Hazelbank Park
Hazelbank Park
At the roundabout take the third turn off which will bring you into Hazelbank Park, an area with fabulous walks and views along the lough shore. Hazelbank was once a private estate owned by James Mackie of Mackie Engineering, a large textile engineering plant and foundry and one of the largest employers in Belfast. Interestingly the company was given over to its employees to run as a workers co-operative and ran until 1999. James Mackie lived here until he died in 1943.
The estate had its walled garden and orchard, the original house dated from 1796 and was enlarged in the 1850s then replaced in the late-19th century by a house with a conservatory, unfortunately the house was demolished in 1972. The park which is well equipped with toilets, playpark and picnic areas is regarded as one of the nicest public park and is well worth a visit. The basalt turrets along the promenade were used as lookouts during the Second World War, you can walk or cycle to here from the city centre and then on to Loughside Park.