Monkstown Wood is a Woodland Trust site designated as a Local Nature Reserve by Newtownabbey Borough Council in 2007. A path following the course of the Threemilewater leads the visitor along the river corridor, through woodlands, open spaces and along mature hedgerows. The path is well managed and is relatively flat and easily accessible for people of a range of abilities.
This site consists of 7 large fields leased by the Housing Executive in late 1999, for a period of 999 years. The fields were grazed until spring 2000 when the Woodland Trust planted most of the fields with a mix of oak, ash, rowan, alder, wild cherry and scots pine.
The site is well used by walkers and fishermen and forms a natural buffer between the housing and industrial units. The fishermen have worked for many years on improving fish stocks. Much of this work has also contributed to the variety of wildlife supported in this area. River species of interest include dipper, kingfisher and, if you are very lucky, the illusive otter. The range of woodland, meadows and mature hedgerows also support a wide range of wildlife. This site is adjacent to the Newtownabbey Way allow people to walk or cycle, away from public roads, from Monkstown Wood right down the Belfast Lough (see Newtownabbey Way for more information).
The parking and entrance to the site is off the Monkstown Road, past Nortel, off the Doagh Road in the Newtownabbey area.
