Bike Events on the Black Paths
June 2024
Bike Week tours – 10th, 12th & 14th June
Never cycled on The Black Paths before? It joins everyone to everything. Join us, as we join the dots on an evening cycle around the best cycle network on the Island of Ireland.
limited to 30 places for each date
History of Craigavon and the Black Paths
Join us for an engaging evening of brief presentations on the fascinating history of Craigavon and The Black Paths at the Brownlow Community Hub.
Winter cycles
What better way to beat the winter blues, keep fit and meet new people. Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings from December. 2023 to February 2024.
Brownlow
Brownlow comprises the residential areas of Drumgor, Legahory, Tullygally, Moyraverty, Drumgask & Monbrief. This area contains the highest density of Black Paths.
City Park
The Black Paths extend from the residential areas into Craigavon park, beyond the Lakes to Tannaghmore Gardens and toward Lough Neagh.
Work & retail
Rushmere shopping centre and the four surrounding industrial estates (Seagoe, Carn, Silverwood, Portadown Rd) are all connected and accessible via the Black Paths.
Key features
What makes the Black Paths unique?
New Town
Craigavon was a “New Town”. The Black Paths were an integral design feature from the start. It didn’t face the problems that come with retro-fitting a Victorian town or city.
A vision for a new city
Geoffrey Copcutt was the new city’s initial designer. His centralised vacuum cleaning system and civil nuclear power plant, proved to be two pipe dreams too many. However, his solution for future car dominance was more visionary.
Explore the Black Paths
Here are some routes that will help you explore the Black Paths. You can print the map, use the Strava app on your phone or upload the GPX file to a navigation device.
News
News, stories and links about the Black Paths
What’s in store for ‘24
We’ve been looking through the minutes of ABC’s last meeting with the Department for Infrastructure to see if we’re making any inroads on the upkeep and maintenance of the Black Paths.
History of Craigavon and the Black Paths
We had a full house at the Brownlow Community Hub on the fascinating history of Craigavon and The Black Paths. If you missed the event you can read about some of presentations.
Moylinn bridge update
Since the bridge at Moylinn was demolished in 2023 there have been numerous Freedom on Information requests to the Department for Infrastructure to try and understand why it was demolished.
Pupils face increased danger
Due to the Depepartment for Infrastructure’s decision to demolish the Moylin bridge, a local school principal has spoken of the increased danger school children now face.
DFI to remove Moylinn footbridge
The Department for Infrastructure has announced it will remove the Moylin footbridge over the weekend of Thursday 16 to Monday 20 March 2023. However, it has neither a plan or a budget to replace.
Black Paths Cycle Tour
To celebrate Bike Week this year, several events were held on the Black Paths. With the support of Live Here Love Here and ABC Council we organised two tours of the Black Paths, intended to showcase the incredible active travel network stretching from Craigavon to Portadown & Lurgan.
Black Paths Project Launched
Craigavon Lakes has become increasingly popular over the past few years for walking, cycling, wheeling and running, but it’s only a tiny part of a larger, traffic-free travel system, unique on the island of Ireland.
Tullygally PS pupils take the plunge and ditch bus for bikes
Minister Mallon funds Black Paths Mapping Project
The Lost City of Craigavon
Newton Emerson’s celebratory and irreverent look at the lost city of Craigavon, unearthing the original plans, meeting the evicted farmers and visiting the residents of the experimental city. Warning – contains a lot of cycling.
Completion of £400k Craigavon Lakes Active Travel Improvement Scheme
Work on a £400,000 upgrade scheme to improve the shared footway and cycleway around the Craigavon Lakes has been substantially completed to enable it to be brought back into service ahead of the Christmas break.
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council – Active Travel Masterplan
Contact us
…if you have news, photos, links or just want more info, drop us a line.