Gracehill village, Ballymena
"Exciting plans" have been drawn up for an extensive new pathway that will provide a dedicated walk from Galgorm Castle grounds to Gracehill village in Ballymena.
The plans have recently been submitted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for planning approval.
The application comes after the small Moravian village of Gracehill was designated as a World Heritage Site at the 46th World Heritage Committee of UNESCO held in New Delhi, India in July.
Council plans include the construction of pedestrian paths including associated fencing, access gates, cattle crossing gates, and new planting and resurfacing works. With very limited parking available in Gracehill itself, the newly constructed path will enable visitors to park in Galgorm Castle Estate and walk across using the dedicated path to the village.
The plans reveals three main sections to the pathway.
The first section extends from the hardcore gravel parking area at the entrance to Creative Gardens to the main estate roadway by a 2m wide basalt self-binding gravel footpath.
The second section extends along the main roadway in Galgorm Castle Estate before cutting across the lower end of the golf course, through a wooded area, exciting onto the Galgorm Road.
The final stretch of the pathway extends along Galgorm Road, to the small car park opposite Wrightbus entrance, before a newly developed path will extend down by the River Maine, and extending across fields to exit on Cennick Road, opposite Academy Street in Gracehill.
Commenting on the plans, a spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said:
“Council has submitted exciting plans to develop a new pathway linking the grounds at Galgorm Castle to Gracehill village - which was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
“The pathway is part of the overall Visitor Management strategy for Gracehill, which aims to optimise the visitor experience whilst also protecting the village from increase traffic and congestion.
"Visitors will be encouraged to park at Galgorm Castle and use the new pathway to access the village, where guided tours will be available.”
Map showing overall pathway (new sections marked in red) from Galgorm Castle Estate to Gracehill village, Ballymena.