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  • Waterways

    Inland Waterways, the Lagan Towpath and the Department's work with, the cross-border body, Waterways Ireland.

    Inland Waterways

    Lagan Towpath

    The Department has ownership of, and custodial responsibility for, those remaining sections of the Lagan Canal that remain in Government ownership following abandonment of navigation in the 1950s, including the Lagan Towpath, carparks at Lockview Road, Stranmillis; Drumbridge and Soldierstown, and the abandoned canal.

    With over 1,000,000 recorded visits a year, the 11-mile Lagan Towpath connecting Stranmillis, Belfast with Sprucefield, Lisburn as well as 3½ miles from Moira Station to Soldierstown Aghalee, qualifies as the most popular public pathway in Northern Ireland. It is also an integral part of the award-winning National Cycle Network (NCN) route between Lisburn and Jordanstown via Belfast.

    A large part of the towpath runs through Lagan Valley Regional Park who have partnered with Google’s innovative Trekker Programme to map all tracks throughout the park. This information can be accessed directly through Google. However, if you wish to check specific routes along the towpath, these can be found on the Lagan Valley Regional Park website. Here you can find other useful information about the towpath and the Lagan Valley Regional Park:

    • http://www.laganvalley.co.uk/

    The Department operates on the principle of Leave no Trace and we have a code of conduct which we ask all users of the towpath to abide by.

    • Lagan towpath: code of conduct

    Anyone wishing to organise an event, such as a sponsored walk, on the towpath, should notify the Department (as owners) in advance for approval. To do this please email:

    • rivers.registry@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

    Lough Neagh & Sixmilewater River

    Under Article 6(3)(ii) of the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Drainage and Navigation Act (Northern Ireland) 1955, the Department has a statutory duty to maintain navigation at the entrance to the Sixmilewater River and to maintain two navigation posts or marks at the entrance to the Sixmilewater River.

    The Department exercises discretionary powers under section 41 of The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 to maintain a further 46 markers on Lough Neagh.

    Related to Waterways

    Most recent publications

    • Consultation Report on the Reservoirs Act (NI) 2015

      Published 27 October 2022
    • Environmental Impact Assessments for Canal Schemes and Marina Works - Screening form

      Published 14 November 2019
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Proposed Maintenance works to The Cutts Control Structure, Castleroe Road, Coleraine

      Published 26 October 2022 Consultation closed
    • Proposal for the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) - A Consultation Paper

      Published 9 March 2017 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • "Reservoir safety is vital to protect the public” – Minister O’Dowd

      Published 17 October 2024
    • O’Dowd opens new £300,000 jetty on Devenish Island

      Published 27 June 2024
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department for Infrastructure including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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