PrimeCarers
Ballymoney Museum, Ballymoney

Companionship careBallymoney

Days out in Ballymoney for an older parent

Four places in Ballymoney that make a good day out for an older parent, from Ballymoney Museum to Dunlop Memorial Gardens. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Ballymoney Museum. Photo: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0

Four days out across two towns

The best places to take an older parent in Ballymoney

Four of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Ballymoney Museum, Ballymoney

Photo: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Ballymoney

Ballymoney Museum

Ballymoney Museum sits inside the Town Hall and tells the story of the area from early times through the 1798 Rebellion, the two World Wars and the Corfield camera factory. There is also a gallery on Irish road racing, which is a big part of local life.

There is level access from the entrance to the galleries and shop, lifts to the first floor, seating in the galleries, accessible toilets on both floors and a Blue Badge space on the road outside.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry, parking charged nearby

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

The Dark Hedges, Stranocum

Photo: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Stranocum

The Dark Hedges

The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees planted around 1775 along the Bregagh Road near Gracehill House, whose branches meet overhead to form a tunnel. It became famous as a filming location and is one of the most photographed spots in Northern Ireland.

The road is closed to cars and parking is at the Dark Hedges Estate or the Hedges Hotel nearby, so a carer can plan a short, level stroll and turn back whenever the person they care for has had enough.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, parking charges may apply

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Riverside Park, Ballymoney

Park · Ballymoney

Riverside Park, Ballymoney

Riverside Park is 40 acres of open parkland in the middle of Ballymoney, following the Ballymoney River past a duck pond, meadows and an older wooded section. Surfaced paths let you choose walks from half a mile to three miles, with picnic areas along the way.

The routes are described as relatively flat and smooth with occasional gentle slopes, and there are two car parks and disabled toilets, so a short loop from the Armour Avenue car park to the duck pond is easy to manage.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, with free parking

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their websiteAccess information

Dunlop Memorial Gardens, Ballymoney

Photo: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Ballymoney

Dunlop Memorial Gardens

The Dunlop Memorial Gardens on Castle Street honour Joey Dunlop, Robert Dunlop and William Dunlop, the Ballymoney family of motorcycle road racers. There are bronze statues, a granite obelisk and plaques telling the story of their racing careers.

The gardens are small and in the town centre, so this is a short stop that fits well alongside the museum, with on-site parking and nothing more than a few minutes of walking.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Regular groups and events in Ballymoney

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Ballymoney.

  • Gardening · BallymoneyBallymoney and District Gardening ClubA long-running club, also known as the North Antrim Horticultural Association, that meets through the year with talks, events and competitions in flowers, fruit and vegetables. A carer could provide the lift to meetings and help carry entries for the competition nights.Details
  • Cooking & Baking · BallymoneyBallymoney Country MarketA community market focused on local produce, home baking and handmade goods, with free entry and regular dates including a Christmas market. A carer could go along to buy ingredients and talk to the bakers, then help turn the shopping into an afternoon of baking at home.Details
  • Music · BallymoneyBallymoney and District Male Voice ChoirAn established local male voice choir that sings the traditional repertoire and takes part in concerts across Northern Ireland, often in aid of charity. A carer could arrange tickets and transport to a concert, or help a former singer get back to rehearsals.Details
  • Reading · BallymoneyBallymoney Drama FestivalA long-established drama festival held over five nights each March in the Town Hall, with a mix of comedy, tragedy and new writing performed by visiting companies. A carer could book seats for one evening and read the play beforehand with the person so the night is easier to follow.Details
  • Sports · ArmoyArmoy Road Races, the Race of LegendsA motorcycle road race run on closed roads around Armoy, named for the Armoy Armada riders who trained on the same roads. A carer could plan an early arrival for parking, bring a folding chair and stay for one or two races rather than the whole day.Details
  • Knitting · BallymoneyKnit and Natter craft group at the libraryLibraries NI runs free Knit and Natter groups for adults who knit, crochet or do cross stitch, with dates listed on the service's events page. A carer could check the current times for the Ballymoney branch, bring the wool bag and stay nearby for the first session.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Ballymoney

At a glance

The four places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Ballymoney MuseumBallymoneyan hour or twoFreeYesYesAsk
The Dark HedgesStranocuman hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Riverside Park, BallymoneyBallymoneyan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Dunlop Memorial GardensBallymoneyan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Ballymoney

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

1234
  1. 1Ballymoney Museum, Ballymoney
  2. 2The Dark Hedges, Stranocum
  3. 3Riverside Park, Ballymoney, Ballymoney
  4. 4Dunlop Memorial Gardens, Ballymoney

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Ballymoney

Carers in Ballymoney charge £19 to £22 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Ballymoney has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Ballymoney

Ballymoney Museum in Ballymoney, The Dark Hedges in Stranocum, Riverside Park, Ballymoney in Ballymoney and Dunlop Memorial Gardens in Ballymoney. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Ballymoney Museum describes a step-free route. Ballymoney Museum and Riverside Park, Ballymoney have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Ballymoney Museum, The Dark Hedges, Riverside Park, Ballymoney and Dunlop Memorial Gardens. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 10 of the carers with a rate near Ballymoney drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Ballymoney shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about an hour of Ballymoney

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Ballymoney

Days out in the areas around Ballymoney

Find a carer who could take them out in Ballymoney

See carers near Ballymoney who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

Search carers in BallymoneyCall 0203 369 3624
Free to searchNo obligationVetted & insuredYou choose the carer