Volunteer's Well

The Volunteers’ Well is a natural spring which lies about 0.5km of Belfast Castle. It lies immediately on the right of the traditional route up Cave Hill which now starts on the Antrim Road, beside Park Lodge primary school. Walk up the tarmac road from the Antrim Road for about 0.3km and where the road bends sharply left, follow the gravel path which goes straight up the hill. The stream which emanates from the Well is now on your right.The Volunteers’ Well is named after the Belfast Volunteers, an organisation of which the McCracken’s played a major part in establishing and coordinating.  The Volunteer’s used the open slopes and fields surrounding the well for military drills, debates and other activities. Musket balls have been found near the Well. The Well also was a much needed pit-stop on the way up and over Cave Hill towards Crumlin.