Braniel - City Hall

Bus Route – 5

Braniel to City Hall

All this running around Belfast has made me appreciate what a great place it is to explore.  Tourists, and even us locals, never see the half of it.

Today, thanks to our guide Brian, four of us got stuck into discovering Braniel and the Castlereagh Hills.

First stop was at Castlereagh Presbyterian Church, high up above the city.  I certainly never knew that there was a memorial here to a local man (George Watson) who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar.

We then ran southwards a bit to visit the American Cemetery at Lisnabreeny.  A fascinating place - 148 US servicemen were once buried in this field.  See www.Lisnabreeny.com for the story and a video of the site.

Robb's Lane

I thought that I knew every rural path in Belfast but Robb’s Lane was a new one to me.  Just shows that, no matter how old you are, there’s always something out there to discover.

We finally got down from the hills and rather nervously entered the cafe at Orangefield Presbyterian Church where we joined the well-dressed congregation.  In fact, anybody would look ‘well dressed’ compared with us lot.  It was a surprise to meet with Mark Wright (a proper runner); a big thanks to him for making us welcome and providing the coffee.   Must go back there one day to revisit their nice wee cafe - it's open all week.

Lisnasharragh

Other attractions in Cregagh included the Colony (an usual group of houses and war memorial built just after WW1), Lisnasharragh School (where George Best went) and the birthplace of David McWilliams who had a hit with the song Days of Pearly Spencer (one of my favourite songs, check it out on YouTube).

The former Morrison homestead.

We then toured Orangefield Park, spiritual home of a running club which isn’t going to get free publicity onthis blog!  And did the usual tourist trail around Van Morrison’s homeland.

Avoneil boxing mural

To end the day, we visited yet another good (ie non-sectarian) wall mural and spent some time drinking tea and listening to the music at St George’s Market. 

Knocknagoney - City Hall

Bus Route - 3
Knocknagoney to City Hall

There was more eating than running today......

One of the joys of my childhood visits to Belfast city centre used to be smelling the coffee roasting at SD Bells shop - I think it was somewhere near Arthur Square.   They have now moved out to Knock and the fine cafe there was our first stop this morning. 

SD Bells (Est: 1887) 

We trotted over to Orangefield school, where the most famous pupil was a wee boy called Ivan Morrison.  I wonder if he wore a hat back then? 

Then down towards Grand Parade, with its collection of streets called after racehorses - Pommern, Cicero, Blenheim, Ardpatrick, Ormonde, Donovan, Manna and Trigo (who won the Derby in 1929 and was owned by Belfast man William Barnett).  

Sometimes you arrive at places a bit too late in life - and that was the case when we entered Aunt Sandra's on the Castlereagh Rd. They have a huge selection of hand-made candy in here. Brian, being a bit younger than me, couldn't resist the temptation and bought some - I settled for one rhubarb and                                                            custard  boiled sweet. 

The way it used to be - service with a smile at Aunt Sandra's

Waiting outside for pubs to open in the morning is never a good indicator of running ability - what about waiting outside chip shops at 11:50am?  When the doors opened at Spence's cafe on the Beersbridge Road, we were inside like a shot.  This is apparently the place where George Best used to eat.  It's also a good venue for the idle-retired, like Brian and me - they make great chips and have lots to read on the walls.