North Down

By Car

Use the free car park at the Ulster Transport Museum, just a short walk from the start of the trail. For directions to the Museum visit the website here. Be aware the Ulster Transport Museum will close at 6pm and you will be unable to access the car park after that time.

There’s also parking at Bangor Marina at the end of the trail and a park and ride facility at Bangor Train Station.

By Train

The Ulster Transport Museum is serviced by a regular train service from Belfast via the Bangor to Portadown line. Hop off at the Cultra stop and it’s a short walk to the museum. Please note that access to the Museum site from this train stop is not accessibility friendly. Plan your journey on Translink’s website here.

If you park your car at the Museum to complete the full trail, you can get the return train from Bangor to Cultra. The train station in Bangor is approximately a 15 minute walk from Pluto at the end of the trail.

By Bus

The Museum site is also serviced by bus with a stop next to the Transport Museum car park. Plan your journey on Translink’s website here.

Free parking is available at the main Ulster Transport Museum car park. Mobility spaces are also available. The car park is a short two minute walk to the start of the trail.

There is also a park and ride facility at Bangor Train Station — approximately a 15 minute walk from Pluto at the end of the trail.

Schools and Group Parking

Please get in touch with our learning team who will help guide you: learning@ourplaceinspace.earth.

The start of the free Our Place in Space sculpture trail (from the Sun to Mars) is located on the grounds of the Ulster Transport Museum. Access to the exhibits in the Transport Museum is via paid entry only. If you wish to visit the Museum after you have enjoyed the trail you can find out more about tickets here.

Please note, Ulster Transport Museum is closed on Mondays but the trail will still be accessible.

The trail is available to visit every day. We recommend visiting between 9am and 5pm for the best experience. Gates at the Ulster Transport Museum will close at 6pm and you will be unable to access the car park from the trail after that time. The Ulster Transport Museum is closed on Mondays but the trail is still accessible.

Visitors should be aware of sunset when planning their visit and show caution along the coastal path in low light conditions.

Don’t forget, there is a lot of space in Space…

Look out for our Trail Guardians at the start of the trail who will provide you with more information and equip you with a trail map.

Before you jet off, take a look at some of our important points to note below:

Where do I start my interplanetary journey?

Follow the signage from the car park or from the Cultra train stop and start your journey within the museum grounds where you can zoom from the Sun to Mars. Follow a new gravel path onto the North Down Coastal Path and continue your journey to Saturn and beyond against the stunning waterside location, ending with Pluto on Bangor pier.

How long is the trail by foot?

From the Sun to Pluto is 11.8 km. At an average walking speed the complete trail will take approximately up to 4 hours.

You may wish to explore the full solar system trail in more than one visit. A round trip from the Sun to Saturn and back is approximately 6.6 km. You could come back and explore the outer planets another day.

If you have any queries relating to accessibility on the trail, head to our accessibility section below.

What’s the terrain?

You can navigate from the Sun to Mars and onto the coastal path along newly installed gravel footpaths on the Ulster Transport Museum grounds. The remainder of the trail along the North Down Coastal Path has a mix of terrain conditions. See our accessibility guide below for more information.

How do I get from Pluto back to the start of the trail?

Train: Bangor Train Station is a 0.5mile walk (approx 12 minutes) from Pluto. The Cultra stop is 5 stops away from here on the train heading to Portadown (approx 30 minute journey). From here, take the path to the Ulster Transport Museum where the trail begins.

Bus: Bangor Bus centre from Pluto is a 0.5mile walk (approx 12minutes). Take the 502a bus heading to Belfast. Get off at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum stop (approx 19minutes).

Should I bring anything?

You might want to bring a snack or a drink to stay hydrated as you journey to the outer planets. You will also want to download our handy app to stay informed and entertained. Visitors are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for their journey.

Can I bring a furry friend?

Absolutely! Please look after your friend, keep them on a lead and clean up after them.

Temporary portable toilets are located on the grounds of the Transport Museum.

Please note that only ticket holders to the museum are able to use the internal toilet facilities. There are no public toilet facilities along the remainder of the trail until you reach Bangor Marina.

We've designed the trail to be as accessible as possible and want everyone to have a chance to experience it. We will shortly publish a full accessibility guide for the trail.

Our augmented reality app will support your visit to the sculpture trail. Track your steps through the solar system, collect space souvenirs, upload a star to the 'Universe of Us' and learn all about the solar system during your visit. Follow the links on the website and download the app before you visit.