Need somewhere to spend an entire weekend or summer holiday day? A dry one that is, and one with…read morechildren. Then Carnfunnock Family Fun Zone is for you. This is a place where you can genuinely spend the whole day without a single whine of 'I'm boooorrred'. There are just loads of really good fun things to do here, nothing lame or boring and definitely something for everyone from babies up to early teens. You pay a fee of around £5 to park your car for the day and get access to the country park and you could in theory end your spending for the day there. You will have access to acres of woodland, beautiful gardens which the adults will appreciate and the kids will enjoy trampling through. There is a also a huge maze which the whole family will love and which you can oversee from a massive big wooden decking area. Also included is a fantastic park with a huge boat in the middle which can be explored and climbed on. All of that will pass a full morning or afternoon, but part with a bit more cash and you can do so much more. About 5 minutes walk away is where all the action is - there are trampolines, mini golf, bouncy castles, a bungee jump, remote control lorries and a mini railway, all of which are excellent fun. Now, each activity costs about £1.25, so you can see how you budget will soon spiral. It might be a good idea to tell the kids in advance that they can choose 2 or 3 activities and that's it. It works for me. Kind of. There are picnic tables with spots for portable BBQs and a proper BBQ area which you can pre book (and pay for) for large groups. There aren't that many picnic tables so get in early and stake your claim. Cut down on costs by bringing your own picnic, but there is a tea room and a little shop selling drinks, ice creams etc, so all options are covered. All in all, it's a fantastic place for a day out. I dare you to go and not have a good time!

Took my wee daughter to her friends 6th birthday party. What an amazing park with great facilities…read moreand plenty to do. There's a fab play park, lots of greenery and a covered BBQ area-what a lifesaver as the weather for mid summer was terrible!!! Kids had a great time!!!

An absolutely class park. You feel like you're not in Northern Ireland, that's because the…read morefacilities are so good - you have an outdoor gym, a kids play park and a fully equipped cafe - not to mention an enclosed caravan park. The walk itself is short, it stretches around 2km perfect for walking a tiny dog. The views are fantastic, you can look over Belfast lough at North Down and on a clear day you can pick out individual buildings. There's plenty of informational signs at Loughshore explaining the different wildlife one might expect to see at the park. One criticism would be the amount of litter on the beach area of the park, obviously there's nothing they can do of people choose to chuck their empty beer cans on the beach but perhaps it could be better enforced! All in all a great park, a lovely fresh walk with great faciliti

This is a nice place for a stroll along the shore. The terrain is flat and suitable for prams and…read morewheelchairs etc. It's quite a short walk and has a few benches along the way to rest and take in the views of Belfast Lough. Theres also a lovely little coffee shop beside a large kids play area. The play area was packed with some very happy kids so it definitely must be a thumbs up. Theres a large parking area and a separate caravan park nearby. Worth a little stop off if you've an extra half an hour.

The Valley Park isn't actually a place I go that often, being neither a football-playing male nor a…read moredog-owner, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion! Well maintained by Newtownabbey Council, it's a huge green space with lots of room for kids to kick a football about, dogs to run off all that energy they have, and runners to go for miles and miles.

Valley Park is a gorgeous area of park land where there's a little duck pond, a bridge over the…read moreriver which is so quaint, there's a little wooded area and the path leads off to various different routes, so if you wanted to and had it planned out I'm sure you could continue from park to park around here. It's a nice place if you're about the area. It's particularly beautiful on a quiet night, though it goes without saying to be careful as it's right on the edge of Rathcoole estate, but none the less I've seen some beautiful moonlight nights up here where the giant moon winks down at you on the reflection of the pond. Again as with other park reviews, I'd stay away from here at night just to be on the safe side.

The Glengormley Park is a great area for both kids and grown ups to come and enjoy on a sunny day…read more There's a play park for the kiddies (and not so kiddies who want to play) and there's a huge lawn area to walk the dog or take a gentle stroll around. This area can be a bit dodgy, so personally I'd stay away at night as I'd say it's probably frequented by the local hoods for their late night drinking sessions, but look on the bright side, go in the day and it's a gorgeous park. We should all try to help keep our local parks in good order and keep the vandals out. Glengormley isn't' maybe quite as nice as Hazelbank or the Cave Hill but it's great for those in the area to enjoy a bit of fresh air. Plus, the kids park has all sorts of amazing rides (I'm a big kid, I would know!) It also includes the following facilities; Toilets, Car Park, Dog Bin, Bowling Green, Pavilion, Walking Routes, Historic Feature, Picnic Area, Playground, Tennis Court and Basketball Court.

Glengormley Park does the job. It's not huge, so there are no great hikes to be had, nor is there…read moreany interesting plant life that would warrant a visit. No, Glengormely Park is simply a green space in the middle of a pretty dreary village, designed to give the residents somewhere to go, and, to be fair, it does that pretty well. As the aunt of 4 children, I can honestly say that Glengormley Park is a childminders' dream. The play area is pretty well equipped and keeps the kids occupied for hours at a time. So, while it might not be spectacular, Glengormley Park provides a service - one for which I'm sure mothers all over are glad!

Probably the best park in teh Triangle area. A fantastic enclosed play area for the children witha…read moresection for babies and todders and one for older children. There are beautifully well laid out flower displays and a large grassy area perfect for lounging about or playing a few ball sports on sunny days. There is a stream running through it which may worry some parents of smaller children but it is relatively well fenced off and mentioned before the park area is enclosed. The flowers displays really are beautiful and its such an idyllic spot even tho it is in the town centre.

Nice park with a beautiful stream through the middle. Pretty nice play area for the kids. And right…read moreby downtown square and shops.

I have family down here so visit now and again, If you want to see a bit of Coleraine and keep fit…read moreat the same time try the Highway to Health Trail, starting at Coleraine Leisure Centre which can be walked in approximately 35 minutes and is suitable for people of all ages. My daughter also enjoys this walk

Shaftesbury Park has been an occasional haunt for me ever since I was a child. It's not a massive…read morepark, basically a square 'green' surrounded by trees, and some benches, which is great to sit out at on a good day. There is a path leading all around the green on level ground which is popular with dog walkers and joggers, and at the far side, there is a children's play park. There are three entrances to the park, the 'main entrance' is at Joymount, with another leading from St.Bride's car park, passing by the Bowling Club, and the third is a little tunnel, which leads from Carrickfergus Leisure Centre, making it a nice walk to tie in with a walk around the duck ponds!

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.