Explore Ballymena through walks in its parks and a rich church heritage. The Braid Arts Centre brings together theatre, gallery spaces and a museum of local heritage. This gives you a choice of different ways to plan your visit: time in green spaces, historical subjects or a cultural programme.
Walks in Two Parks
Ecos Nature Park, near the town centre, offers eight kilometres of mostly flat walking trails. The length of the trail network is clearly specified, and the paths are described as mostly flat. You can also walk along mostly gentle paths in People's Park. Other facilities include play equipment, tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment and picnic areas. These options offer different ways to spend your time: at Ecos Nature Park, the trails are the main attraction; at People's Park, you can combine a walk with tennis, outdoor fitness, play equipment or a picnic.
Church History and Ballymena Churchyard Trails
The Ballymena Churchyard Trails are covered in a self-guided booklet and comprise two distinct tours of churchyards in the Ballymena area. The Pre-Reformation Trail explores some of the area's oldest surviving architectural heritage. The Covenanter Trail leads to sites associated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the Ballymena area. The two trails therefore focus on different aspects of history: on the one hand, old architectural remains; on the other, the history of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
The old Parish Church in Ballymena is one of the three surviving towers associated with the town's former title, “city of seven towers”. St Patrick's Parish Church was consecrated on 2 August 1855. Its tower is over 90 feet high and is one of the few surviving towers of Ballymena's “Seven Towers”. These details provide specific points of reference for the town's church history: its traditional title, an exact consecration date and a distinctive tower.
The ringing of the bells is also part of St Patrick's Parish Church's heritage. The church has the only ring of twelve bells in Northern Ireland hung for full-circle ringing. Visitors can join in when the bells are rung during services or on practice night. If you would like to take part, confirm the arrangements before your visit.
Theatre and Local Heritage at the Braid
The Braid Arts Centre includes a 400-seat theatre, gallery spaces and a museum showcasing local heritage. The Braid Theatre programme features comedy, music and drama. The centre therefore offers different cultural options: you can go to a performance or explore the gallery spaces and museum. If you are planning a theatre visit, you can choose a performance based on comedy, music or drama.
Saturday Market
Ballymena's weekly market takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the car park on Ballymoney Road. As the schedule may change, check the date before you travel. This lets you include the market as a specific Saturday activity in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Gracehill, Broughshane.
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