particularly within Cave Hill Country Park. These trails are suitable for those seeking less strenuous walks. Specific easy options can be explored through the Easy hikes around Skegoneill guide.
Skegoneill provides access to routes for Touring cycling and Road cycling, with varied terrain suitable for both leisurely rides and more strenuous workouts. The general area and Cave Hill Country Park accommodate these activities. Detailed routes are available in the Cycling around Skegoneill and Road Cycling Routes around Skegoneill guides.
Yes, mountain biking trails are available in the Skegoneill area, primarily within the diverse terrain of Cave Hill Country Park. The park's landscape offers suitable conditions for mountain biking. Information on these trails can be found in the MTB Trails around Skegoneill guide.
Skegoneill offers various jogging routes, mainly within the extensive trail network of Cave Hill Country Park. The park's varied terrain, from lower slopes to higher ascents, provides options for different jogging preferences. Specific routes are detailed in the Running Trails around Skegoneill guide.
The primary natural feature is Cave Hill, a basaltic outcrop rising to 1,207 feet (368 meters). Within Cave Hill Country Park, the iconic 'Napoleon's Nose' is a distinctive basaltic rock formation. The park also offers panoramic viewpoints over Belfast and Belfast Lough.
Skegoneill is a popular destination for outdoor activities on komoot, with more than 34,000 visitors exploring its routes. The area's 16 routes have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 1,000 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for Skegoneill, covering various sports. These include Hiking around Skegoneill, Easy hikes around Skegoneill, Cycling around Skegoneill, MTB Trails around Skegoneill, Running Trails around Skegoneill, and Road Cycling Routes around Skegoneill.
The terrain in the Skegoneill area, particularly within Cave Hill Country Park, is diverse. It features a mix of woodland, heath, and moorland. Trails range from gentle paths in lower sections to more challenging climbs on the basaltic slopes of Cave Hill.
Trails in Skegoneill, especially those ascending Cave Hill, can involve significant elevation gain. For example, the popular Cave Hill Country Park loop includes an ascent of over 650 feet (200 meters). Routes vary from relatively flat sections to more strenuous climbs to the summit.
Yes, Cave Hill Country Park, accessible from Skegoneill, offers paths suitable for families. While some trails involve climbs, there are also gentler walks available. The park's diverse network allows for selection of routes appropriate for various ages and fitness levels.
Information regarding Cave Hill Country Park, which is central to outdoor activities in Skegoneill, is managed by Belfast City Council. Details can be found on the Belfast City Council website. For direct inquiries, the general contact number for Belfast City Council is 028 9032 0202.

