Sprucefield to Hilden Walk
DATE : 14th FEbruary 2025
SHORT WALK: – 2.5 miles/1 hour 45 minutes DATE: 14th February 2025
LEADER: Robert McDowell, Telephone No 028 93373084 (land line)
07711 706022 (mobile)
MEETING POINT/TIME: 11.00 am, Goldliner bus stop, Sprucefield Shopping Centre, Lisburn
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
Outward Journey:
Train:
Depart Whitehead 9.45 am, Carrickfergus 9.54 am, Jordanstown 10.06 am; arrive Grand Central Station 10.30 am
Bus:
Depart on Goldliner Bus No 238 (Newry bus, stand number 5) at 10.45 am, arrive Sprucefield car park at 11.00 am
Return Journey:
Train:
Train from Hilden railway halt departs at 1.06 pm and arrives at Grand Central Station at 1.26 pm
Train from Grand Central departs at 1.45 pm and arrives at Jordanstown at 2.09 pm, arrives at Carrickfergus at 2.20 pm and arrives at Whitehead at 2.30 pm
THE WALK:
After disembarking from the bus in Sprucefield, we will walk about half a mile along the main road towards Lisburn and will join the River Lagan towpath. In order to join the towpath, there is a flight of downwards steps with a handrail. We will walk along the towpath past Lisburn Civic Centre towards Hilden. The walk is flat and well surfaced.
TOILETS:
There are toilets at Grand Central Station in Belfast, at Marks & Spencer in Sprucefield and at Lisburn Civic Centre along the Lagan towpath.
LUNCH:
There are several places in Grand Central Station where lunch can be eaten on the premises or carried out; for example, Marks & Spencer, Prêt à Manger, Starbucks etc. There is a choice of many other establishments in Belfast city centre.
TRANSLINK TICKETS USING A SMART PASS:
With the recent opening of Grand Central Station in Belfast, there have been changes in ticketing arrangements, with the installation of ticket machines at some stations on the Larne line. You can still obtain a ticket at the station or on the train, but you will need to retain your ticket to get through the barrier at Grand Central Station, scanning the QR Code at the barrier. When embarking on the Goldliner bus to Sprucefield, tickets should be obtained from the bus driver on production of your Smart Pass. On our return journey from Hilden, train tickets should be obtained from the conductor on the train. On disembarking from the train, tickets need to be retained in order to pass through the barrier at Grand Central Station. Tickets for your return journey on the Larne line must be obtained from machines in the main station concourse in order to pass through the barrier to the Larne line platform.