Maps and photos note: click or tap to see any maps or photographs below as a high resolution version.
Columban Way (Helen’s Bay/Crawsfordburn to Bangor)
Maps and photos note: click or tap to see any maps or photographs below as a high resolution version.
| TYPE | Linear mainly coastal walk with option to use train to return to starting point. |
|---|---|
| DISTANCE | 5 miles / 8 km |
| SURFACES | Mostly on on hard surfaced made paths. Short sections on rougher and steeper earth paths at Grey Point and Stricklands Glen |
| HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS | 130 feet climb |
| HAZARDS |
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This is the final section of the Columban Way from Carlow to Bangor and in some ways, it is the easiest. At only 5 miles long and with the sea on the left to guide you and a broad asphalt path to follow, a description almost seems redundant. However, it is also one of the most beautiful sections of the walk and it deserves to be taken slowly and enjoyed with full attention. The route described below also augments the council’s waymarked route to add extra interest and to reach back into the historical landscape to find current features which would have been largely familiar to Columbanus and the monks of Bangor.
Continue readingColumban Way (Comber to Newtownards)
Maps and photos note: click or tap to see any maps or photographs below as a high resolution version.
| TYPE | First section of a long-distance challenge walk which can be a walk in its own right with a bus option to return to start. |
|---|---|
| DISTANCE | 5 miles / 8 km |
| SURFACES | Mainly pavement and road walking, good compacted paths through the Country Park Section. |
| HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS | 400 feet climb |
| HAZARDS |
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Columban Way (Newtownards – Helen’s Bay Crawfordsburn)
Maps and photos note: click or tap to see any maps or photographs below as a high resolution version.
| TYPE | Mixed but largely off-road linear walk with some climb as short steep sections |
|---|---|
| DISTANCE | 7.6 miles / 12.2 km |
| SURFACES | Roads, pavements, unmade, sometimes muddy paths and well-made tracks |
| HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS | 500 feet climb |
| HAZARDS |
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Columban Way (Comber to Bangor)
The Columban Way forms part of the wider European ‘Via Columbani’. It traces the epic journey of St Columbanus, a 6th century monk, from his birthplace in Co. Carlow to Bangor Abbey and later across eight countries of Europe finishing in Bobbio, Italy. The Irish section of this walk is still very much a work in progress and in most places the exact route is still to be finalised. Ards and North Down Council has published a route on its website, but this uses two sections of paths not yet in existence.
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