In Northern Ireland, the A7 is a major trunk road running some 16 miles (26 km) from Downpatrick

Downpatrick

Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...

, through Crossgar

Crossgar

Crossgar is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is about 15 miles south of Belfast – between Saintfield and Downpatrick. Crossgar had a population of 1,539 people in the 2001 Census.- History :...

 and Saintfield

Saintfield

Saintfield is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland, situated roughly halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick on the A7 road. It had a population of 2,959 people in the 2001 Census. The village proper is considered predominantly a middle or upper-middle class town and of both Catholic and...

, to Carryduff

Carryduff

Carryduff is a small town and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, about south of Belfast city centre. It had a population of 6,595 people in the 2001 Census....

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Here the A7 joins the A24 (running from Newcastle) at an at-grade roundabout, and continues to Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

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The road is standard single-carriageway throughout most of its length, with two short sections of climbing lanes (approx 500m each).

The first of these runs northbound, starting about two miles north of Downpatrick at the former site of the Abbey Lodge Hotel.

The second runs southbound and begins about a mile south of Saintfield near Doran's Rock.

Apart from its terminus junction with the A24, the A7 road crosses a number of A and B roads:

• B2 (2 miles north of Downpatrick)
• B7 (Crossgar)
• B6 (Saintfield)
• A21 (Saintfield)