When it comes to finding your home from home, we're certain one of the many self-catering options available across the country will make for a magical and memorable visit.
All up to you in County Antrim
Where better to start looking than in County Antrim at the start of the world famous Causeway Coastal Route? With easy access to the bright lights, Ballygally Holiday Apartments (4*) offer expansive views of the Antrim Glens on one side and the Irish Sea on the other. With one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available you’re bound to find the right size for your gang, and WiFi, washer/dryer and widescreen TVs are just some of the creature comforts on offer. From here you can strike out on foot for a walk in the Antrim Glens or take to four wheels and embark on the Causeway Coastal Route.
Cabins with a difference on the Causeway Coast
Out on the Causeway Coast the views are truly spectacular. Spoiled by those views you’ll want somewhere equally spectacular to lay your head. Look no further than Aurora (5*) in Bushmills, the County Antrim town that’s synonymous with the world famous Irish whiskey. This pair of Canadian cedar log cabins really are spectacular, featuring wood burners, supersized beds, outdoor hot tubs and private terraces from which to marvel at the views that stretch all the way to Rathlin Island. Complete with modern kitchen facilities, Aurora makes for a magical luxury self-catering escape for up to four people. But be warned, you might never want to leave!
Apartments with a view from tee to green in Portrush
A little along the famed Causeway Coast is the bustling surf-tastic town of Portrush. Right between world-famous Royal Portrush Golf Club which hosted the 2019 Open Championship and Portrush’s majestic East Strand, is Curran Gate (5*), a luxury self-catering apartment complex that makes a perfectly indulgent base for exploring Portrush, Portstewart, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, the Giant’s Causeway and the Dark Hedges of Game of Thrones® fame. All modern facilities are laid on for each of these 21 apartments which sleep up to six people. There’s even a concierge team to arrange breakfasts, meal deliveries and sports, leisure and cultural bookings if you’re in need of extra pampering.
A magical hideaway in Lisburn
On the other side of Belfast, away from the Causeway Coast, you’ll find Lisburn, a popular shopping destination also perfectly positioned for easy access to the capital city and the delights of County Down. This is where you’ll come across the beautiful 600-acre Larchfield Estate carefully nestled between woodland and farmland. Tucked away in Larchfield Estate is Rose Cottage (5*) an immaculately renovated cottage with plenty of craft touches and even its own private garden. The cottage sleeps two in magnificent comfort and there’s sleeping space for two more available thanks to a convertible couch.
Songs of praise for County Down
The shores of Strangford Lough in County Down are a very special place. Step into the quiet, leafy grounds of Quarry Hill Church (5*) at the edge of Strangford’s pretty village, however, and you’ll find yourself on the threshold of somewhere extra special indeed. This converted church has to be seen to be believed – original features and ultra-modern touches combine to offer magnificent self-catering accommodation for as many as 10 people. Everything your visit might need is amply provided for here, from the massive double-height living and dining area to the high-end kitchen and bathrooms to the outdoor BBQ and garden seating. You can live like kings and queens while visiting nearby Castle Ward, the setting for Winterfell in Game of Thrones®, or many of the other County Down attractions that are mere minutes from here.
Live it up in the Fermanagh Lakelands
If County Fermanagh is your destination then you’ll want to be as close to the water as possible to make the most of the feature that makes this county so memorable. You won’t get closer to Lough Erne without being on it (or in it!) than you will at Killyhevlin Lakeside Lodges (4*). Perched right on the water’s edge, this collection of 14 log-panelled, 2-bedroom lodges offers the ultimate lakeside break, including an open-plan family lounge with lake view, access to a private decking area, and your very own mooring. What’s more, stay in the lodges and you’ll also get to indulge in the on-site leisure facilities with heated pool, hot tub and Elemis spa – that’s the best of both worlds!
And on that note - we bid you adieu and hope we've whetted your appetite for the variety of self-catering holidays available in Northern Ireland, There are truly exceptional places to stay, and going self-catering doesn't mean any less of a memorable holiday - for all the right reasons!