Campsites in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is somewhat off the beaten tourist track in the UK which is a shame because it’s a region of incredible natural beauty, full of fascinating heritage and vibrant culture. The wise will use this to their advantage: you can get whole mountains to yourself and visitor highlights offer a pleasurable experience even in peak summer times. There is a ton of outdoor activities and family days out on offer too. Those that do come here will be rewarded with an extremely friendly welcome and a fantastic holiday destination to explore.

Don’t Miss

• Giant’s Causeway
• Mourne Mountains
• Rathlin Island

Sightseeing

First on anyone’s sightseeing list should be Giant’s Causeway. This world famous geographical feature consists of around 40,000 basalt rock columns and cliffs backed by the wild Atlantic Ocean - this is Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction and it should not be missed.

The Causeway Coastal Route (Antrim Coast Road), which runs between the cities of Belfast and Derry, is one of the world’s great road journeys and has become a major attraction in its own right. Taking in outstanding coastal and mountain scenery with lots of things to do on the way, this 120 mile drive makes for a truly unforgettable road trip.

There are plenty of other natural wonders to explore once you have seen Giant’s Causeway, like the incredible Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh or Cave Hill which provides amazing views over Belfast.

Northern Ireland has a turbulent past and a rich history to discover, starting with prehistoric monuments like the mysterious Ballynoe Circle in County Down or the Beaghmore Stone Circles in County Tyrone. The Navan Centre and Fort in County Armagh, a fascinating an ancient monument which has featured strongly in Irish mythology, is also very popular with visitors.

There are plenty of brilliant old buildings to explore too. If you are looking for a good castle to visit then Belfast Castle, Carrickfergus Castle and Dunluce Castle will all fit the bill, akthought there are many others. The Argory is a fantastic stately home in County Tyrone surrounded by excellent gardens and woodland walks that will make a good day out for a group of mixed ages.

There are impressive cathedrals and churches wherever you go in Northern Ireland, thanks to its strong religious background. St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh and St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast are grand and beautiful buildings, while others like pretty Ballintoy Church in County Antrim are exceptional for their stunning locations. You can also take a trip to Devenish Island in Lough Erne which contains one of the UK’s finest monastic sites.

Northern Ireland’s history can be explored in more depth via a range of excellent museums. For example the brilliant Ulster Museum in Belfast has exhibits on everything from a fine art collection to Irish and world history, while the Museum of Free Derry offers a moving experience of the events of Bloody Sunday and its aftermath.

If you are after some culture, the region’s capital is Belfast, a thriving and exciting modern city with a fascinating maritime history. Derry, with its famous city walls, was named one of the top ten cities in the world to visit by Lonely Planet in 2013. There are many small towns and villages to visit in the region and you can expect to enjoy a warm and friendly welcome wherever you go.

Off the mainland there are a number of islands which are well worth a day trip. Rathlin Island off the coast of County Antrim makes for a brilliant visit. The beautiful island offers dramatic cliffs walks, is a great spot for wildlife watching and has a huge seabird breeding colony including guillemots, razorbills and puffins. The island is also very popular with divers thanks to a number of fascinating ship wrecks in the surrounding waters. Another good choice is Carrick Island which is connected to the mainland via a famous rope bridge. The island is well worth a visit and crossing the bridge is an experience you won’t forget.

And no trip to Northern Island would be complete without a visit the world’s oldest whisky distillery at Bushmills in County Antrim.

Activities

Getting out and about is the best way to enjoy Northern Ireland’s wealth of unspoilt countryside and coastline. Walking, cycling, horse riding, mountain biking and watersports are great ways to do this, but you could also try adventure activities like rock climbing, bouldering, coasteering, white water canoeing and sea kayaking.

Inland, the Mourne Mountains are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in County Down perfect for walking, hiking, cycling and rock sports. Slieve Donard is the highest peak in both the range and in Northern Ireland, so this is top of the list for conquerors and a hike to the summit will reward you with incredible views. Also worth considering for those who want to explore the outdoors are the Sperrin Mountains located mostly in Counties Tyrone and Londonderry. These are much less visited but no less beautiful than the Mourne Mountains and you can really get off the beaten track here.

Hikers and walkers will find plenty of good routes to keep them occupied in Northern Ireland and more casual walkers can pick out the best sections of a number of excellent long distance walking routes for day walks and strolls. The Ulster Way is the big one - a 1000km circular walking route which takes in some of the best scenery and attractions in Northern Ireland, including Giant’s Causeway, the Mourne Mountains and the Sperrins. Also good is the shorter Ring of Gullion Way, which explores the fascinating ring dyke of low rugged hills formed around the Slieve Gullion Mountain. This walk passes through heathland, bogs and woodland in the centre of the region and pretty farmland and villages on the outskirts.

You can get involved in all manner of watersports and seaside activities up and down the coast and Northern Ireland has some spectacular beaches which are great for anyone wanting to relax and unwind. If you are into watersports, Portrush in County Antrim has 3 fine sandy beaches which all offer great opportunities for all kinds of activities. Portrush West Rocks is especially beautiful, although West Strand and East Strand are excellent too. Surfers might want to head to Portstewart in County Londonderry which has a great surfing scene and good waves.

If you are after a family day at the beach, Benone Beach in Londonderry offers 7 miles of golden sands and those looking to get away from it all should try Tyrella Beach in County Down which is a conservation area backed by 25 Hectares of mature sand dunes providing habitats for all kinds of wildlife. For a truly stunning vista, don’t miss beautiful Murlough Nature Reserve in County Down, which can be found at the foot of the Mourne Mountains on the edge of Dundrum Bay. You can explore the sea, dunes, woodland and heath and hopefully see seals, butterflies and sea birds on your way.

Watersports, fishing and boating can also be enjoyed on Northern Ireland’s many lakes. Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the UK and a popular and beautiful place to explore. There are lots of islands in the lake and many charming towns and villages to explore on its edges. The Loughshore Cycling Trail is an excellent 113 mile cycle route around its edge, which provides breathtaking views of the area and is popular both with biking enthusiasts and families.

We should also of course mention that Northern Ireland is a paradise for golfers! With over 80 golf courses, including some world class links courses such as Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, this is a brilliant destination for golfers of all levels.

Family Days Out

Exploring Northern Ireland’s beaches, countryside and cultural highlights will keep everyone happy on a family holiday, but there are also some great family specific days out here too.

Families who love animals will find lots of attractions where you can make new furry friends. Streamvale Open Farm is a working dairy farm with loads of animals to meet and fun ways to learn about the countryside, while Belfast Zoo has all kinds of rare and endangered animals and is a popular day out.

For mixing education and fun, the Ulster American Folk Park is a really good open air museum in County Tyrone focussing on people who left NI for a new life in America in the 18th and 19th century. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum near Belfast is also well worth a visit and you can look to the stars in Armagh Astronomy Centre and Planetarium which has some brilliant exhibits geared towards children.

There are some beautiful country and forest parks in Northern Ireland that are perfect places for a relaxed days out with the kids, offering walking trails, picnic spots in lovely surroundings and interesting features to explore. Carnfunnock Country Park in County Antrim covers 191 hectares of coastline, woodland and gardens and also has a ton of family attractions to keep you amused, including a brilliant family fun zone, a maze, an ice house and activities like geocaching and orienteering.