Overview
Aghalee (Irish: Achadh Lí, ‘field of calves’) is a small, wooded village on the slopes of Friar’s Glen in County Antrim, three miles southeast of Lough Neagh and about 13 km west of Lisburn. It had a population of 919 at the 2021 census. It is not a tourist town and does not pretend to be. What brings people is the Broad Water towpath, a flat walk along the old Lagan Navigation Canal, easy to reach and easy to do.
The Broad Water walk
The Broad Water walk runs 3 miles (4.8 km) between Moira railway station and Aghalee, on smooth tarmac that is completely flat, following the route of the original canal through Soldierstown. It takes pushchairs, wheelchairs and casual cyclists without trouble. From the Moira Railway Station car park (BT67 0NE) it opens onto the Broad Water itself, a reservoir built to keep the canal topped up.
The trail is well kept and free. Worth knowing:
- Soldierstown car park (mid-route, off Soldierstown Road just beyond the stone canal bridge) has free parking and picnic tables.
- Wildlife. The reed beds and open water draw ducks, swans, grebes, teal, pochard and goldeneye, best in winter. Spring brings reed warblers and bluebells, primroses and wild garlic along the banks.
- Alternative return. Near the end, Old Church Lane gives a quieter, rougher way back towards Moira or the village.
- Dogs are welcome but must be kept under close control.
History
Aghalee was shaped by the Lagan Navigation Canal, which opened in the late 1700s and made the village a lock-station before boats reached Lough Neagh. Much of the engineering was the work of Richard Owen, who is buried in nearby Soldierstown churchyard. The canal carried agricultural goods and drove local growth until it was abandoned in 1954.
Soldierstown, midway along the walk, takes its name from a body of soldiers stationed there during the disturbances of 1641, when the village held a barrack with two troops of horse and foot of the royal army. Older still are the ruins of Old Aghalee Church, in the cemetery at the corner of Ballinderry Road and Old Church Lane. From the 1970s Aghalee turned into a commuter village for Belfast but kept its towpath and rural feel; it still has a GP, a pharmacy, a community hall and a training centre. Notable locals include the SDLP politician Dolores Kelly and the professional boxer Scott Belshaw.
Food
After the walk, Clenaghans is the obvious stop, a long-established restaurant-with-rooms with a steady menu and a small, warm room. For more choice in cafés, pubs and takeaways, neighbouring Moira is a short drive. Aghalee itself has a café, a fast-food outlet and the community hall, and not much else.
Practical information
Getting there
- By car: Aghalee is on the A3 between Lurgan and Antrim. From Belfast, take the M1 and leave at junction 9.
- By public transport: Ulsterbus runs to Lisburn, Antrim, Lurgan and Belfast. Moira railway station (NI Railways) is the nearest rail link, with the Broad Water trail starting from its car park.
- Parking: Free at Soldierstown car park. Limited roadside parking near the village centre.
Facilities and accessibility
The towpath is fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, with smooth tarmac and gentle gradients. Soldierstown car park has picnic tables. The trail is open year-round and free.
Best time to visit
- Spring and early summer: wildflowers on the banks and birdlife at its most active.
- Autumn: golden woodland reflected on the water.
- Winter: the best birdwatching, with wintering waterfowl gathering on the Broad Water.
Nearby
- Antrim Castle: the ruins of a 17th-century fortress in landscaped parkland, a short drive north.
- Moira Demesne: a historic estate with a 19th-century mansion and quiet gardens.
- Portmore Lough Nature Reserve: an RSPB reserve on the shore of Lough Neagh, free and open at all times, with toilets; if the car park is locked, park outside without blocking the gate.
- Lagan Valley Regional Park: joins the towpath network near Union Locks for longer walks and cycling towards Lisburn.
Time it for winter and the Broad Water becomes a birdwatching walk more than anything else – teal, pochard and goldeneye on the reservoir, best with binoculars from the Soldierstown end.