This is probably one of the nicest children's play parks in Carrickfergus, and strangely, a lot of…read morepeople don't know about it, as it is quite secluded! There are two entrances to Legg Park, one along the main Belfast Road, just up from the Model Primary School, and another entrance facing the Windrose. The park is fully fenced off and really well equipped with soft flooring, swings, slides and climbing frames. The park is also really nicely landscaped with lots of benches making it pleasant to sit around on a sunny day.

This is an excellent park. It suits all age groups from youngest of the young to the elder folk!!!…read morePlenty of well kept flower beds, the place is spotless and lots to see and do. Love the lake but didn't get to see the inside of the Pavillion. Great toddlers play area and there are tennis courts and bowling green. There are also tables on which one can Bbq. The colours of the flowers and kiddies play area are wonderful and this is a wonderful gift left by Sir Frederick Adair in 1909.

Great place to camp! Beautiful scenery, a lake and a castle…read moreon the grounds. Big field where you can pick where to pitch your tent. Friendly wardens. A small cafe on the grounds. Absolutely lovely!

The sun doesn't even have to be shining to put the massive grounds of Castlewellan to good use…read more There is quite a bit of natural shelter from wind and rain. When it is sunny however this place gets very busy, especially by the lake where people don't just picnic - and indeed BBQ - but kayak, fish, walk, cycle, and bring their dogs for a swim. There are plenty of amenities on site or very nearby, such as plenty of parking, clean public bathrooms, a small cafe, and a large shop within easy walking distance. There is also a huge maze for you to try and find your way out of and that alone could take up a good hour. Entrance fee per car is £4.50 - a bargain for a full day's outing. Tip: there are some rubbish bins but not a lot; people tend to take their rubbish with them. The grounds are kept exceptionally clean.

This is a great walk on the outskirts of Belfast. It is well hidden from the Manse road entrance…read morebut don't be put off its worth the view! It takes roughly 30 - 40 mins to ascend depending on fitness level. The path leads from a quaint bridge along a stony lane running behind Lagan college. It has quite a steep incline half way through - really gets the heart pumping. The vista over Belfast and the lough are breath taking. I usually catch a plane or ship coming in. Tip 1. Parking can be tight, i recommend parking in local estate Garland Hill and adding to the dander Tip 2. If you don't fancy the strenuous walk up hill there is another entrance with parking on the Lisnabreeny road itself.

I love finding different places to walk without having to travel too far and this is another such…read moreplace. 10 mins by car from my house in Carryduff and nestled in the Castlereagh hills. There's a small car park off Manse Rd easy to miss as it's not signposted. Entry to the walk is through a wooden gate on the left. You are on a par with Cavehill height- wise and when it's clear you can see right down to the port of Belfast or over to the spectacular Mournes. There's a Rath surrounded by trees which is eerily quiet and the gravelled path leads you down towards Cregagh Glen and waterfalls. You walk past the back of Lagan college and enter the Glen via an underpass. Be careful as the old railway sleeper path ways can be treacherous as I found out to my cost recently! They look dry but can be slippery as I ended upon my ass. Fortunately nothing damaged except ny dignity! You can take a detour to visit the monument to American soldiers who served in NI during WW2 or walk on down the Glen which is beautiful especially after rain when the water is really flowing. It is quite a steep walk back up to the car park but there are a few benches dotted around. Hard to believe you are right in the heart of urban Belfast. This place is well worth a visit with kids (there's a little adventure playground) or its a haven for dog walkers or even just on your own.

Just a few minutes walk from the Promenade. Park there and walk over…read more There is a huge lake with a walking path around it. Paddle boats are available in season. As you walk around the part there are old exercise machines that are fun to use and all view the lake. There is mini golf (although it needs some repair), tennis, a BMX track, playgrounds and lots of picnic areas. There is a bowling green but I'm not sure if it is members only. There are restrooms, a high end restaurant and snack bars. Every town should have a park of this caliber, it's a gem.

The Point of Ayre is the Island's most northerly tip and when you stand here you are closer to…read moreScotland (14 miles) than you are to Douglas. Most of the Island's northern plain is made up from sand and gravel that was deposited here during and after the last Ice Age. There is a large car park, a lighthouse, a foghorn and a Winkie. The buildings are not accessible. The beach is pebbles. There are lots of seals, we saw about 100 and they put on a fantastic show for us. Some were basking on the beach and others playfully popping their heads ouot of the water. It was magical. The flowering heathland, nesting birds, diving gannets and dramatic sea currents all combine to make the Point of Ayre a truly remarkable landscape. Put on a windbreaker jacket as it can be windy.

Was hoping to get to pet the Highland Cow but did get to pet the Black faced Sheep at least. You…read morecan pet a lot - Llamas, Goats, Sheep, Donkeys. Great experience for adults. Lots of many different kinds of birds, monkeys, reptiles, etc but also lots of things for kids to play on. Makes me with I was a kid to play on them. Excellent staff. Very professional and really care for all the creatures here.

