Barnett Demesne


View larger map
Address: Milltown Road, Malone Road/Shaw's Bridge, BT9 5PB

Entrance to the park is via Dub Lane, Milltown Road and Shaw's Bridge. Take Metro no. 8A-C from Belfast city centre and get off at Dub Lane.

Barnett Demesne, once a private estate, opened to the public in 1951. Today, the park, in south Belfast, retains much of the character of the original estate.

Its main feature is Malone House which commands stunning views over acres of magnificent parkland, Lagan Valley and the Belfast hills. The park is also home to Belfast Activity Centre, which is located in the old stable yard and offers personal and social development opportunities for young people, as well as many pieces of public art

You can find out more about Barnett Demesne from the Malone House website.

In July 2011 and 2012, Barnett Demesne was awarded the Green Flag Award, which recognises the best open spaces in the UK. It is one of ten of our parks, cemeteries and open spaces to receive this award.

Opening hours

All our parks open at 7.30am daily. Closing times vary according to the time of year - check full opening hours for parks

Mountain bike trails

Unmasked by Owen Crawford As part of our Investment Programme 2012-2015, we're developing new mountain bike trails at Barnett Demesne.

The new trail system - the first of their kind in Belfast - will open in 2013 and include 12km of bike trails for all levels, a dirt jump area and associated infrastructure. During the work, some areas of the park and land between Barnett Demesne and Mary Peters Athletics Track will be closed.

For more information, call our Countryside Officer on 028 9032 0202 (extension 6653) or email access@belfastcity.gov.uk

Contact details

For more information, call the park manager on 07802 301860 (Monday to Friday only, 9am to 4.30pm) or email quinns@belfastcity.gov.uk

Facilities

Park features include an arboretum, daffodil garden, ecotrail, orienteering routes and children’s playground (near Shaw’s Bridge). Refreshments are available in the Barnett Restaurant in nearby Malone House.

Barnett Demesne is also home to tree and plant collections with semi-natural features such as woodland and wildflower meadows, many wild animals, including rabbits, badgers and grey and red squirrels, and birds such as jays, rooks and a range of songbirds. More than 70 species of wildflower grow in the meadows during the summer months.

Walking routes

Barnett Demesne has a wide variety of walking routes, several of which link with the Lagan Towpath, Clement Wilson Park and Mary Peters Athletics Track