Set in a convenient location close to Belfast city.  A ten-minute coastal drive takes you from the city out to this Lough side location. The site is well laid out offering great views over the Lough. From here you can follow the cycle path which takes you right into Belfast city or there is a bus stop close by which will also take you into the city. There is a café and playground adjacent to the park with shops, restaurants and pubs just a few minutes’ walk away.

Shore Rd, Newtownabbey, County Antrim BT37 0PY

www.antrimandnewtownabbey.campmanager.com

Another spacious award-winning campsite in Bushmills, Co. Antrim close to the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and Bushmills Distillery. Onsite there is a shop, outdoor playpark and football field, indoor games room, TV area and wildlife ponds to explore. Nearby there are shops, cafes and restaurants and there are also plenty of day trips to book from the park with a bus service collecting you from the campsite.

40 Castlecat Rd, Bushmills BT57 8TN, United Kingdom
+44 28 2073 2393

www.ballynesscaravanpark.com

This campsite is in a great location if you plan on exploring the North Antrim Coast, located just minutes from the Giant’s Causeway and the Old Bushmill’s Distillery. It is a quiet, peaceful and secure place just outside the busy town of Bushmills. It has spacious pitches and a children’s play area. A great starting point or stopover to add to the list when planning your Causeway Coastal Route!

97 Priestland Road, Bushmills, Antrim, BT57 8UJ
0044 (0) 2820 731 678

bushcaravanparkni.com

A short distance from Mizen Head, Ireland’s most south westerly point this campsite has great facilities including a mini market, takeaway, laundrette, tennis courts, basketball court, pitch and putt course, children’s playground and an indoor games room! If that’s not enough to keep you entertained there are plenty of activities to be enjoyed. Bicycle hire, water sports, fishing not to mention all the gorgeous beaches nearby!

Killeane, Co. Cork
(028) 35302

www.barleycoveholidaypark.ie

barleycoveholidaypark@gmail.com

Located on a dairy farm overlooking Clonakilty Bay there’s a warm welcome for visitors to this beautiful caravan and camping park run by the Jennings family.The park is located a short 1km walk from the picturesque town centre which has a fantastic selection of pubs, restaurants and attractions like The Michael Collins Museum and the Model Railway Village – a big favourite with kids.Desert House is a 1.5-hectare site with 36 pitches. It includes a range of facilities for guests, such as a camper’s kitchen, electricity points, laundry facilities and a TV room.

Clonakilty, Co. Cork
(+353) 238833331

deserthousecamping.ie

deserthouse@eircom.net

This is an ideal option if you’re looking to get away from it all but still enjoy creature comforts. Two shepherd’s huts, on a romantically lit beech walk and beside a wild-flower meadow, have double beds, heating and electricity. Cooking facilities, showers, chill-out space and a natural-history library are provided in a converted barn. An organic breakfast will be provided, with home-produced bread, fruit and eggs. Near the River Barrow and the Blackstairs Mountains, the huts give you access to foraging walks, the Celtic Tree Experience and yoga. The operation has an Eco Tourism Ireland Gold Award.

www.blackstairsecotrails.ie

From Lowtown, in Co Kildare, to St Mullins, in Co Carlow, a towpath runs beside the River Barrow, making it ideal for combining canoeing, walking and cycling with wild camping. Go for up to a week, and eye up egrets, kingfishers and otters. The loughs are perfect for tent pitching. Or check out the old quarry at Clashganny, which the community has converted into a wild-camping spot. A Kilkenny company, Go with the Flow, can equip you with a boat, tent and fire blanket and will guide you if needed. Free.

gowiththeflow.ie

riverbarrow.net

Overlooking the Cavan countryside, this glamping site can host 20 people in a motley collection of cute accommodation. Choose from a yurt, a bell tent, the hobbit hut or a Wanderly Wagon-style caravan. All have real beds and stoves to keep them cosy. In July and August it’s a family and couples affair, but hen parties are welcome from April to June, with a minibus laid on at disco time. Other amenities include a campfire, football goals, a kids’ play area and a communal roofed area with picnic table for escaping bad weather. Accommodation from €180 for two people.

wildflowerglamping.ie

This site on Clear Island, off Baltimore, offers fantastic watery views from its tent pitches, eight yurts and two tepees. Tepees sleep eight on slim mattresses. The yurts have a double bed, two single beds, (optional) camp beds or travel cots, a mini kitchen and a wood-burning stove. You can also hire fire drums. This is a place of simple pleasures: walking, kayaking and snorkelling are popular, as are going for a pint in the local pub or for coffee and cake in the tea rooms. The site has a strict no-noise policy after 11pm, so it’s ideal for families.