This is a great place for a family day out. There is a lot of stuff for kids to do such as…read moretrampolines, big 'jumping pillows', (there are 2 of these and one is reserved for the under 5's, which is great as older children can be a bit more boisterous when playing and so this gives the little ones their own space to get their bounce on), mini diggers, quad bikes, and more. The 2 play areas are great, one is a pirate ship (there is a smaller version for the little ones) and the other is the best play castle I have ever seen, it has tunnels and everything! In the inside area they have soft play (to suit a range of ages) and huge slides (adults could go on these too but they looked quite terrifying to me!) However, as I went with another grown up woman and no children I didn't explore these areas too much, but it seemed like everything was working and in good condition. Be aware that some of the activites cost extra (sorry, I didn't notice which ones) but there seemed to plenty to do for free. What we went for though, was to see the animals, and there were a lot to see! In the first section (outside) there are monkeys (little ones such as squirrel monkeys and marmosets rather than chimps and apes), lemurs, meercats, otters, at least one giant tortoise, tiny fallow deer, racoons and fennec foxes. All the animals have inside and outside enclosures and seem well looked after. There are some windows into the inside enclosures but you can't see much so be prepared for the fact you might not see all the animals if some of them have decided to have an indoor day. Then, inside, there is the 'Little Critters Animal Barn' which has smaller creatures such as rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, parrots, snakes and insects. Going back outside there is a large selection of farm type animals - pigs, minature horses, goats, donkeys (including minature ones and one absolutely huge one, the biggest breed in the world), and many goats of varying sizes. There are also more exotic farm-ish type animals such as llamas and camels, and a big area full of wallibies which you could walk through and get up close. You can buy bags of feed for these animals for 50p, and one bag was enough for me to give a little to all of the animals. You can buy the food at the entrance and there is a feed hut in the park but it wasn't open the day we went, but it is easy enough to walk back to the front gate to buy more, or maybe stock up on your way in. There are lots of handwashing stations throughout the animal section, which were well stocked with soap and paper towels. There are 2 cafes, covered picnic areas, and a barbeque (this wasn't open on the day we went as it was a rather cold, grey day, not quite barbeque weather). The main cafe is a sort of cafeteria affair, selling sandwhiches, toasties, soup, etc. We both had paninis which were freshly made up, tasty, and arrived quickly. The other cafe is beside the soft play area, and does sandwhiches and snacks, but not sure about hot food. There is also a quieter section with booth type seating, away from the hustle and bustle. All of the staff we met were pleasant, helpful and friendly. When we first thought of going we thought the admission price of £10.50 for adults (£9 concession) might be a little steep as we weren't sure there would be a lot for adults to do, but the range of animals there was to see made it worth the price and we had a very enjoyable day out :)

Mesmerisingly beautiful forest park located in South Belfast which is less cultivated and more…read morenatural in style. Really comes into its own during autumn when leaves turn golden. There are numerous trails to follow whether your walking, running or just aimlessly wandering. The air is filled with birdsong and sounds of running water from the Lagan River; I never listen to music or podcasts when walking through Belvoir as the sounds of nature are so relaxing. This is fast becoming one of my favourite locations in Belfast.

Let me start by clarifying the name of this forest park. Despite the spelling, its name is…read morepronounced 'Beaver'. Yes, it's odd I know. So, anyhoo, it's got an odd name, what else can I tell you about Belvoir? Well, it's a beautiful green space close to the centre of Belfast and in my experience, one that not that many people know about. Obviously, there is plenty of space taken over by lush green trees and shrubs which is ideal for kids and dogs. I think dogs are meant to be kept on leads but not everyone sticks to that and as long as the dogs behave, no-one gets too bent out of shape. There's also a river running through the forest park which dogs can splash about in although I don't let the kids go in it as I have a little bit of a rat phobia. Squirrels are everywhere, so take some nuts and they will come quite close to you to eat them. Cultured types will also be interested in the historical aspects of the forest like the 12th century motte. More simple types like me will just enjoy the fresh air, the greenery and the squirrels.

I loved this place when I was younger. It was simply the most exciting place in the world as far as…read moreI was concerned and now I am older I see how great it must have been for my parents too. Let your kid run wild for 45 minutes and then watch as he sleeps like an angel for the rest of the day. The playground is an eclectic mix of rope swings and climbing frames, with the big net climber in the centre as the hub for childhood adventuring. I still have memories of racing friends to the top and back down again. Overall this is a great place to bring the under 12's in your life. It is a fun and exciting place for them to run around and tire themselves out.

I used to go here as a younger, more athletic....oh God lets face it, I was never bloody athletic…read more But I did go here with friends and family when I was younger and could run for longer than ten seconds without getting out of puff. I blame the 90s. Anyway, this is a great place for little ones and young people to blow off some steam, get some fresh air, and have fun. It's like a Peter-Pan-Esque playground, with treehouse type structures and slides and climbing frames and even a zip wire, which always scared me - I was never brave enough. It's got handy parking and it's in the environs of the gorgeous Cavehill, so if it's a nice day, and you have sprogs - get them up here for a day of fun.

Havnt been able to locate this directly on the map but its off limavady on the DOGLEAP ROAD WELL…read moreWORTH A VISIT! Icing on the cake for that peaceful time out! Roe valley country park is the most tranquil place that i have ever been! Not easily impressed.it takes alot to for me to say YES..there is miles of walking and one day will never cover the whole park however u will have a wonderful experience with the miles that you do cover the fishermen will love it, the walkers will say HAPPY DAYS and the people just looking for something different will enjoy the time out. I took my children and though it was long for them ( I would advise a picnic) They loved it! So much from bat caves to the old bridges over the riverDefinitely a hidden treasure! A MUST SEE!