Find your perfect pitch – campsites in Northern Ireland
Freedom and facilities are what are attracting more and more people to the world of camping. Here in Northern Ireland you’ll find an awful lot of both of those things all across our counties. What’s more, because it’s so easy to get around here – from mountains to shores and from city skylines to forest canopies – camping is an amazing away to just pack up, get out there and discover everything that Northern Ireland has to delight and inspire you.
Under the awnings in Armagh
Armagh is our Orchard County so where better to pitch up and experience the simple joy of a Bramley apple or two landing in your lap while you enjoy breakfast in the morning sunshine? There’s plenty of places here where that just might happen!
Gosford Forest Park in Markethill is one of the most established campsites in the county with free and open greenspace on which to pitch up in a glade surrounded on all sides by trees, as the name suggests. It’s complete with communal cooking, cleaning, showering, washing and toilet facilities as well as a multi-purpose function room and playground.
If a view of the water is what you’re after then make your way to the shores of the massive and magnificent Lough Neagh. This is where you’ll find Kinnego Marina and Campsite (3*), which offers easy access to all the water-borne activities you’d expect to find at the largest marina on the largest lough in Britain and Ireland. The tent pitches here also offer electrical hook-ups – useful for recharging phones and cameras after a day of capturing sun-struck selfies and those beautiful views of the lake.
Feel the freedom of Fermanagh
Castle Archdale (4*) has it all when it comes to camping. This fully-serviced site offers plenty of grass space if you’re looking to pitch up for the night. There’s lots to do here in a heavily-wooded site right on the shores of mighty Lough Erne.
The Crom Estate (4*) is one of Northern Ireland’s most extensive national estates and nature reserves, and you can stay right in the heart of it on one of two campsites: Culliagh's and Bell Hill. Each site is nestled within trees in a beautifully-maintained rural setting, with communal washing, cooking, and WC facilities provided – plus that all-important campfire for swapping stories and making life-long friends.
Stretch out under the stars in the Sperrins
The Sperrin mountains are a globally-designated Dark Sky location and this is the place to go to if you really want the stars above to align for you.
Drum Manor Forest Park is fairly close to Cookstown and is a fully-managed park with a playground, gardens, walking trails, a duckpond and more. There’s a total of 31 pitches here alongside modern toilet and showering facilities.
Dungannon Park (4*) is another popular spot with walkers and campers alike. Alongside excellent modern toilet and shower facilities, there’s an extensive lake to be explored, walking trails that go on forever, playing pitches and an on-site café for tea and treats.
Mountains, water and canvas in County Down
Let’s Go Hydro is a relatively new water activity park in north Down which caters for all sorts of campers, from those intrepid solo travellers with tiny one-person tents to big extended family tents with multiple rooms (the ones that take military training to put up!). You’re never far from a water activity here on this fully-serviced site with up-to-the-minute facilities and oodles of on-site activities to get stuck into once you get those pesky tent pegs stuck in.
Castlewellan Forest Park is the place to head for if you fancy waking up to the sun rising above a castle’s battlements. There are plenty of modern services here alongside spacious well-grassed areas for tent pitching, including showers, toilets and fresh drinking water. Plus you’re right next to the park’s other activities such as angling in the lake, walking, cycling and horse-riding.
Sleeping bags and more near Belfast
Just five miles from Belfast is Dundonald Touring Caravan Park (4*), a fully serviced place for caravanners and campers to hitch up or pitch up. Shower and laundry facilities are provided in the communal services block alongside 6 tent pitches. It’s an ideal location for exploring everything the big city has to offer, while there’s also easy access from here to the County Down mountains and coastline.
Happy campers along the Causeway Coast
There is just so much to see and do along the Causeway Coast and camping gets you right into the heart of all the action.
And the beating heart of it all has got be Portrush with its strong surfing culture and seaside experiences for everyone. Carrick Dhu Holiday Park (4*) overlooks the Blue-Flag West Beach and is also within easy reach of Portstewart. 20 camping pitches are on offer here, together with very modern communal cooking and showering facilities.
Hilltop Holiday Park (4*) is another wonderful Portrush option for a night or more under canvas. There are plenty of pitches to be had here, each of which offers sweeping views over the Atlantic waves as well as extensive washing, showering and toilet facilities and a whole heap of on-site activities. Both parks are brilliant places to camp, while taking part in the surfing and sea-sports in Portrush, or strolling and exploring the strand and dunes at Portstewart.
All that’s left to do now is to check out all our other camping options, count your tent pegs and start rolling and folding right away. Happy camping!