www.yurt-holidays-ireland.com

Located close to Bantry is Eagle Point, a campsite which boasts stunning cliff-side views, pebble beaches, rock pools and an onsite slipway for boats right on its doorstep. It is the ideal spot for water-based activities like boating, wind surfing, swimming and fishing. There is a supermarket and petrol station at the entrance to the park. For fun, apart from the water-based activities, you can find a tennis court, football pitch, basketball court, small playground and a TV room for entertainment. Within the surrounding 10km are golf courses, National walkways, forests, shops, restaurants, craft shops and so much more. Not to mention all that can be discovered in South Kerry and West Cork from this relaxing base in Ballickey, Bantry.

Eagle Point, Reenadisert, Ballylickey, Co. Cork, P75 WP58
(027) 50630

www.eaglepointcamping.com

Located in an area known as Mushera, in the wilds of the mountains between Kerry and Cork, this spot offers three basic camping pods, each sleeping up to four adults. They are insulated with wool and a foil roof lining. Visitors bring sleeping bags and bed down on fold-up camp beds. Fresh-water fishing and all sorts of walking and cycling are available on your doorstep, including the Aghinagh Way, with its archaeological sites, ancient forts and stone circles. The operation has a bronze certification from Eco Tourism Ireland.

www.ecocampingpods.wordpress.com

Another great campsite in Co. Donegal. With Knockalla mountains on one side and Ballymastocker Bay on the other, the surrounding scenery is beautiful. There is an outdoor play area, tennis court, football pitch and a shop which sells tea/coffee, homemade baked goods and ice cream. Only a ten-minute walk from the beach and with plenty of hiking and walking in the vicinity it is a great place to unwind and relax.

Magherawarden, Portsalon, Co. Donegal
(074) 915 9108

www.knockallacaravanpark.com

Tucked between Knockalla Mountain and Ballymastocker Bay, near Portsalon, this well-established family campsite has about 30 touring pitches for tents, campers and caravans, as well as catering for people who keep their caravans here. The campsite is seven minutes’ walk from a stunning sandy beach and has views of the bay, Lough Swilly, Inishowen Peninsula and Dunree Head. Facilities include a playground, tennis courts, pool tables and a cafe serving full breakfasts, home baking and burgers and chips. The area offers lots of water sports and excellent hiking.

www.knockallacaravanpark.com

Bundoran is a popular tourist spot and a surfer’s paradise for all water sports enthusiasts! Situated within walking distance to shops, restaurants, cinema, bowling alley, amusements, water world and beaches, there is something for everybody! The campsite is family friendly with electric/water and a picnic bench at each stand!

Station Road, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
087 954 0014
Int’l Code: 00353 87 954 0014

olgagilliland@hotmail.com

Strangford Lough must be one of the most overlooked scenic spots in Ireland, so any campsite in the area is a winner. Located on a 400-year-old demesne, and open year round, this one has 28 caravan and motorhome pitches, plus 10 tent pitches. There are also four heated camping pods, which sleep two adults and three children. Activities include visiting the estate house and gardens, water sports, exploring the Game of Thrones set, or cycling a huge selection of trails. Kids will love the adventure playground and driving mini pedal tractors in the farmyard.

Station Road, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
087 954 0014
Int’l Code: 00353 87 954 0014

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-ward

If you’re a mountain biker or a hiker you’ll love this campsite, which has just six camping pods. It’s about 6km from Rostrevor village and 10km from the acclaimed mountain-bike trails in Kilbroney Forest Park, which overlook Carlingford Lough. The guys who own these pods also operate the trailhead at Rostrevor. They can hire you bikes, pick you up, drop you off, and also offer an uplift service, meaning you can avoid pedalling the steep climb. Kayaking, banana boating and stand-up paddle boarding are on offer, too.

www.eastcoastadventure.com

Well located for the Beara Peninsula and the Wild Atlantic Way. Sheltered & well serviced site providing a comfortable & relaxing base for your holiday. Enjoy the beauty of the area with forest walks, the Beara Way, Garnish Island. Park is 300mtrs from Glengarriff Harbour.Garnish Island is a short boat ride away. Spot the seals and white tailed eagles and giant size nests as your cruise towards the island. Enjoy plentiful walks and observing unusual plants both on the Island and in the local Nature Reserve.Back at Glengarriff Camping enjoy our facilities which include a Bar and Restaurant with tasty food and regular music sessions in the evenings.

