PrimeCarers
Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Lurgan

Companionship careCraigavon

Days out in Craigavon for an older parent

Eight places in Craigavon that make a good day out for an older parent, from Oxford Island National Nature Reserve to C&J's Animal Park. 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

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve. Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0

Eight days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Craigavon

Seven 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.

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Lurgan

Photo: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Lurgan

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve

Oxford Island is a National Nature Reserve on a peninsula on the southern shore of Lough Neagh, with four miles of woodland trails, bird hides, wildflower meadows and ponds. The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre explains the lough's wildlife and history and has the Loughside Café looking out over the water.

Surfaced paths run throughout the reserve, and the café and toilets are in the Discovery Centre, so a carer can plan a short walk to a hide or the shore and back for a sit-down with a view.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Lurgan

Kinnego Marina, Lurgan

Photo: Robert Ashby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Boat trip · Lurgan

Kinnego Marina

Kinnego Marina is the largest marina on Lough Neagh, the biggest lake in the UK, and is home to the oldest sailing club in Northern Ireland. As well as the boats there is a café, nature trails, views across Kinnego Bay and boat trips at weekends.

The site is open all year with a café and toilets in the main marina building, so even without going on the water a carer can plan a relaxed visit watching the boats.

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 Lurgan

Lurgan Park

Park · Lurgan

Lurgan Park

Lurgan Park is the largest urban park in Northern Ireland, over 250 acres of woodland, grassland and paths around a large lake, once the estate of Brownlow House. The cast iron Coalbrookdale Fountain stands at the top of the main avenue.

Mobility scooters can be borrowed free if booked ahead, there is free on-street parking and toilets at the Cush Pavilion, and cafés in Lurgan town centre are a few minutes away.

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

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 Lurgan

Craigavon City Park and Lakes, Craigavon

Photo: Gfox228, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Craigavon

Craigavon City Park and Lakes

Craigavon City Park is parkland around two large lakes between Lurgan and Portadown, used for walking, fishing, cycling and watersports. The route around both lakes is about three miles, with many shorter paths and wooded areas.

The paths around the lakes are described as suitable for disabled users, and the watersports centre has parking, a café and toilets, which makes a sensible base for a short lakeside walk.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Craigavon

Maghery Country Park, Maghery

Photo: Limnoporus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Maghery

Maghery Country Park

Maghery Country Park covers 30 acres on the shore of Lough Neagh, with about five kilometres of woodland walks and picnic areas, and it is a good place for birdwatching. Coney Island, the only inhabited island left on the lough, lies a kilometre offshore.

Free parking is inside the park and the paths were recently resurfaced, so a carer can manage a short stroll to the lough shore and a picnic bench.

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

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 Maghery

Portadown People's Park

Park · Portadown

Portadown People's Park

Portadown People's Park is a town park that has recently been refurbished, with a reinstated pond, picnic tables and a large play park. It holds a Green Flag award and is close to the town centre.

There is free on-site parking for 62 cars and toilets in the pavilion, and local shops are within walking distance, so it suits a short outing.

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

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 Portadown

Bann Boulevard and Moneypenny's Lock, Portadown

Photo: Robert Ashby, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Portadown

Bann Boulevard and Moneypenny's Lock

The Bann Boulevard is a riverside walk of about three miles from Portadown along the River Bann, passing the Point of Whitecoat where the Bann, the Cusher and the Newry Canal meet. Moneypenny's Lock, the first lock on the Newry Canal, has a small museum and exhibition in the old stables and bothy.

The walk starts from a car park behind the Meadows Shopping Centre, where there are toilets and cafés, so a carer can walk a short stretch of the river and come back.

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 Portadown

C&J's Animal Park

Animals · Portadown

C&J's Animal Park

C&J's Animal Park is a family-run animal park outside Portadown with farm animals, rabbits, reptiles and endangered exotic species. Staff run animal handling sessions through the day, and there is a reptile house.

The park has flat gravel paths and a disabled toilet, and tea and coffee are sold at the entrance, though there is no café so a carer may want to bring a picnic.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Check prices

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Portadown

Regular groups and events in Craigavon

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

  • Music · PortadownA choir in its second centuryPortadown Male Voice Choir is a long standing local choir, now past its centenary, which rehearses locally and performs at concerts and festivals. A carer could take someone to a concert, or help a former singer get back to rehearsals with transport and a lift up the steps.Details
  • Dancing · PortadownTea dances for the over fiftiesThe council's Positive Ageing Month each October includes a popular series of tea dances alongside arts, cookery and exercise events, held in venues in Portadown, Lurgan and the surrounding villages. A carer can book a place, provide transport and sit in for the tea and chat, so nobody has to arrive alone.Details
  • Painting · PortadownAdult art and craft classes in townThe arts centre runs seasonal programmes of arts and crafts classes for adults, with booking opening ahead of each term. A carer can book a place, get someone there with their materials and stay for the session if confidence is an issue.Details
  • Reading · LurganMonthly adult reading groupLurgan Library runs a monthly adult reading group for ages sixteen and over, where members discuss their latest book, and the branch is open six days a week. A carer can collect the group's title in large print or audio, help with the reading through the month and go along on the day.Details
  • Sports · LurganCouncil activity sessions in LurganThe council's Get Active ABC programme lists sessions in the Lurgan area including walking football, Bat and Chat table tennis, walking netball and swimming. A carer can check the current timetable, book a place and go along for the first few weeks until it feels familiar.Details
  • Volunteering · PortadownListening volunteer with SamaritansCraigavon Samaritans, based in Portadown, recruits and trains volunteers to take calls and support the branch, with training provided locally. A carer can help with the application and training sessions and provide lifts to shifts, which are often outside bus times.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Craigavon

At a glance

The eight 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
Oxford Island National Nature ReserveLurganhalf a dayFreeAskAskYes
Kinnego MarinaLurganan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Lurgan ParkLurganan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Craigavon City Park and LakesCraigavonan hour or twoFreeAskAskYes
Maghery Country ParkMagheryan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Portadown People's ParkPortadownan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Bann Boulevard and Moneypenny's LockPortadownan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
C&J's Animal ParkPortadownan hour or twoCheck pricesAskYesAsk

Where the places are in Craigavon

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

12345678
  1. 1Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Lurgan
  2. 2Kinnego Marina, Lurgan
  3. 3Lurgan Park, Lurgan
  4. 4Craigavon City Park and Lakes, Craigavon
  5. 5Maghery Country Park, Maghery
  6. 6Portadown People's Park, Portadown
  7. 7Bann Boulevard and Moneypenny's Lock, Portadown
  8. 8C&J's Animal Park, Portadown

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Craigavon

Carers in Craigavon 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 Craigavon has the full figures.

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

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Craigavon

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve in Lurgan, Kinnego Marina in Lurgan, Lurgan Park in Lurgan, Craigavon City Park and Lakes in Craigavon, Maghery Country Park in Maghery, Portadown People's Park in Portadown, Bann Boulevard and Moneypenny's Lock in Portadown and C&J's Animal Park in Portadown. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

C&J's Animal Park has an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Kinnego Marina, Lurgan Park, Craigavon City Park and Lakes, Maghery Country Park, Portadown People's Park and Bann Boulevard and Moneypenny's Lock. 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. 11 of the carers with a rate near Craigavon drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Craigavon 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 Craigavon

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

Companionship care in the counties around Craigavon

Days out in the areas around Craigavon

Companionship care by town in Craigavon

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 Craigavon

See carers near Craigavon 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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