I would like to visit Lough Neagh from Belfast in May. Using the Translink app to the “Discovery Center” there, it shows “incomplete route” for bus and train.
So I contacted a tour company to see if a tour was possible. They said no but gave directions to a town called Toome. It sounds nice there but its a different place.
The Discovery center is supposed to be in Craigavon so I did that search but the eir code listed brings up Annaloist on the Translink app.
Then I read Tripadvisor reviews which were pretty poor.
It seems like a huge area, so if anyone has a recommendation of a place I can get to by bus or train, I would really appreciate it.
I am having this same problem trying to get to Glenariff Forest from Ballycastle if anyone has any tips. I did find a two hour trip on Trainlink app “only on school days”
I am really trying to do my own planning but sometimes get stuck and then fall down a rabbit hole so I really appreciate this community. Thank you!
Posted by
Lake District, England
9064 posts
Lough Neagh is vast, and Toome is on the opposite side of the Lough.
The Discovery Centre is on the outskirts of Lurgan. It is really in a suburb of Lurgan called Kinnego and is off Annaloist road.
So from Lurgan you take bus 352a then a 14 minute walk to the centre (or a taxi from the centre of Lurgan).
This is the timetable- 4 journeys a day Monday to Saturday and a 5th schoolday only journey- https://www.translink.co.uk/timetables?routeHashCode=104635e5c6f3b62aeb96cf77eefd713ab07cb9bac8c8824471f53a58c70fa884&transportMode=Bus&route=T0&direction=H
Belfast International Airport is actually almost on the Lough and the city of Antrim is also on the Lough.
I can see why you were sent to Toome (which is also served by various bus routes).
For the Glenariff Forest their website says to take the #150 Ballymena to Ballycastle bus (and Ballymena has good bus and rail service from Belfast. In fact that service is now Ballymena to Cushenden- https://www.translink.co.uk/timetables?routeHashCode=c0436c80cbf57373d62d9224051c05e97b54c244b4034cf799c19d82a0f007b8&transportMode=Bus&route=T0&direction=H
It helps me that I have a paper map of Translink routes- which may or may not still be available.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
74 posts
Thank you so much for your help with those routes! Please know that you are an important part of trip planning and it being a success.
I followed your link and am working on my route from Ballycastle where Im staying to the Glenariff forest park. One site says the city is Cargan and another says Ballymena. I think I take the #131 and the #150. I also found the 171b and 116a using a different address. I will keep trying because I am really looking forward to hiking there.
Thank you and have a great day!!
Posted by
Lake District, England
9064 posts
Ballymena is the post code town, but that is fourteen miles away from the forest and Cargan is a village 5 miles away. The stop for the forest park is called Glenariff Post Office.
Taking that to Google street view you can see that is at the park entrance gate.
Translink call the stop 'Parkmore, Glenariff Forest Park' in their route planner.
On the day ask the driver to set you down at the right place.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
74 posts
Thank you again! Glenariff post office makes sense and I did see that but wasnt sure.
Who knows where I would end up if not for this amazing help.
Thank you so much.