Route 9

National Route 9 of the National Cycle Network will eventually connect Belfast and Dublin. The route is currently open and signed between Queen Elizabeth Bridge in Belfast and Slieve Gullion (south of Newry) via Lisburn, Craigavon, Portadown and Scarva.

The route is described here from Belfast to Slieve Gullion but is signed in both directions. Where no printed map is available for a particular section please use the Sustrans online mapping.

Belfast to Portadown
National Route 9 follows the River Lagan towpath south west from Belfast to Lisburn, from here meandering along small country roads with some short hills to the most southerly shore of Lough Neagh. The route continues to Craignavon and Portadown along custom built traffic-free paths. National Route 9 between Kilmore Bridge and Newry Canal is part of the Craigavon Cycle Trail and Belfast to Portadown also forms part of EuroVelo 1.

Map: NN9B Belfast to Ballyshannon shows this section in detail. NN99 Strangford Lough shows the entire National Route 9 at 1:185,000 scale. Free leaflet Lagan and Lough Cycle Way (pdf) shows the route between Belfast and Lisburn. Free leaflet Craigavon Cycle Trail (pdf) shows the route between Aghagallon and Portadown. 

Portadown to Newry and Slieve Gullion
The route follows the towpath on the western bank of the now non-navigable Newry Canal for the 20 miles to link Portadown and Newry. National Route 9 continues for a short stretch on minor roads to Camlough and Slieve Gullion Courtyard Centre.

Map: NN99 Strangford Lough shows the entire National Route 9 at 1:185,000 scale. Portadown to Newry is shown on the free Newry Canal Towpath leaflet (pdf).

For more information on Sustrans in Northern Ireland please call 028 9043 4569.