A companion who shares their interests, in Derry

Somewhere to go

Riverside paths at Roe Valley Country Park

Limavady

A country park of surfaced riverside paths along the River Roe, with a countryside centre, a café and benches at intervals. A carer can drive to the Dogleap Road car park, borrow the wheelchair or mobility vehicle if needed, and keep to one flat stretch with a tea break at the end.

Getting around: WalkNI lists disabled parking and toilets, a wheelchair accessible café, a wheelchair and mobility vehicle available, and lighting along the route.

Source: walkni.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Flat coastal walking on the Lough Foyle Trail

Ballykelly

An off-road trail along the sea wall on the eastern shore of Lough Foyle, with reed beds on one side and wading birds and wildfowl on the other. A carer can park at Ballykelly, walk out ten minutes and turn back, bringing binoculars for the birds.

Getting around: The walk is flat and off-road with several access points, so a short section can be walked and retraced.

Source: walkni.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

In the calendar

City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival

Derry

An annual festival over the early May period, with jazz and big band sets in venues and bars across the city, many of them free to walk into. A carer can pick an afternoon session in a quieter venue, sort parking and leave when the room gets busy.

Source: visitderry.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Concerts at the Guildhall

Derry

The city's Victorian civic hall, used through the year for concerts and recitals as well as exhibitions. A carer could book seats near an aisle for an early evening concert and arrange a drop off close to the door.

Source: guildhallderry.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Seamus Heaney HomePlace

Bellaghy

A purpose built centre in Heaney's home village telling the story of his life and poems, with an exhibition, readings and events. A carer could drive over for a quiet weekday visit and read a poem or two aloud afterwards over tea.

Source: seamusheaneyhome.com. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Libraries NI reading groups

Public libraries across the county host reading groups that meet regularly to discuss a shared title, with sets of books supplied. A carer can find the nearest group, collect the book in large print or audio if that helps, and provide the lift to meetings.

Source: librariesni.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Knit and Natter at the local library

Libraries run free Knit and Natter sessions where people bring their own work and sit and talk while they knit. A carer could check which nearby library runs one, bring the needles and wool and stay for the first meeting.

Source: librariesni.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Local tradition

Derry's shirt factory needlework heritage

Derry

Shirt making was the city's main industry for generations, and the skills and stories of the factory workers are still recorded and remembered locally. A carer could look up the history together and use it as a starting point for someone's own memories of sewing and knitting.

Source: irishtimes.com. Check opening times and access before you go.