Straight answers to practical questions about driving, travelling, parking and getting around Northern Ireland.
Forest Service directs drivers to a small car park beside the B15 Glenshesk Road, from which the approach into Breen Forest is on foot. This is a countryside woodland rather than a developed visitor attraction.
Ballycastle Forest has a signed Forest Service car park off the B15 south of Ballycastle, around 1.8 miles along Drumavoley Road. A separate pedestrian entrance near the town-centre Diamond connects with the Moyle Way.
Use the signed Ballypatrick Forest vehicle entrance on the A2, roughly between Ballycastle and Cushendall. The main visitor area has off-road parking, picnic space and a waymarked walking trail.
No. Springwell Forest provides a small gravel visitor parking area and picnic tables just off the A37 between Coleraine and Limavady, but Forest Service says there are no formal recreation facilities.
The marked route to Drummoney Falls starts from a small forest car park accessed from the A35 Pettigo Road near Kesh. The waterfalls are a walking destination, not a drive-up roadside viewpoint.
Yes. Forest Service identifies visitor parking on Knockmore Road for Big Dog Forest, between the Derrygonnelly and Garrison areas. It is not a roadside attraction that can be reached simply by driving up to a summit.
Ely Lodge Forest’s car park is beside the A46 between Enniskillen and Belleek, roughly four miles from Enniskillen. Forest trails run towards the Lower Lough Erne shore and Carrickreagh viewpoint.
Yes. Castle Caldwell Forest has a car park off the A47 Belleek–Kesh road, about four miles from Belleek, and marked woodland trails lead towards the castle remains and the shore of Lower Lough Erne.
Start at Parkanaur Forest Park’s main car park near Quinn’s Corner, about four miles west of Dungannon on the A4. Several waymarked walks and an ecotrail return to that starting point.
Use the signed Belvoir Park Forest entrance near Old Milltown Road, south Belfast. The Forestry Service trails begin and end at the forest car park, so you do not need to search for a separate access point along the Lagan.
Ards and North Down Borough Council lists The Rope Walk car park in Portaferry as free, with approximately 83 spaces.
The council lists free parking at The Commons in Donaghadee, alongside several other free car parks in the town.
Yes. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council lists a free Carnlough Harbour car park with approximately 25 spaces.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council lists free parking in Glenarm village and at Glenarm Harbour.
Yes. Ards and North Down Borough Council lists Seapark in Holywood as a free public car park with approximately 36 spaces.
The council lists Cairn Wood Car Park on Craigantlet Road in the Newtownards area as free.
Ards and North Down Borough Council identifies free parking at Whitespots Country Park, also associated with the historic lead-mines area near Conlig.
Yes. Ards and North Down Borough Council lists the Island Hill car park in the Comber area as free.
The council lists free parking on Main Road in Cloughey, with approximately 170 spaces, for visitors to the coastal village.
Ards and North Down Borough Council lists Millisle Beach Car Park as free, with approximately 300 parking spaces.
Yes. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council lists Port Muck Harbour as a free coastal car park with approximately 40 spaces.
Drains Bay has a free council car park listed in Mid and East Antrim’s coastal parking inventory.
The council lists two free parking options at Ballygally: a village car park and a separate coastal car park.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council lists Slemish Mountain car parking as free, with approximately 40 spaces.
Billy Neill MBE Country Park is listed among Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s parks with general gate hours of 9am–9pm in summer and 9am–5pm in winter.
Moira Demesne is one of the council-managed parks subject to the published 9am–9pm summer and 9am–5pm winter opening schedule.
Wallace Park follows Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s general seasonal schedule: 9am–9pm in April–September and 9am–5pm in October–March, unless gate notices say otherwise.
Lisburn Castle Gardens follows the council’s seasonal park schedule: generally 9am–9pm from April to September and 9am–5pm from October to March.
Solitude Park in Banbridge has a small number of free spaces inside the park and additional free car parks nearby.
Lurgan Park has nearby free on-street parking at Windsor Avenue and Robert Street, while its park opening hours change through the year.