Glengarrif, Co. Cork
+3532763154

Also known as Actons, Ireland’s first climate-neutral ecocampsite has an Eco Tourism Ireland Gold Award. You’ll find it 10 minutes from Clifden, between the Atlantic and the Twelve Bens. Bring your own caravan or camper van, or pitch your own or a hired tent amid the machair-grass sand dunes. (A free shuttle bus runs to Clifden.) Single-use water bottles and disposable barbecues are banned, and you won’t find any games rooms here to entertain the kids. Instead it’s all about mucking around on the secluded white-sand beach, fishing or cooking sausages on a beach campfire.

www.actonsbeachsidecamping.com

Along this 200+ kilometres of coastline, the beautiful Beara Peninsula offers incredible views of the Atlantic and acres of flat space for campers to choose from. Unsurprisingly for a place with two mountain ranges (Caha Mountains and Slieve Miskish Mountains) there’s no shortage of elevated, remote places to pitch your tent.Most of the Beara Peninsula is in Cork, but in its northernmost parts it enters Kerry.

Based only ten minutes from Tralee on the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula, Woodlands Park is family friendly and a great base to explore the Ring of Kerry, Lakes of Killarney or any of the many golden beaches nearby. The Aqua Dome, Irelands largest indoor water park, Kerry County Museum, Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre, cinema and golf also nearby. The award-winning campsite has plenty for you to do with a playground, indoor playroom, football pitch and all-weather BBQ onsite.

Dan Spring Rd, Cloghers, Tralee, Co. Kerry
(066) 712 1235

www.kingdomcamping.com

Open since 1984, this campsite has an enviable waterfront location looking over a stony strand to Valentia and Beginish islands. It offers 42 touring pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents. Famous for its campers’ sitting room, it has frequent impromptu music sessions, thanks to musical instruments on hand, comfortable armchairs and a turf fire every evening. The kitchen is equipped with everything from crockery to a microwave; there is also a barbecue and picnic area. There are no pool tables, TV or video games here, so family fun is outdoorsy. The site is a 15-minute walk from Cahirciveen.

www.campinginkerry.com

Located on the Kerry Way, on the Iveragh Peninsula, this camping spot is simply a quiet flat area to pitch your tent, with a stream running nearby. But what views you will have over Dingle Bay. You’ll find the site near the Gleensk Viaduct, between Glenbeigh and Cahirciveen, not far from Kells Bay. No fires are permitted, and Leave No Trace rules apply. Ideally, you should spend no more than a night in these wild-camping spots, to minimise your impact, and use a shovel to dig cat holes for toilets. Free

coillteoutdoors.ie

Cronin’s Yard may not quite fit the wild-camping definition, but you’ll certainly be bedding down in a remote spot here. Near Beaufort and Hag’s Glen, this has been the traditional starting point for scaling Carrauntoohil for 300 years. As well as space for tents, there are two basic camping pods for three or five people. Camping mats and outdoor fire pits are provided, but bedding, electricity and heat are not. There are hot showers, toilets and a tea room, and you’re a 10-minute drive from Kate Kearney’s Cottage, a pub that serves food. Packed lunches and hiking guides are also available.

www.croninsyard.com

Overlooking Kenmare Bay, 1.5km from Caherdaniel, this site strikes a nice balance between civilisation and wildness – a rarity for a large campsite. Most of the southwest-facing pitches have sea views, and many are tucked away in private spots. This is water-sports heaven, with access to the sea via a stony beach and a pontoon for boats. Visitors can take wildlife boat trips and use nearby sandy beaches. Facilities include a cafe, shop, deli, play area, games room and TV room. And all the joys of the Ring of Kerry are nearby.

www.wavecrestcamping.com

Specialising in old-fashioned fun for kids, this campsite offers everything from hay bounces and trailer rides to crazy golf and feeding animals in the petting farm, including rabbits, goats, sheep and Gail and Ragsy, who are two ostriches. Other attractions include taking a spin in a pedal-powered go-kart and navigating a wooden maze. Located near Bennetsbridge and Kilkenny city, this spot has tons of other things to do on its doorstep, such as swimming in the new river pool at Thomastown. Bring your own tent or motorhome, or hire a simple caravan, and enjoy homemade pizza and bread during your stay. Tent pitches from €8; motorhome pitches cost €11 and caravans €12; mobile-home rental €300-€450 per week. An additional charge of €5 per adult and €4 per child over two applies.

