Plans to develop an interactive trail highlighting Bangor’s early Christian heritage have received support from Ards and North Down Council’s Environment Committee. The route would connect Bangor Abbey, North Down Museum, Bangor Castle Gardens, and Cross Hill.

The project aims to redevelop the existing Bell Walk into a more coherent visitor experience. Proposed works include relocating bell sculptures, repairing signage, upgrading interactive displays, and illuminating landmarks such as the Fluctus Angelorum sculpture and St Malachi’s Wall, which dates from the 13th century.

Councillor Chris McCracken, who originally proposed the scheme, said a feasibility study is underway. He described Bangor’s monastic past as a centre of learning for much of Western Europe, noting the influence of figures like St Columbanus.

The current walk lacks cohesion, and plans call for a new pathway from the western side of Bangor Castle to draw visitors through the gardens. A monastic sundial, around 1,000 years old, stands among the monuments there.

The trail would also direct visitors to North Down Museum. On the western side of the castle, Cross Hill marks the site where an Irish high cross once stood, offering views of Bangor Bay. The town’s name derives from the Irish Beannchar, meaning horned curve, a reference to the bay’s shape.

The next phase involves a council feasibility study, titled ‘Castle Gardens Reimagined’, which will link the Christian heritage trail to features such as the Walled Garden.