Craigavon is a townsituated in CountyArmagh, Northern Ireland. Although Craigavonitself officially only came into being during the 1970s, its location close tothe southern shore of the imposing LoughNeagh means that this is a part of Northern Ireland which has beeninhabited for as long as 8,000 years.
The ancient churches and burial grounds which youcan explore whilst staying in Craigavon aretestament to this rich history, but the area has so much more than simplyfascinating glimpses of the past to offer. The appeal of the natural landscapeis embodied in the number of forests, lakeshores and parkland spaces which canbe explored from the centre of Craigavon, and the rangeof exciting activities they play host to.
Get Into theWater at Craigavon
Craigavon itself hastwo artificial lakes and a water sports centre offering a range of facilities.At Craigavon Watersports Centre you can try yourhand at canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, wakeboardingand banana boating, all under the supervision of highly qualified instructors. Ifyou’d rather stay dry, the centre also offers archery, climbing, cycling andorienteering. If you’ve brought your kids to Craigavon,or are simply feeling active yourself, then the water sports centre simply hasto be experienced.
A little further away, 7 miles outside the centreof Craigavon, you’ll find the vast Lough Neagh,the largest freshwater lake in Britain. Its sheer scale makes it worth going toadmire from the shore, or from the roads around the lough, but it also offersthe chance to take a boat trip around the shoreline itself or explore thevisitors centre to learn more about this fabulous natural phenomenon. KinnegoMarina, the largest marina on the Lough, is situated just outside Craigavon.From here you can sample activities such as power boating and fishing, orsimply sip a coffee whilst soaking up the incredible views.
Things to Doin Craigavon
It’s not all about the water, of course, since thewide open spaces surrounding Craigavon offer anappeal all of their own, as well as being packed with hugely variedattractions. The Ballydougan Pottery centre offers the chance to purchaseunique, hand crafted items of pottery or, better yet, make one of your own,with classes offered to children and adults.
Lurgan Public Park, just a short trip down thecentral Portadown Road, is the second largest public park in Ireland. As well asallowing visitors to enjoy the tranquillity and fresh air, it offers facilitiesincluding football fields, cricket pitches, tennis courts, playgrounds and thechance to try your luck angling in the waters of Lurgan Lake.
For outdoor activity of a more unusual kind, headfor Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre. Here, as wellas three golf courses and a floodlit driving range, you’ll find the onlyartificial outdoor ski slope in Northern Ireland. A 300 foot main slope,together with a nursery slope and snow tubing area, mean that participants ofall ages and experience will be able to have fun slipping andsliding.
Staying inCraigavon
Craigavon itself mightbe relatively new, but it’s quickly establishing itself as the perfect base foranyone wanting to explore the nature and landscape of Northern Ireland, as wellas sampling a wide and varied selection of activities.
