View source for Lagan Valley

{{Short description|Valley in Northern Ireland}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:The River Lagan near Drumbeg - geograph.org.uk - 637539.jpg|thumb|River Lagan near Drumbeg]]
The '''Lagan Valley''' ({{Langx|ga|Gleann an Lagáin}}, [[Ulster Scots dialects|Ulster Scots]]: ''Glen Lagan'') is an area of [[Northern Ireland]] between [[Belfast]] and [[Lisburn]]. The [[River Lagan]] rises on Slieve Croob in [[County Down]] and flows generally northward discharging into [[Belfast Lough]]. For a section, the river forms part of the border between the counties of [[County Antrim|Antrim]] and [[County Down|Down]].

The towpath which runs alongside the River between [[Lisburn]] and Belfast is popular with walkers, runners, cyclists, dog owners etc. It is a very scenic and peaceful area and is ideal for walking, cycling etc. As a cycle route the towpath forms part of [[National Cycle Route 9]]. There are a number of "off route" mountain bike trails along the route.

The Lagan Valley is an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB). The AONB was established in 1965 and the greater part of it lies within the [[Greater Belfast]] area.

==Political constituency==
The Lagan Valley is also the name of [[Lagan Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|a constituency in the House of Commons]] covering Lisburn and surrounding areas, as well as the [[Lagan Valley (Assembly constituency)|Assembly constituency]] in the same area. There are approximately 242 townlands in the constituency area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Townlands in Ireland |url=https://www.townlands.ie/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=townlands.ie}}</ref>

The UK parliamentary constituency has been a Unionist stronghold in the past,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lagan Valley |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/alv.htm |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=ark.ac.uk}}</ref> until 2024 when Alliance gained the seat from the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP). The current MP for the constituency is [[Sorcha Eastwood]] of [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance]] who was elected in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]].

==See also==
* [[List of tourist attractions in Ireland]]

== References ==

<references/>

{{AONBs in Northern Ireland}}
{{County Antrim}}

{{coord|54|32|08|N|5|58|44|W|type:forest_region:GB|display=title}}

[[Category:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Valleys of Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1965]]
[[Category:Protected areas of County Antrim]]


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