Destinations
Best campsites Northern Ireland: complete van life guide
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If you’re looking for a holiday with spectacular scenery and ancient landscapes, make sure to plan a camping trip in Northern Ireland. This beautiful destination is easily accessed from Scotland or Liverpool, and its size means it’s easy to see many highlights like the Giant’s Causeway and the glens of Antrim on even a short trip. And we all know that the best holidays are those where you already know the top places to camp! Here’s our best campsites in Northern Ireland guide to take your NI adventure to the next level.
8 best campsites in Northern Ireland
Our round up of the best NI campsites will take you on a sightseeing loop from Belfast to Derry on the Causeway Coastal Route, the 131-mile road taking in famous N Ireland highlights like the Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills Distillery, the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and Dunluce Castle. This tour of the best campsites then goes on to Fermanagh and back to Belfast inland via Lough Neagh, the Mourne Mountains and Castle Ward.
1. Near Belfast – Carnfunnock Touring Caravan Park & Camp
Coast Road, Ballygally, Co Antrim BT40 2QG
Price per night: from £23
One of the best campsites in Northern Ireland if you’re arriving by ferry, Carnfunnock Touring Caravan Park & Camp is close to Belfast and Larne harbours. It’s half a mile from the beach at Ballygally, has spectacular views of the Antrim coastline, and is set among Carnfunnock Country Park’s 470 acres of mixed woodland, colourful gardens, walking trails and coast. Pitch up here before driving north via the glens of Antrim.
Campsite features:
Quiet family site
Close to Belfast and Larne harbours
Accredited to 5-star standard by Tourism NI
Hardstanding pitches, modern toilet and shower block and fully-equipped laundry room
Book now
Causeway Coast (Ballycastle) – Watertop Farm
188 Cushendall Road, Co Antrim BT54 6RN
Price per night: £28
Staying anywhere on the Causeway Coastal Route stretch between Ballycastle and Portstewart (21 miles) is an awesome spot for north coast highlights. Our top pick is a Ballycastle campsite so you can hike the Gray Man’s Path walking trail, visit Rathlin Island and spend some time on Ballycastle’s Blue Flag beach, The Strand.
Stay atWatertop Farm (open from Easter) for a brilliantly equipped family campsite, with play areas and an indoor activity barn, go karting, a boating lake, pony trekking and plenty of farm animals to meet and help out with. All motorhome/caravan pitches come with electric and water hook-ups.
Campsite features:
Packed with family-friendly attractions
Café on site
Several walking trails leading directly from the grounds
Under 10 minutes’ drive from Torr Head
3. Causeway Coast (Bushmills) – Ballyness Caravan Park
40 Castlecat Rd, Bushmills, Co Antrim BT57 8TN
Price per night: from £27
The oldest working distillery in the world, Bushmills is a must-see on a Northern Ireland road trip. Ballyness Caravan Park is so close to the distillery that its ponds are fed by the same stream that is used to make Bushmills Malt Whiskey; it’s also close to Dunluce Castle and several Blue Flag beaches. Bushmills village is half a mile away and the Causeway Rambler Bus stops at the park from April to September.
Campsite features
Multiple award-winning park
Ponds with ducks, swans, herons and kingfishers
Games barn, library, play park and football field
Centrally heated amenity building with free hot showers, toilets, family bathroom, disabled shower room, laundry and dishwashing area
4. Co Derry – Castlerock Holiday Park
24 Sea Road, Castlerock, Coleraine, Co Derry BT51 4TN
Price per night: £15
From Co Antrim to Co Derry and a stay at Castlerock Holiday Park, in the seaside town of Castlerock and a short drive from the market town of Coleraine. One of the best campsites in Northern Ireland, this park is a short walk from the Blue Flag Castlerock Beach, just below the historic building of Mussenden Temple, and a few minutes’ stroll from the championship course at Castlerock Golf Course.
Campsite features
Within easy walking distance of pubs, restaurants, cafés and shops
Games/sports area, play area and café on site
End of season BBQ, Halloween events and Saturday night movie nights
5. Co Fermanagh – Castle Archdale Caravan Park
Lisnarick, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, BT94 1PP
Price per night: from £30
Stay on the shores of Upper Lough Erne at this award-winning site, where facilities, activities and attractions are on tap for young and old… and their pets. The park covers 20 acres of Castle Archdale Country Park, which has a boat hire and watersports centre as well as a ferry to tiny White Island. The caravan park has fully-serviced pitches.
Campsite features
Shop and ice cream parlour on site
Fenced playgrounds and lots of space to roam
Spring and summer chippy, bar and restaurant
6. Co Armagh/Lough Neagh – Kinnego Marina Caravan Park
27 Annaloiste Rd, Lurgan, Craigavon, Co Armagh BT66 6NJ
Price per night: £23.50
Lough Neagh is the biggest freshwater lake in the British Isles, with a surface area of 151 square miles. Stay at the lough’s biggest marina at Kinnego Marina Caravan Park, a purpose-built site on the edge of Oxford Island National Nature Reserve. The park has fully-serviced caravan pitches, nature trails and stunning views of Lough Neagh and Kinnego Bay.
Campsite features
Open all year
Outdoor gym, slipway and fishing area
Weekend boat trips
Outdoor gym
Café
[Book now](https://getactiveabc.com/facility/kinnego-marina/# caravancamping)
7. Newcastle/the Mournes – Windsor Holiday Park
138 Dundrum Road, Newcastle, Co Down, BT33 0LN
Price per night: from £30
Drive south-east from Lough Neagh towards the coast for Carlingford Lough and the seaside town of Newcastle, via shopping and sightseeing in Newry. At Newcastle, Windsor Holiday Park is a multi award-winning caravan park set up for short or long touring stays and one of the best campsites in Northern Ireland. It is in prime position within walking distance of Newcastle and at the base of Slieve Donard, one of the Mourne Mountains.
Campsite features
Quiet family-friendly park
Winner of Best Holiday Park in the NI Hospitality Awards 2019 and Best Holiday Park in the NI Prestige Awards for 2021/2022
Grass pitches with 16-amp electric hook-up and mains water supply; fully serviced hardstanding super pitches new for 2022
Free hot showers
8. Strangford Lough/Game of Thrones – Castle Ward Caravan Park
Castle Ward, Strangford, Co Down, BT30 7LS
Price per night: £21
Game of Thrones fan? Visit the real-life location of the hit show’s Winterfell and Whispering Wood at the National Trust estate of Castle Ward, used for much of GoT’s first series. Next to Strangford Lough, the estate is only half a mile from the Winterfell Castle & Demesne attraction with walking paths and guided tours.
The park itself has spectacular views over Strangford Lough and is close to several walking trails.
Campsite features
Open all year
Choose your own pitch
Surrounded by walking trails, parkland, ancient woodland and landscaped gardens
Hire a van for your Northern Ireland trip
Following the route mentioned above and staying at all of the best campsites in Northern Ireland will give you an unbeatable experience, whatever your interests! Also check out ourNorthern Ireland road trips guide, where there’s lots of info on trips including to the Dark Hedges and Game of Thrones tours.
Northern Ireland is easy to arrive in by ferry if you’re travelling from mainland UK, maybe combining it with a Scotland road trip. If you’re starting from the capital, check out ourcampervan and motorhome hire in Belfast listings to get on the road – you can hire a van anywhere nearby, no matter what your budget!
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