Valley Park - V36 - Newtownabbey - Northern Ireland
As much as we love those green areas and parks that Ireland and Northern Ireland got to offer and serve us, our kids also love those places because it let them free and give them the chance to run around, play in the kids area that is sometimes offered, and give them the chance to choose the path they want to go through - which is what happened in Valley Park in Newtownabbey, county Antrim.
We have been to different parks and gardens in Ireland and Northern Ireland before and I believe that every single one of them tends to be different in its own way - or even in the games placed in the kids area which the kids tend to enjoy - that's why we never stop visiting these places and definitely will never stop enjoying them as well.
Valley Park - V36 - is located in Newtownabbey, between Valley Leisure Centre and the Tesco Newtownabbey site. Newtownabbey is known to be a large settlement north of Belfast which is sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, so it is not considered hard for Belfast residents to go and check the different parks that are located in Newtownabbey, such as the Hazelbank Park as well which we have been there before (
In addition to walking through the park and choosing some routes and trails to follow - which was considered some kind of hard decision to go through and make - there are other different facilities in Valley Park, V36, which the kids will enjoy the most. These facilities include a full size floodlit third generation pitch that is suitable for football, rugby, and Gaelic sports, there is also a civic linear park there that include event spaces open space, scenic walking routes and installations of both public and community art, there is also a different and unique children's place area, and finally there is also a picnic space for the family as a whole - I don't have to mention that the kids area and those games which the kids were playing was considered the best part of the trip for them.
We started our journey by walking through the park and choosing between different paths and trails - we also got confused between which Ulster way to choose and that was after seeing the ducks at the beginning of the journey swimming in the water and getting to walk for a little bit of time. After moving in the right direction, we managed to reach that huge and giant chair which the kids insisted to get on top of - was thinking to leave them without bringing them down again :-) - and then we eventually reached all those games in the kids area and we got the chance to play around for a little bit of time before heading to lunch - yes, I enjoyed playing along with them :-)
After playing with those games offered to the kids in the Valley Park, we decided to head to where we are going to have our lunch and going back to the girls who did not join us on this walking tour and didn't get along with playing on any of these games which we enjoyed - they are the ones to lose :-)
At the end of this trip which was all about walking, running, and playing around with the kids, we went to have our lunch and we eventually treated ourselves with some ice-cream! Who doesn't love ice cream? I think no body, which is exactly what happened, we - adults and kids - ordered ice cream at the end of our beautiful and energetic day.
The civic linear park which is found in V36 will be open from 6 AM to 10 PM every day, and the play area will be open every day from April to October from 9 AM to 9 PM and from November to March will close at 6 PM.
There are different parks in Ireland and Northern Ireland in general which we have been to before and which we might recommend for those searching for beautiful parks to head to and have some fun at with their kids and family. Our suggestions will include the famous Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in Belfast which is considered the most famous ( there is also the Botanic Gardens which we really enjoyed along with the kids ( you could also head to the Phoenix Park in Dublin if you are going to visit Ireland ( there is also the Tollymore Forest Park in Newcastle in Northern Ireland which is considered one of the beautiful places in this country that we highly recommend when it comes to parks and gardens ( and a lot of other parks which might not have an end.
What are the parks that you have been to before in Ireland or Northern Ireland and what did you like most about them? Have you ever been to the Valley Park - V36 - before? Are you willing to pay it a visit? Share you experiences with us and tell us more about your stories with the parks and the gardens that you have been to before.
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Climbing Carnmoney Hill, County Antrim; History and Wildlife
Climbing Carnmoney Hill, County Antrim - There's a lot of walking and climbing in Ireland that one would be involved with, right? Exactly, and we are one of those who have already started the journey of climbing hills and walking for hours.
Carnmoney Hill in County Antrim, Ireland, is a green oasis in an urban area that mixes between both, history and wildlife. Carnmoney is the name of the townland, electoral ward, and a civil parish in county Antrim. The urban area which it is located in is called Newtownabby and it is 7 miles away from the center of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Carmoney hill is the northern outlier of the Belfast hills chain and rises 232 meters above Newtownabbey, which is the reason it could be spotted from different places and distant areas. Usually there are two different routes which the walkers could choose between when it comes to the Carnmoney hill; whether to gently stroll down around the foot of Carnmoney Hill which is a lower woodland walk that usually lasts for about 30 minutes, or else go for the hilltop walk which will take more than an hour.
We decided to go up the hill in order to see the view from above - it is even believed that the magic appears at night but will be difficult to stay up there - and at the beginning of our journey we came across the chart that tells us more about the trail to choose. There were three different trails featured there: the 0.5 km one, the 1.4 km long, and the 5 km long one.
These three different trails or routes are given different colors; red, yellow, and blue. The red one is the shortest, yellow is the middle one, and the blue is the longest but unfortunately it is the one that takes the climbers and visitors to where they will experience the view of the city from above there - the views are across Belfast, Lough, south to the Mournes, NW to Slemish Mtn, and north to the Antrim Coast; we were also thrilled. For those who are not sure about which route or trail to choose, there is a chart that will give them the chance to receive more details about the walking trails.
In addition to the view we wanted to see from above and thus wanted to reach there fast enough, our hope was also to get done with the Carnmoney hill before night comes and before the weather changes - which is something we always keep in mind when it comes to Ireland :-).
Okay, now we know that this place is considered a place of nature because of being a hill with greenery views as well as giving the climbers the view of the city from above, but on the other hand, it is also considered a historical place because of the ruins which are found up there and which dates to years and years back.
We came across a small chimney like building at the beginning of the trip (but which didn't carry any information or descriptions written about it) and up there we also came across some ruins which looked like an old house but which lost its structure and was destroyed years back.
Don't worry about being tired during climbing Carnmoney hill because there are several benches found there every once in a while - it was good because the kids got tired and we had to let them rest for a little while.
Every single time you tend to go a little bit higher, you will manage to get a chance of seeing the city from a different perspective and view, and this was definitely one thing we enjoyed - the city looks different from up there.
We kept walking, climbing, and changing directions until we reached a dead end and knew right then that we have finished our trip to the Carnmoney hill and we should get back once again to the parking lot.
You have to take care while climbing Carnmoney hill, but don't worry, you will forget all this once you get to the top there and get that outstanding view - something we could promise since we have already been through all this :-)
From the general feedback received from the visitors about this place, there are some points of interest that should be highlighted, such as the wildlife, the ponds, the kids playing area, the hilltop views, as well as the Victorian well.
Belfast in general is a place where one could visit different attractions ( from the most famous ones, we should add to the list St. Anne's Cathedral ( the commercial court in Belfast ( or even walk around Belfast city in general (
We have experienced this Carnmoney hill, what do you think about our experience? Are you thrilled to go and check yourself? If you have been there, share your experience with us, if not then when the time comes, don't forget to tell us how it all went with you.
Here is a 360 Video about Carnmoney Hill to enjoy which we managed to film for you (another reason we wanted a good weather before we get back down)! (
Have a nice trip to Carnmoney Hill!
Leaving on tour from Miami to Key West found this next door!
One day after Memorial weekend (2011) While waiting for the bus to arrive for the Key West trip tour (shuttle) at Washington Ave and Lincoln Rd, found this on the the windows of the business next door. Miami Beach got totaled
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