norevalleypark.com

In the perfect spot to exploit the Shannon Blueway cycling, walking and kayaking trail, this site offers pods, stilted cabins, shepherd’s huts and a vintage caravan, as well as traditional tent and caravan pitches. You’re right by the water, with wild swimming, and boat and kayak hire nearby, and there’s a small kids’ playground too. In the evenings you can kick back in the lovely old pub onsite, where excellent food and regular trad sessions lend a lively atmosphere. Leitrim village is a short walk away if you want a change of scene.

www.battlebridgecaravanandcamping.ie

This beautiful campsite surrounded by a forest is a little piece of paradise situated near the village of Adare. With a café onsite and ample walking/cycling routes you could happily spend your trip exploring the campsite and its surrounding areas, the playgrounds or the ruins of the De Vere Family Mansion. Pitches are spacious and well placed making this the perfect stop when exploring the Mid-West of Ireland.

Forest Park, Kilcornan, Limerick, V94 KP8H.
(061) 396 349

www.curraghchasecaravanpark.com

This wild-camping spot is a little more rugged than the other official one in the Slieve Blooms. You’ll find it a short distance from the Slieve Bloom Way, about 400m downstream from the first bridge on the Barrow, Ireland’s second-longest river. This flat, sunny riverside spot, which is sheltered by an old stone wall, has no facilities, and campfires are not permitted. The nearest civilisation is at Rosenallis village, about 90 minutes’ walk away. Total solitude is the appeal, as well as plenty of nearby looped walks and a visit to the nearby waterfall in Glenbarrow. Free.

coillteoutdoors.ie

A stroll from Westport town, this site has 150 pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents. You can also rent prepitched family bell tents with air mattresses. There’s a separate group area for scouts and the like, so they can be a bit more boisterous, but a strict curfew starts at midnight. Free movie nights and other indoor kids’ activities are organised in the evenings. The grounds are home to the Pirate Adventure Park, with rides appealing to under-12s. Bigger kids and adults can enjoy zorbing, high ropes and zip wiring. A free playground sits next to a cafe and bar.

www.westporthouse.ie

The rules for wild camping in our national parks vary. In Ballycroy National Park, in Co Mayo, you can pitch your tent without a permit if you’re in a group of up to 10 people. Any more than 10, though, or if you wish to light a campfire, you must get permission well in advance. The same system applies in Connemara National Park. The rules are similar in Wicklow National Park, but no fires are currently allowed, and camping is forbidden in Glendalough valley. This rule is vigorously enforced. You will need to walk for at least three hours from the valley before you find a site that complies with the park’s wild-camping code. Camping is forbidden in Killarney, Burren and Glenveagh national parks. If you are considering camping in any of the allowed areas, you must strictly adhere to the rules set out and the principles of Leave No Trace. Free

ballycroynationalpark.ie

connemaranationalpark.ie

wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie

Coillte has designated a number of true wild-camping spots on or near long-distance walking trails. You’ll find one in the Glenregan Valley, on the Slieve Bloom Way, before the route heads into the mountains. About 8km from Kinnitty you’ll walk through old forest and along the Camcor river to get there. The spot is on the riverbank by a wooden footbridge. There are no facilities here other than a flat grassy spot. Wildlife in the area includes great bird life, deer and pine martens. For permission to remain in place for camping in these spots, Leave No Trace principles must be observed . Campfires are banned. Free.

coillteoutdoors.ie

This site comes with a 350-hectare forest park on its doorstep. Aimed mostly at families, it has 51 touring pitches and three areas for tents. The park offers traffic-free walking and cycling, high ropes and zip wires, Segway trips through the woods and the weather-proof Boda Borg experience, which offers physical and mental challenges for all ages. Swimming near the 50-berth marina is also popular. Many facilities are wheelchair-friendly, including the visitor centre, the tree-canopy experience and the Moylurg viewing tower. Wheelchair orienteering is also on offer. Guests are asked to respect quiet time from 11pm

www.loughkey.ie

If walking is your thing you’ll love this site. Set in the heart of the Glen of Aherlow, between Slievenamuck and the Galtee Mountains, it is close to numerous looped walks. About 12km from Tipperary town, this is a peaceful spot surrounded by old walls and mature trees with lovely views of the hills. Campers can use the campers’ kitchen or eat in the very good onsite restaurant. There are some facilities for small children, including a simple play area, a tennis court, and a TV and games room.

