Dawson was the first man from the island of Ireland to climb Mount Everest, and is the Chair of our parent company, Outscape. We asked him for his favourite walking trail:I grew up in Belfast but never walked the hills overlooking the city Divis and Black Mountain. In my youth, much of Divis was a closed army shooting range, there were rumours of paramilitary training grounds and high fences around the transmitters and nervous farmers, all enough to make me head south to the Mournes. Even after the army range closed in the early 2000s the choice seemed to be the tarmac transmitter road or a sprauckle through tangled boglands, neither of which was appealing.The transformation came after the National Trust bought the army lands in 2005 and started creating new trails, in particular the Divis Ridge Trail, a 6.7km circular walk which delivers new perspectives on Belfast in its dramatic Lagan valley setting and remarkably expansive views in all directions.The trail starts and finishes at Divis Lodge car park and caf. The walk guide suggests going in a clockwise direction but I prefer anti-clockwise for the succession of views and the option of adding in the Divis summit trail on the return loop thereby minimising the amount on tarmac.Go on a good day and the Mournes, or Narnia, will be shimmering in the distance even before you leave the car park. Follow the transmitter road a short distance then turn right at a Ridge Trail sign onto a narrow but well constructed trail heading east towards Black Hill and then swinging north to reach the escarpment edge where the spectacular views unfold. From here to the Black Mountain summit you have Belfast and the Lagan Valley at your feet on one side and wild rolling moorland on the other, as you revel in the contrast between the open hills and the tight city streets below, with views north up Belfast Lough, east over the city to Stormont, Scrabo and Strangford lough, and south to the Mournes.All too soon you reach the summit trig point of Black Mountain (390m) and after soaking up the views, reluctantly turn westwards towards Divis, passing by the distinctive glacial erratic known as the Bobby Stone. Legend has it that Henry Joy McCracken and his defeated United Irishmen disbanded from here in 1798 as the rebellion failed.Short lengths of boardwalk over boggier sections take you down to the transmitter road. From here its a short stroll down to Divis Lodge but to extend your walk turn right up the steep road to Divis summit (478m), still scarred by a fenced compound, but you can stand with your back to that and take in the panoramic views southwest to Lough Neagh and beyond that to the Sperrins, or northwards past Slemish to the Antrim Hills. From the top the summit trail descends quickly down to Divis Lodge, the total being around 10km.Ther Belfast Hills can be bleak when the mist is down and winds howling but go on a good day and you will be well rewarded by the views and the big sky overhead. Its an area rich in archaeology and biodiversity and the good news is that the National Trust have recently acquired more of the surrounding land and have ambitious plans for new trails and enhanced visitor facilities.The post Favourite Walks of Interesting People: Dawson Stelfox MBE appeared first on WalkNI.