Crawfordsburn Country Park
Bridge Road South
Ballygrot
Helen's Bay
County Down
BT19 1JT

Tel: 028 9185 3621
Fax: 028 9185 2580

Opening times for 2011 as follows:

Country Park:

1 Apr – 31 May  9am – 7pm daily
1 Jun – 30 Sep  9am – 9pm daily
1 Oct – 31 Oct  9am – 7pm daily

2012 - 2013

1 Nov – 28 Feb  9am – 4.30pm daily
1 Mar – 31 Mar  9am – 7pm daily

Visitor Centre:

1 Apr – 31 May  10am – 5pm daily
1 Jun – 30 Sep  10am – 5pm daily
1 Oct – 31 Oct   10am – 5pm daily

2012 - 2013

1 Nov – 28 Feb  10am – 4pm daily
1 Mar – 31 Mar  10am – 5pm daily

Greypoint Fort

1 Apr – 31 May  12noon – 4pm Sun only
1 Jun – 30 Sep  10am – 5pm daily
1 Oct – 31 Oct   12noon – 4pm Sun only

2012 - 2013

1 Nov – 28 Feb  12noon – 4pm Sun only
1 Mar – 31 Mar  12noon – 4pm Sun only

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Features

• 2 km of DDA compliant access paths on site, including from Centre to Crawfordsburn beach.
• Visitors Centre, Cafe and Toilet DDA compliant
• Helens Bay and Beach toilets DDA compliant
• 17 Disabled parking spaces in main and centre car parks
• 2 Mobility Scooters available to those with a valid mobility scooter licence
• 1 Push wheelchair available for use on site
• Audio loop available for one-one conversation
• Helens Bay Train station within 500m of Helens Bay beach. adjacent to park entrance

Facilities available at the Park include:

• Toilets
• Car and coach parking on site
• Adidas approved 3 mile running trail - download running trail leaflet (.PDF 2Mb)

There is also a coastal path, glen walk and meadow walk.

Walking, woodland and wildlife can be enjoyed at Crawfordsburn Country Park with plenty of variety for pupils. The park has two of the best beaches in the Belfast area, a rugged and rocky coastline, and a deep wooded glen with an impressive waterfall at its head.

• Two secure, fenced woodland areas
• A pond with dipping platform
• Two wildflower meadows
• A river
• Grey Point Fort

Resources suitable for use at this site

KS 1	I See The Sea (.PDF 3.46Mb) I See The Sea Irish version (.PDF 3.42Mb) I See The Wood (.PDF 2.69Mb) Nessa Newt's Wetland and Bog Activity Booklet (.PDF 2.68Mb) Nessa Newt Irish Version (.PDF 2.53Mb) Harry Hare's Field and Farm Activity Booklet (.PDF 2.10Mb) Harry Hare Irish Version (.PDF 2.03Mb) Owen Otter's Rivers Avtivity Booklet (.PDF 1.74Mb) Sarah Seal’s Coastal Activity Booklet (.PDF 2.58Mb) Sarah Seal Irish version (.PDF 2.60Mb)
KS 1 and 2	Living Things: Plants and Animals (.PDF 3.49Mb) Mini Beasts Activity Booklet (.PDF 2.63Mb) Woodland Habitat Studies – Worksheets (.PDF 2.12Mb)
KS 2	Fergus Fox (.PDF 8.32Mb) Meet The Mammals (.PDF 2.33Mb) Meet The Mammals Irish version (.PDF 2.33Mb) Red Squirrels (.PDF 7.08Mb)
KS 2 and 3	Let's Explore Life in Early Times (.PDF 3.06Mb)
KS 3	Meet The Earth (.PDF 663Kb)
KS 3 and 4	Crawfordsburn River Study (.PDF 2.30Mb)
Teachers	Woodland Habitat Studies - Photocopiable Resources for Teachers (.PDF 1.88Mb) Pond Study (.PDF 457Kb) Spring in the Woodland (.PDF 487Kb) Wildlife in Autumn and Winter (.PDF 826Kb)

Visitors to the Country Park should remember the park code:

• Protect the wildlife, plants and trees
• Take all litter home or use the bins provided
• Ensure all dogs are kept under control and not allowed to foul paths, mown grass or the beaches
• Within certain areas of the park, dogs must be kept on a lead
  See NIEA policy in relation to dogs at NIEA managed properties and sites (.PDF 76Kb)
• The Country Park contains some natural hazards so stay on the paths and supervise children
• Guard against all risk of fire
• Make no unnecessary noise
• Cycling or mountain biking is not permitted in the park except on vehicular roads
• Horse riding is only allowed in certain areas of the park and is by permit only
• Camping is not permitted
• Alcohol is not permitted in Crawfordsburn Country Park