Site Search Main menu Home Topics Publications Consultations Contact Waterways Inland Waterways, the Lagan Towpath and the Department's work with, the cross-border body, Waterways Ireland. Jump to table of contents Role of Inland Waterways The role of the Inland Waterways team is to develop the recreational and navigational potential of our Inland Waterways. Wherever practicable, works will incorporate disabled access facilities. The Department also has ownership of, and custodial responsibility for, those remaining sections of the Lagan Canal that remain in Government ownership following abandonment of navigation in the 1950s. An ongoing programme is in place for this highly popular towpath to upgrade access for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled access. Lagan towpath The Upper Lagan Towpath will be closed between Soldierstown carpark and the end of Broadwater at Weirs Lane from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 October in order to carry out resurfacing work. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. With over 1,000,000 recorded visits a year, the 11-mile Lagan Towpath connecting Stranmillis, Belfast with Sprucefield, Lisburn as well as 3½ miles from Moira Station to Soldierstown Aghalee, qualifies as the most popular public pathway in Northern Ireland. It is also an integral part of the award-winning National Cycle Network (NCN) route between Lisburn and Jordanstown via Belfast. A large part of the towpath runs through Lagan Valley Regional Park who have partnered with Google’s innovative Trekker Programme to map all tracks throughout the park. This information can be accessed directly through Google. However if you wish to check specific routes along the towpath these can be found on the Lagan Valley Regional Park website by clicking on the link below: http://www.laganvalley.co.uk/ (external link opens in a new window / tab) The Department for Infrastructure operates on the principle of Leave no Trace and we have a code of conduct which we ask all users of the towpath to abide by. Lagan towpath: code of conduct Anyone wishing to organise an event, such as a sponsored walk, on the towpath, should notify the Department (as owners) in advance for approval. To do this please email: InlandWaterways@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk Waterways Ireland The Department is also the sponsor department in Northern Ireland for Waterways Ireland which is the Cross-Border Body responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of navigable waterways throughout the island of Ireland. Waterways Ireland website (external link opens in a new window / tab) On this page Role of Inland Waterways Lagan towpath Waterways Ireland Related to Waterways Most recent publications DfI/2019-0369: EIR Request for a copy of the Internal DfI Memo ‘Development in Proximity to Controlled Reservoirs’ dated 17 June 2019 09 June 2020 Environmental Impact Assessments for Canal Schemes and Marina Works - Screening form 14 November 2019 See related publications Most recent news items Mallon visits Fermanagh and Omagh 24 November 2021 Minister Mallon welcomes Irish Government €6 million investment in the Ulster Canal 18 December 2020 Access to information How to request information from the Department for Infrastructure including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. Most recent consultations Proposal for the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) - A Consultation Paper 09 March 2017 nidirect nibusinessinfo.co.uk GOV.UK © Crown Copyright Terms and Conditions Privacy Cookies Accessibility statement