Cave Hill should be considered a mandatory excursion for all walkers passing through the capital. The climb to the top takes a couple of hours but the reward is fantastic; no other vantage point can compete in terms of views across the city and beyond. The hill’s eastern slopes are severed by a series of sheer escarpments that can be seen towering over most parts of Belfast. The cliffs culminate at a prow known locally as Napoleon’s Nose, in reference to its face-like profile when viewed from the south. In fact the promontory holds the remains of McArt’s Fort, a ceremonial promontory fort dating back to early Christian times. Little remains above the ground today, but it’s easy to appreciate why the cliff-top location was singled out for ceremonial use. McArt’s Fort lies at the heart of Cave Hill Country Park, a 750-acre site in Belfast’s northwest corner. The park is also home to Belfast Castle and Belfast Zoo. The late nineteenth century castle makes a good starting point for most of the walks in the area. There are three main walking trails in the park. The shorter routes concentrate on the deciduous woodland at the base of the hill, passing though a mixture of mature oak, sycamore and pine. The longest route is a 7km circuit that takes you to the very top of the cliffs. If you accept the challenge of the long route, you’ll follow a mixture of gravel trails and rough, unsurfaced footpaths past the natural depression known as The Devil’s Punchbowl. As you approach the cliffs themselves you’ll realise why the hill got its name: no less than five caves have been cut into the face of the cliffs. All of these have been chiselled from the basalt rock by humans, and used as both iron mines and temporary shelters in times gone by. A steep climb brings you to the top of the escarpment near the 368m-high summit of Cave Hill. Care is now needed as you follow the path along the very edge of the cliffs. The lofty location combines with stunning views to make this a truly memorable moment. The city lies spread out beneath your feet, and on a clear day the panorama extends from the Antrim Hills in the north, the Scottish coast and the Mournes in the south. For a bird’s eye view over the city, it’s difficult to imagine anything better.