Floodgates, Newtownards – Short Walk
DATE: 25 NOVEMBER 2022
LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (land line)
07711 706022 (mobile)
MEETING POINT/TIME: Floodgates Car Park, Portaferry Rd, Newtownards at 11.45 am.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
Outward Journey:
Train – Dep Whitehead 9.45 am, dep Carrickfergus 9.54 am, dep Jordanstown 10.06 am, arr Lanyon Place 10.20 am.
Bus – Bus no 7 (Millisle) dep opposite Lanyon Place 10.42 am, arr Frances St, Newtownards (2 stops beyond bus station) at 11.22 am.
We will then have a 20 minute walk to the Floodgates Car Park.
Return Journey:
Bus – Bus No 9b from Floodgates/Ulster Flying Club to Belfast dep 1.33 pm, arr Gibson’s Lane (Newtownards) at 1.50 pm.
Bus – Bus No 7 from Gibson’s Lane to Belfast dep 1.50 pm, arr Lanyon Place 2.27 pm, arr Donegall Square West 2.29 pm
Train – dep Lanyon Place 2.55 pm, arr Jordanstown 3.09 pm, arrr C’fergus 3.20 pm, arr Whitehead 3.30 pm.
For those who wish to have lunch in Newtownards or Belfast:
Bus – Bus No 7 dep Gibson’s Lane 2.30 pm, arr Lanyon Place 3.02 pm
Bus No 7 dep Gibson’s Lane 2.50 pm, arr Lanyon Place 3.20 pm
Train – Dep Lanyon Place 3.25 pm, arr Jordanstown 3.39 pm, arr Carrickfergus 3.50, arr Whitehead 4.00 pm.
BY CAR:
The Floodgates car park, Newtownards is approximately 11 miles from Belfast city centre. Take the M5/M2 Motorway south towards Belfast. Stay on the M2 and continue straight on to the M3 over the Lagan River bridge. Use the right 2 lanes to take the A2 (Sydenham Bypass) towards Bangor. Pass the City Airport and take the right-hand lane towards Newtownards, following the A55 ring road. At its junction with the Upper Newtownards Road, turn left towards Newtownards onto the A20. On approaching Newtownards, follow the signs for Portaferry (the A20 road). The entrance to the Floodgates car park is about half a mile from the Portaferry Road roundabout on the right hand side. You will pass a Texaco petrol station, and the Ulster Flying Club. If the car park is full, turn left towards Newtownards and opposite the Texaco petrol station is Londonderry Park where there is free parking.
THE WALK:
The walk is flat, well surfaced and scenic as it follows the north end of Strangford Lough. The walk is linear and is about 2.3 miles each way. It will take approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes.
TOILETS:
There are toilets at the Ulster Flying Club. There are no toilets at the Floodgates car park, or along the walk.