A big council country park in apple-orchard country — a long fishing lake, walking and cycle trails, a golf course, and the white-gabled Loughgall Manor on the rise.
A big council country park in the heart of Armagh's apple orchards — a long coarse-fishing lake ringed with fishing stands, walking and cycle trails, a golf course and a play area, all set around the white-gabled Loughgall Manor.
What you'll see and do — the fishing lake with its shoreline stands and lily-pad bays, a lakeside walk and orchard walk, cycle trails through woodland and open parkland, the golf course, tennis courts and a children's play area, plus the handsome Loughgall Manor on the rise above it all.
The walking — mostly easy, level trails around the lake and through the orchards and woods; a gentle stroll, family-friendly, with a boardwalk section over the wetter ground.
How long — an easy half day: a lap of the lake, a wander through the orchards and a turn on the play area fill it comfortably. Anglers happily settle in for far longer.
Getting in — you can walk into the park; the paid activities (fishing, golf) are what you pay for. Check current parking and admission arrangements with the park on the day.
Bring & food — comfy shoes (trails soften after rain), bikes if you have them, and a picnic is a safe bet; there's a shop/reception on site, but confirm café options on the day.
Dogs — a popular spot for a dog walk on the trails; keep them on a lead around the lake, the golf and the play area, and check the park's own dog rules.
Fishing and golf are paid — and rules apply. Angling needs a rod licence and a permit or day ticket (age 12+), and the golf course is pay-to-play; check permits, tee times and prices before you go.
The manor is mainly an events venue. Loughgall Manor is used for weddings and functions rather than open house tours — the park, lake and trails are the day out; admire the manor from the grounds.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — for a walk, the park's yours
For a stroll around the lake, the orchards and the trails, you just arrive and walk in — this is a public country park run by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. The paid parts are the activities: coarse fishing on the lake needs a rod licence plus a permit or day ticket, and the golf course is pay-to-play. Parking and any admission arrangements can change, so it's worth a quick confirm with the park on the day. The gates keep longer hours in the summer and shorten through the winter, so there's plenty of daylight to play with in the warmer months.
Level lakeside & orchard trailsFishing lake · 100 standsGolf course · pay-to-playPlay area & tennis courtsDogs welcome on leads
Two to remember:
The lake is a coarse fishery, so angling needs a rod licence and a permit or day ticket (age 12+) — night fishing and disabled-access stands are available. And Loughgall Manor is mainly an events and wedding venue, not a house tour, so plan the day around the park, the lake and the trails.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Comfy shoes or welliesThe lakeside and orchard paths are easy going, but they soften and puddle after rain — grippy shoes for the little ones.
🚲Bikes, if you have themThere are cycle trails through the parkland and woods — a fine, flat spot to let the kids ride.
🎣Your fishing kit & permitIf you're coming for the coarse fishing, sort your rod licence and permit or day ticket first — the lake has 100 stands, including disabled-access ones.
🧺A picnicThere are grassy spots and benches by the lake and in the orchards; there's a shop/reception on site, but bring food to be sure.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
You can walk into the park for a stroll around the lake, orchards and trails. The paid activities are fishing (rod licence plus a permit or day ticket) and golf (pay-to-play green fees). Confirm parking and any admission arrangements, and current prices, with the park on the day.
Hours
Open daily, with longer hours in summer and shorter ones in winter (early starts for anglers, later closing on summer evenings). Best to confirm the day's hours before you set off.
What you'll see
Loughgall Lake with its shoreline fishing stands, a lakeside walk and an orchard walk, cycle trails, an 18-hole golf course (a shorter course too), tennis courts, an adventure/trim trail, a football pitch, a children's play area, and the historic Loughgall Manor above the grounds.
Fishing
Loughgall Lake is a coarse fishery of around 12.4 hectares with roughly 100 fishing stands, including disabled-access stands and parking. Species include bream, roach, tench, pike, perch and carp. Anglers aged 12 and over need a DAERA rod licence plus a council day ticket or DAERA permit; night fishing is available. Check current rules and prices before you go.
Golf
The park has a golf course (an 18-hole and a shorter course), pay-to-play — check tee times and green fees in advance.
The manor
Loughgall Manor is a handsome white-gabled house used mainly as an events and wedding venue rather than a house you tour. You come for the park, the lake and the trails, and admire the manor from the grounds.
Food
There's a shop/reception on site. Café options can vary, so confirm on the day — a picnic by the lake is a safe plan.
Dogs
A popular place for a dog walk on the trails. Keep dogs on a lead around the lake, the golf course and the play area, and check the park's own dog rules.
Accessibility
Much of the lakeside path is level, with a boardwalk over wetter ground, and there are disabled-access fishing stands and parking. Some parkland and woodland paths are rougher underfoot.
How long
Allow an easy half day for a lap of the lake, the orchards and the play area — anglers, of course, stay far longer.
Questions
Before you go
Can I just turn up for a walk?
Yes — for a stroll around the lake, the orchards and the trails you just arrive and walk in. It's a public country park. The paid parts are the activities: fishing and golf. Confirm parking and any admission arrangements with the park on the day.
Do I need a permit to fish the lake?
Yes — Loughgall Lake is a coarse fishery. Anglers aged 12 and over need a DAERA rod licence plus a council day ticket or DAERA permit. There are around 100 stands, including disabled-access ones, and night fishing is available. Check current rules and prices before you go.
Can I play the golf course?
Yes — there's a pay-to-play golf course (an 18-hole and a shorter course). Check tee times and green fees in advance rather than just turning up with clubs.
Can we go inside Loughgall Manor?
The manor is used mainly as an events and wedding venue rather than an open house tour, so plan the day around the park, the lake and the trails and enjoy the manor from the grounds.
Is it good for young children?
Yes — there's a children's play area, level lakeside and orchard walks, cycle trails and plenty of open grass for a run-around. An easy, family-friendly half day.
Can I bring the dog?
It's a popular spot for a dog walk on the trails. Keep dogs on a lead around the lake, the golf course and the play area, and check the park's own dog rules.
Getting there
Loughgall Country Park, 11–14 Main Street, Loughgall, County Armagh, BT61 8HZ — just off the main street of the orchard village of Loughgall, a short drive north-east of Armagh city. Parking on site.
Loughgall sits at the heart of Armagh's famous apple country — the Orchard County — where the spring apple blossom is a genuine local event and the autumn brings the Bramley harvest. The country park grew out of the old Loughgall Manor estate, its white-gabled house and wooded grounds laid out around the lake, and it's now cared for by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council as a public park spanning open farmland, orchards and woodland.
Today the estate is a whole day's worth of things to do in one place: coarse anglers work the stands around the lake, families take the level lakeside and orchard walks or ride the cycle trails, golfers play the course, and the manor hosts weddings and events above it all. It's said to be one of the finest spots in the county to feel the orchard landscape up close — so pack a picnic, follow the blossom, and go and live a day of it.