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Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden, Glenarm

Companionship careLarne

Days out in Larne for an older parent

Four places in Larne that make a good day out for an older parent, from Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden to Ballygally Beach. 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 September 2026

Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden. Photo: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Four days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Larne

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one confirms an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden, Glenarm

Photo: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Glenarm

Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden

Glenarm Castle is the home of the Earls of Antrim, one of the few Northern Ireland country estates still privately owned but open to visitors, with an award-winning walled garden, a woodland walk and a castle trail. There is a tea room, a farm shop and a retail quarter by the entrance.

A wheelchair and a mobility scooter can be borrowed, there are disabled toilets in the walled garden, tea room and welcome centre, and benches are placed around the estate, though some paths and the car parks are gravel.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Larne Town Park and Chaine Park, Larne

Photo: C LEITCH, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Larne

Larne Town Park and Chaine Park

Larne Town Park has tree-lined walks, flower beds, a bandstand, shelters and public toilets, and joins Chaine Park above the sea with views across to Scotland. Paths link both parks to the promenade and the Chaine Memorial Tower at the mouth of Larne Lough.

There are shelters and public toilets in the Town Park, and the promenade can be reached from it on foot, so a parent can take in the sea views without a long walk.

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

Carers who drive, based near Larne

Carnlough Harbour, Carnlough

Photo: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Carnlough

Carnlough Harbour

Carnlough Harbour is a small stone harbour at the foot of Glencoy, one of the nine Glens of Antrim, used by pleasure boats and small fishing boats. Its limestone steps were used as a filming location for Game of Thrones, and boat trips run in the bay.

The harbour is compact and sits in the middle of the village, so a carer can plan a short stroll round the harbour wall with the village cafés close by.

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

Ballygally Beach, Ballygally

Photo: Mike Faherty, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Ballygally

Ballygally Beach

Ballygally Beach is a sandy bay about 10 kilometres north of Larne on the Antrim Coast Road, with views along the coast and across the sea to Scotland. A 17th-century castle, now part of a hotel, overlooks the beach, and a shop across the road sells ice creams and refreshments.

A sloped path leads to a level wooden platform at the main entrance, and a viewpoint with seating near the entrance is fully wheelchair accessible, with a car park and toilets across the road.

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

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Ballygally

Regular groups and events in Larne

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

  • Music · LarneLarne Music FestivalA long running competitive music festival where local singers, instrumentalists and choirs perform before adjudicators, and audiences are welcome. A carer can book the session, manage the travel and sit alongside for an afternoon of live music.Details
  • Dancing · BallycarryBroadisland Gathering, BallycarryBallycarry's Ulster-Scots festival brings pipe bands, dancing and a parade to the village each year. A carer can plan an early arrival for a seat near the route and keep the outing to the part someone most wants to see.Details
  • Sports · LarneLarne parkrunA free timed five kilometre event held every Saturday morning, open to walkers as well as runners. A carer can walk the course alongside someone at their own pace, or wait at the finish with a flask.Details
  • Volunteering · LarneLarne parkrun volunteer teamThe weekly parkrun needs volunteers for standing roles such as marshalling, timekeeping and handing out tokens. A carer can sign up alongside someone, drive them there and stay for the hour so the commitment stays small.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Larne

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
Glenarm Castle and Walled GardenGlenarmhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Larne Town Park and Chaine ParkLarnean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Carnlough HarbourCarnloughan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Ballygally BeachBallygallyan hour or twoFreePartlyAskAsk

Where the places are in Larne

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

1234
  1. 1Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden, Glenarm
  2. 2Larne Town Park and Chaine Park, Larne
  3. 3Carnlough Harbour, Carnlough
  4. 4Ballygally Beach, Ballygally

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Larne

Carers in Larne charge £19 to £20 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 Larne has the full figures.

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

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Larne

Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden in Glenarm, Larne Town Park and Chaine Park in Larne, Carnlough Harbour in Carnlough and Ballygally Beach in Ballygally. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden has an accessible toilet. Glenarm Castle and Walled Garden lends wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Larne Town Park and Chaine Park, Carnlough Harbour and Ballygally Beach. 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. 7 of the carers with a rate near Larne drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Larne 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 45 minutes of Larne

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

Companionship care in the counties around Larne

Days out in the areas around Larne

Find a carer who could take them out in Larne

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

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