The Chronicles of Clandeboye

This is the first of my Chronicles walks (3.6 miles). You can start this walk at Helen's Bay Station or the beach car park, but I will describe the route from the Coastguard Avenue Car park. From the car park follow the main route, through the gates, down to the shore. Turn right and follow the coastal path all the way around Grey Point until you join Fort Road. Turn left and walk due South, cross the road into the beach car park and walk straight on, along the Columban Way to the station. There is an entrance into the station underpass to the right after the second bridge. Go through the underpass and exit the station. Go right on Bridge Road and then cross over and go up Golf Road. At the entrance to the Golf Course take the footpath on your right and follow this through the woods and down to the shore. Turn left and follow the beack back to Fort Road. Then retrace your steps along the beautiful coastal path. Note that there is a cut through at the end, if you can spot it. Soundtrack: Orchestral Scherzo by Daniel Williams

This is the second walk of the Chronicles of Clandeboye (2.6 miles). A good starting point is on the A2 dual carriageway, and then walk the route in either direction. I suggest anticlockwise, taking you a short distance along the dual carriageway before turning left along the track to Meadow Way in Crawfordsburn. Then turn right and descend to the village. Cross the road and look out for the path leading into the Crawfordsburn Counrty Park, between the hotel and the Spar shop. Skirt the woodland until you come to the viaduct, then make your way left and join the main entrance road to the park. Follow this to the entrance at Bridge Road and cross over into the Towns' Womens' Guild wood. Follow the path over the hill and join the Clandeboye Avenue at Sunnybrook farm, Then turn left and follow the avenue all the way back to your start point on the A2. An alternative route couldbe to start at Helen's Bay station and walk up the avenue to the dual carriageway and then back through Crawfordsburn, or start at Crawfordsburn. Soundtrack: Orchestral Scherzo by Daniel Williams

This walk follows the Columban Way for about 1.6 miles along the wooded Clandeboye avenue and a country lane, linking the A3 Bangor to Belfast Dual Carriageway with the Ballysallagh Road. There is no parking on the Ballsallgh Road so I suggest parking on the A3 where the avenue crosses it. Be very careful when crossing the road on foot. Soundtrack: Orchestral Scherzo by Daniel Williams

This section links the Clandeboye Avenue (Walk 3) with the Crawfordsburn Road, where there is a place to park on the side of the road. The route is 1.3 miles, mainly throgh woodland along the periphery of the Blackwood Golf Course. There is also a short link up to the Ballybarnes Road. Soundtrack: Orchestral Scherzo by Daniel Williams

This walk could take you from the Crawfordsburn Road, following the Columban Way, to Helen's Tower and then cutting down through the woods and on towards the Whitespots Leadmines, past the last narrative about Lod Dufferin's exploits with mining. The estate boundary is where the woods meets the more open scrublands of the lead mines. It is then an easy walk down to the Somme Heritage Centre on the Bangor to Newtownards dual carriageway. This route is about 2.3 miles. On the other hand, to go as far as the last narrative is about 1.6 miles. Alternatively, park at the Somme Heritage Centre and walk back to the Crawfordsburn Road.