PHOTOGRAPHS 

 
This is a view of the northern end of the Cave Hill escarpment, taken on a sunny December day. The prominence of McArt's Fort (incorrectly known as Napoleon's Nose) is on the left. The real Napoleon's nose is the prominence on the right.

 

 

Bluebells in bloom in the woodland near Belfast Castle in May 2006.

Bluebells are an indicator of ancient woodland, but we know that Cave Hill was virtually cleared of trees for at least 100 years before the Donegall family (the then owners of Belfast Castle and surrounding estate) began a large-scale replanting in the 1870's. So these flowers are almost certainly survivors from the ancient woodland which once covered Cave Hill.

 

 

More of the same nearby.


 

 

A woodland path near Belfast Castle, May 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleanup day 13 May 2006. Four of the eight committee members who contributed are in the picture. We collected a total of twenty paper sacks of rubbish in two hours.

Litter on the estate is collected by Belfast City Council, but once a year we go to the more obscure areas. Among this year's items were a frying pan and a pair of shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a recent photograph (2006) of the herb garden created by Geraldine Birch at Belfast Castle as a millennium project in 2000. You can see the Italian staircase, a favourite place for wedding photographs, in the background.

 

 

The land at risk of being developed for housing.

 

 

A view of the hump, looking south from MacArt's Fort. The upper pond of Belfast Waterworks can be seen in the distance.

 

 

A view of the scree area of the Sheep's Path. It shows the extent to which this area, which was formerly the main access route between the caves and McArt's Fort, has deteriorated and become almost impassable.

 

 

The result has been pressure on two other routes, one below the scree itself and one to the right of the caves. Both of these alternatives are now showing signs of deterioration.
A Vision of the Cave Hill Country Park has suggested that a competition be run to select the most appropriate design for the reconstruction and maintenance of the Sheep's Path.

 

 

A view of Belfast Castle from near MacArt's Fort.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 


A scene from Belfast Castle grounds taken on 28 December 2000. The heaviest snowfall for several years produced ideal conditions for toboganning on the slopes.

 

 

A view of Belfast Lough taken from near McArt's Fort. The M5 lagoon can be seen in the centre of the photograph.

 

 

A view of MacArt's Fort from Carnmoney Hill. Belfast Zoo is clearly visible on the slopes.