Overview
A stone bridge has crossed the River Lagan at this spot since 1655, and the arched one you walk over today dates from 1709 – one of the oldest surviving crossings on the river. It carried the main Belfast–Dublin road for the best part of three centuries, single lane and all, until a new concrete bridge took the traffic in 1977 and left the old one to walkers and cyclists. It sits inside the Lagan Valley Regional Park just outside Belfast, in a green corridor that feels a long way from the city but is easy to reach for a lunchtime stroll.
If you want the easiest option, walk the flat, tarmacked towpath to the Lock Keeper’s Inn and back; the circular walk is longer, hillier and shared with mountain bikers.
History
The crossing has been used since early times, and a bridge may have stood here as far back as 1617. In 1655 Captain John Shaw built an oak bridge to help Oliver Cromwell’s army cross the Lagan and put down the Irish rising of the day – the bridge still carries his name. A stone replacement built in 1698 was swept away by floods, and the current bridge was completed in 1709, with four arches over the river and a fifth spanning an adjacent footpath.
For nearly three centuries it carried the road to County Down and Dublin despite its single-lane width. When the A55 outer ring road opened, a modern concrete bridge went in 20 metres downstream in 1977, and Shaw’s Bridge was kept as a pedestrian route through the park. The stonework and arch proportions have changed little since the early 18th century.
Walking and activities
The bridge is a hub for several well-marked routes:
- Shaw’s Bridge Circular: a loop of about 3.5km, roughly an hour, through mixed woodland, open fields and riverside path, with around 102 metres of ascent. It’s shared with mountain bikers, and the unsurfaced sections turn muddy after rain, so wear proper footwear.
- Lagan Towpath to the Lock Keeper’s Inn: a flat, tarmacked mile that suits families, pushchairs and wheelchairs, following the river across a wooden footbridge to the inn for refreshments and toilets.
- Barnett Demesne walk: from the Malone House car park, a 1.5-mile route through meadows and an arboretum, crossing Shaw’s Bridge and returning on the towpath. Malone House has a café and accessible toilets.
- Kayaking: the Lagan is a popular stretch for recreational paddling, and the bridge is a straightforward launch point for short downstream runs. Check river conditions before you set out.
The bridge is also on the traffic-free Lagan and Lough National Cycle Network (Route 9).
Nearby
A five-minute walk uphill from the bridge brings you to the Giant’s Ring, a large Neolithic henge with a dolmen at its centre – the standout detour here and often quieter than the towpath. Barnett Demesne, Clement Wilson Park and Minnowburn all adjoin the same stretch of river.
Practical information
- Opening hours: open daily, 24 hours.
- Admission: free.
- Parking: free car park at Shaw’s Bridge on Old Coach Lane, off the A55 outer ring; charges may apply during major park events.
- Facilities: toilets and refreshments at the Lock Keeper’s Inn (mid-route) and Malone House café; accessible toilets at Malone House.
- Accessibility: ramps on both approaches to the bridge; the towpath is fully tarmacked and wheelchair-friendly, while the circular walk has unsurfaced sections that get muddy.
- Pets: dogs welcome but must be kept on a lead.
Getting there
Shaw’s Bridge is reached via the car park on Old Coach Lane, just off the A55. Translink buses to the Malone Road stop leave a short walk to the car park. For park updates and trail maps, see the Lagan Valley Regional Park website.
Give yourself an extra half hour to climb up to the Giant’s Ring – it’s the best thing within walking distance and most people passing on the towpath miss it.