Craigavon Lakes
An extensive network of walking and cycling paths are set within the Parkland around the Craigavon Lakes and are suitable for disabled users and families and incorporate the National Cycle Network Route 9. The route around the two lakes is 3 miles, but there are many more paths besides.
County Armagh
Distance 3 miles
OS Map Sheet 20
Terrain Varied surfaces & shared paths
Nearest Town Craigavon
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference J048569
Route Type Forest, Lakeland, Parkland & Grassland
From the Craigavon Watersports Centre car park, start walking on the wide tarmac path beside the lake and walk in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, keeping the lake to one side. For the first half of the walk, follow the signs for Tannaghmore Gardens. Once you have reached the gardens, follow the signs for Craigavon Water Sports Centre to return to the car park. During the walk, you will come to two bridges. You must pass under these in order to complete the circuit of both lakes. It will take approximately 45mins – 1hr to complete the walk and at one point you may be up to 100metres from the waters edge.
When you approach the railway line, you may want to take a short detour into the Local Nature Reserve on either side of the railway line, to view the wildflowers, butterflies and orchids, however it should be noted that the path for this walk has yet to be laid and is therefore currently unsuitable for disabled users and pushchairs.
Craigavon Watersports Centre, Tannaghmore Gardens
From the M1 take junction 10 and follow signs to Craigavon Centre. Look for signs to the Watersports Centre at roundabout 3.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Toilets and refreshments are available from the Craigavon Watersports Centre and Tannaghmore Animal Farm. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Disabled toilets – Disabled parking.
Grade 3
- The path may not be hard and firm in all weathers with loose stones (not bigger than 5cm) with occasional tree roots and pot holes and will be at least 1m wide for its entire length.
- The path will not be steeper than 6° or have a cross slope of greater than 6°.
- There will not be any obstacles such as steps or stiles and surface breaks will be between 12mm and 75mm in width.
- There will be a clear head height of greater than 2.10m for the entire length of the route.
- There will be passing places at least every 150m and rest areas at least every 1km.
Comments will be reviewed and those that cause offence will be removed. This is at the discretion of WalkNI.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy the walking routes listed on WalkNI safely and easily.
If you have come across any problems whilst walking a route, please let us so we can pass on any issues to the appropriate management body responsible for maintaining the walk.
Walk Route
Craigavon Lakes
I can only describe it as overwhelming joy to be introduced recently to the Craigavon lakes. Especially meaningful to me given that my husband, a Lurgan born and bred civil engineer, who died at the end of 2021, was involved in their construction in the early days of his civil engineering career.
A Cumbrian by birth myself, I am proud to be married to an Irishman, and now, resident in Spain, I recently had the opportunity to see for myself the heart-lifting results of what happens when vision, the practical needs for Craigavon to have balanced water levels, and mother nature combine forces.
It is a tribute to the man who initiated the development of Craigavon itself, after whom Craigavon was named, and to men like my husband who worked so hard to turn vision into reality.
All the people of Craigavon can benefit from an enhanced, beautified, healthy place to live and share our space with threatened wild life as part of that experience.
So as the years pass this beautiful place increasingly illustrates what can be done in this age of growing conciousness about our need to embrace nature, and care for our planet whilst improving the quality of our lives. It is a place to be proud to live in.
To cover any part of this area with concrete is simply
mindless vandalism – a gross insult to the visionaries who saw the potential of turning a neglected place into something valuable and beautiful. An insult too to the endeavors of people who played a part in the project to turn vision into reality and worked to add value to the quality of lives of all the people of Craigavon.
For Gods sake councillors. See the light; for the health and quality of life of future generations! Build elsewhere!
This is a regular walk for us and it offers a series of different length routes.
It is well used by walkers, runners, cyclists and dog walkers.
There isn’t much litter or dog fouling.
The main walking route described here is tarmac for the entire length and is suitable for all abilities and those with mobility issues.
Parking is also available at Rushmere Shopping Centre and access to lakes is made via a footbridge. The main car park at The Lakes Leisure centre is currently being used by attendees to the COVID19 vaccination centre at The Lakes Leisure although there is still plenty of parking available for others.
fabulous facility. swans are currently in residence and daffodils in bloom along many sections. However, please note that work is currently ongoing and the watersports centre carpark is closed. The signage says alternate parking is available off roundabout 2. good cleanliness in regards to dog poo and minimal general litter – nice to see. make sure you have some layering as even on a sunny day the breeze off the water can be chilly