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Companionship careStrabane

Days out in Strabane for an older parent

Four places in Strabane that make a good day out for an older parent, from Strabane Canal Towpath to Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone Row. 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

Four days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Strabane

Four of them are free to visit or to walk around. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Strabane Canal Towpath

Nature reserve · Ballymagorry

Strabane Canal Towpath

The Strabane Canal towpath runs north from Devine's Lock near Ballymagorry beside the restored canal, past two footbridges and Campsie's Lock to a bird hide overlooking the River Foyle and East Donegal. Information panels explain the canal's history and the wildlife of the Foyle.

There is dedicated parking opposite the entrance and the path follows the flat canal edge, so a carer can walk to the first footbridge and back at an easy pace.

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 Ballymagorry

Sion Mills

Market town · Sion Mills

Sion Mills

Sion Mills is a model linen village laid out by the Herdman brothers in the 1830s beside the River Mourne, with half-timbered buildings, mill houses and a riverside setting. A heritage site map guides visitors round the village's historic buildings.

The village is small and compact, so a carer can follow a short part of the heritage map by car or on foot and stop by the river.

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 Sion Mills

Newtownstewart Castle and conservation area

Castle · Newtownstewart

Newtownstewart Castle and conservation area

Newtownstewart Castle is a 17th century Plantation house on Townhall Street with triple stepped gables and a star-shaped chimney stack, burned in 1641 and again by King James in 1689. The village around it is a conservation area of historic buildings.

The castle stands on the main street in the village centre, so it can be seen with very little walking and combined with a look round the conservation area.

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

Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone Row

Nature reserve · Plumbridge

Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone Row

The Glenelly Valley runs east from Plumbridge into the heart of the Sperrin Mountains, with quiet roads, hill farms and prehistoric monuments. Goles Stone Row, a 16 metre line of Bronze Age standing stones, sits on the lower slopes on the north side of the valley.

The valley is best seen as a scenic drive with stops at lay-bys, so a carer can plan the outing around the car and short looks at the views.

Time to allow
Half a day
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 Plumbridge

Regular groups and events in Strabane

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

  • Cooking & Baking · CastledergCastlederg Apple FairA long-running late-October fair with traditional apple sellers and food stalls around the town Diamond, held on the last Friday of October for around a century. A carer could go along to choose cooking apples and then help turn them into tarts or chutney at home.Details
  • Photography · StrabaneStrabane and District Camera ClubA local photography club for people who want company, feedback and occasional competitions. A carer could help with transport to meetings and with handling the camera bag and tripod.Details
  • Reading · StrabaneAdult reading group at the libraryLibraries NI runs adult reading groups at Strabane Library, meeting roughly every four weeks for discussion of a shared book. A carer can collect the set title in advance, help with large print or audio versions and provide the lift to the meeting.Details
  • Volunteering · StrabaneStrabane and Lifford Men's ShedA men's shed on Railway Road where members work on practical projects and community jobs together. A carer could make the first contact and stay for the first session or two until the routine is familiar.Details
  • Knitting · StrabaneKnit and Natter sessions at the local libraryLibraries NI runs free Knit and Natter groups in its branches for adults who knit, crochet or do other crafts, with conversation as much the point as the work. A carer can ring the local branch for the day and time, bring the wool and needles and stay for the chat.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Strabane

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
Strabane Canal TowpathBallymagorryan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Sion MillsSion Millsan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Newtownstewart Castle and conservation areaNewtownstewartan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone RowPlumbridgehalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Strabane

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

Castlederg1234
  1. 1Strabane Canal Towpath, Ballymagorry
  2. 2Sion Mills, Sion Mills
  3. 3Newtownstewart Castle and conservation area, Newtownstewart
  4. 4Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone Row, Plumbridge

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Strabane

Carers in Strabane 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 Strabane has the full figures.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Strabane

Strabane Canal Towpath in Ballymagorry, Sion Mills in Sion Mills, Newtownstewart Castle and conservation area in Newtownstewart and Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone Row in Plumbridge. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

Strabane Canal Towpath, Sion Mills, Newtownstewart Castle and conservation area and Glenelly Valley and Goles Stone Row. 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. 12 of the carers with a rate near Strabane drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Strabane 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 across the wider region around Strabane

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

Companionship care in the counties around Strabane

Days out in the areas around Strabane

Companionship care by town in Strabane

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Strabane

See carers near Strabane 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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