www.camping.ie

Tipperary Set in a working orchard in Moorstown, near Cahir, this camping and caravan park is charming. It caters for just 60 people, with plots dotted among immaculately pruned apple trees. A big converted apple store – which you’ll share with swallows and other birds – is set up for cooking, eating and escaping bad weather. Fresh fruit and home produce, such as apple juice, organic cider, apple ice cream, apples, plums and cherries – are on offer. You can even pick your own strawberries at certain times. Other great bonuses are the free tennis court and solar-powered hot showers.

theapplefarm.com

Valentia Island Caravan & Camping Park is a campsite in Knights Town, Munster, located by the sea.This terraced camp site and camp site with sloping grounds has which are marked out and pitches without shade. Valentia Island Caravan & Camping Park is located close to a sandy beach and a pebble beach. The campsite has an indoor playground. For sportive holidaymakers the camp site offers guided walks and various cycle routes. You can swim nearby in the sea. At Valentia Island Caravan & Camping Park you can go snorkelling, windsurfing, wild water sailing/kayaking/rafting and waterskiing. Take ferry to Valentia Island from the mainland on the N70 past Cahersiveen. Campsite located just beyond Knightstown. Back to mainland on R565, via Portmagee.

Farranreigh, V23 Y068 / Knightstown (Valentia Island)
353 (0)879673673

In the Knockmealdown Mountains, this spot offers a trade-off: Its altitude promises memorable views, clear air and a true escape from modernity. But the price for this is an uphill journey and – sometimes – chilly winds.But, as the adage goes, there’s no bad weather, just the wrong clothes. So, if you pack appropriately, this truly wild camping spot has a lot to offer. The aforementioned views take in gorgeous farmland and Blackwater Valley. It’s not just the landscape you’ll notice. This area, bordering Tipperary and Waterford, is also an important breeding ground for several birds, including the endangered red grouse and the hen harrier. If you’ve a keen eye, you might also notice warblers, cuckoos and even buzzards!

If you’d like the fun of the fair but to be able to escape it, too, this Copper Coast campsite is a great option. Just 2km from Tramore’s hurdy gurdies, surf beach and buzz, it’s just 400m from Newtown Cove, which is ideal for family dipping, and the Guillamene deep-water swimming spot. This quiet family site has 40 pitches for visiting caravans, tents and motorhomes, as well as 50 for regulars. It has a campers’ kitchen, a weatherproof eating area, a TV room and a games room. But really this place is about the outdoors.

www.newtowncove.ie

Some campers are uncomfortable with the idea of “wild” camping, especially if permission is hard to find. So, Wicklow Mountains National Park is a perfect compromise. It is wild in the sense that it is not an official camping site – you won’t be sharing space with other holidaymakers and there are no common areas like picnic spots or bathrooms.But camping is permitted here for most of the area. Authorities only ask that you stay clear of Glendalough.

This wild-camping spot in the Knockmealdown Mountains was designated for hikers on the Avondhu and Blackwater Ways. Set higher in the hills, it’s a little more exposed than some of the others mentioned, so bring appropriate gear. But the views of the Knockmealdowns and sweeping farmland down to the Blackwater Valley more than compensate. Near Knockchugga, and not far from the scenic point known as the Vee, it’s between Lismore and Clogheen, about a 4km hike from Bay Lough corrie lake.Free;

coillteoutdoors.ie

This large campsite near Kilmuckridge offers about 150 pitches for caravans, camper vans and tents, as well as catering for private mobile-home owners. The safe beach next door, with pretty dunes, is perfect for chilly dips and low-tide rock-pooling. Open since 1969, the campsite now includes a playground, tennis courts, all-weather football pitch, games room, pool tables, shop and takeaway (in high season). In July and August, and on bank holidays, there’s a full schedule of football and sandcastle competitions, surfing and fishing lessons, and teddy-bear picnics, among other activities.

www.morriscastlestrand.com

This campsite, in Rathdrum, is like those from your childhood but with infinitely better facilities. Camper vans, motorhomes and tents sit side by side with smart wooden huts and self-catering accommodation. But it’s the range of facilities that makes this destination a hit with families. The Avonmore river runs through the site, so you can fish or take out kayaks and bumper boats. Riverside campfires, a kid’s adventure fun park and cinema nights with beanbags complete the picture. And, of course, you have all the hiking, biking and scenery ogling that Wicklow’s mountains offer.

www.irelandholidaypark.com