Overview
The Braid (Irish: Abhainn na Brád) is a small, fast river that rises in the Antrim Hills and joins the River Main near Ballymena, feeding the Lough Neagh system. It runs south-west through Broughshane and on through Ballymena, the town that grew on its banks and named its museum, The Braid, after it.
For a visitor it comes down to a riverside stroll and, for anglers, a fishery with a local club. Be straight about the first one: this is a local amenity rather than a destination, so come for an hour’s air rather than a day’s outing.
The riverside path
For a walk beside the river, use the Ecos Nature Park paths in Ballymena. These are managed public paths, so stay on the marked routes. Leave adjoining fields and other banks undisturbed, as they are not public access. Check the park leaflet for the current layout, and for whether dogs are welcome and on what terms, before you set out.
Fishing the Braid
The Braid Angling Club, based in Broughshane, looks after angling on the river. Wild brown trout, salmon and Dollaghan, the migratory trout of the Lough Neagh system, are the fish associated with the Braid. Fishing needs a DAERA rod licence plus permission from the club, and the bank is not public access, so do not assume you can fish or walk any stretch. Check the club’s current rules, seasons and permits before you go.
Wildlife and the waterfowl park
The Broughshane Environment Waterfowl & Wildlife Trust runs a small sanctuary along the river in the village. Run by volunteers, it turned a derelict pond and a patch of swampland into a habitat for ornamental and wild wildfowl, with the young Little Acorn Wood planted alongside. Check before you visit, as it depends on volunteer upkeep and donations. The Woodland Trust’s page for Ecos Park is a good starting point for the woodland and nature walks in Ballymena itself.
Practical information
Getting there – The river runs through Ballymena and Broughshane, linked by the A42. For the walk, head for Ecos Nature Park in Ballymena and follow the park’s own signs and leaflet.
Safety – The Braid is a spate stream, so it rises fast and hard after rain. Stay on the marked paths and keep children well back from the river, especially in high water. Never go into the water, and keep well back from the edge when it is high.
Facilities – Check the park leaflet for what is available on site; Ballymena town centre has the wider range of shops, cafés and toilets.
If you are making a morning of it, pair the walk with The Braid in Ballymena, the museum that takes its name from the river and tells the mid-Antrim story.