Best Glamping Spots in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is built for glamping. The landscape delivers — mountains, loughs, coastline, ancient forest — but the weather conspires against anyone sleeping under canvas without some insulation and a solid roof. Glamping solves the equation. You get the proximity to nature, the wood-burning stove, the hot tub under stars, and the knowledge that when the Atlantic weather system arrives at 2am, you’ll be warm and dry.

The sector has exploded here in the last five years. What started with a few shepherd’s huts and bell tents has become a genuine accommodation category, with purpose-built pods, geodesic domes, treehouses, and converted barns scattered across all six counties. Quality varies — some “glamping” is just a caravan with a nicer name — but the best sites offer something hotels can’t: falling asleep to the sound of a river or the Irish Sea, waking up with a mountain view framed by your bedroom window, and the sense of being somewhere wild even when you’re ten minutes from a decent pub.

This guide covers the best of it.

The Mourne Mountains

Hanna’s Close, Kilkeel

Hanna’s Close sits in the foothills of the Mournes near Kilkeel, a cluster of restored stone cottages and purpose-built glamping pods on a working farm. The setting is exceptional — Slieve Donard and the rest of the Mourne Wall peaks rise directly behind the site, and the farmland rolls down to the coast.

The pods here are solidly built, insulated, and heated, with proper beds, kitchenettes, and en-suite bathrooms. They’re not roughing it by any stretch — but when you step outside at 6am and the Mournes are catching the first light, it feels a world away from a hotel room.

The location makes it a natural base for hiking. The Mourne Mountains offer some of the finest walking in Northern Ireland — see our hiking guide for routes and practical advice. The Trassey Track, Hare’s Gap, and the Slieve Donard summit trail are all within a short drive.

What you get: Insulated pods sleeping 2–6, kitchenettes, hot tubs, mountain views, farm setting.

Best for: Hikers, couples, families who want Mourne access without a tent.

Castlewellan Forest Park — Pods

Castlewellan’s forest park, with its lake, arboretum, and mountain bike trails, has glamping pods available within the park grounds. They’re basic compared to some options on this list — think solid wooden pods with heating and lighting, but shared bathroom facilities — but the location is unbeatable. You’re sleeping inside a forest park, with the lake and the Annesley Gardens a short walk away.

The mountain biking here is excellent — purpose-built trails through the forest ranging from beginner-friendly green routes to a technical black run. Even if you’re not cycling, the lakeside walk and the Peace Maze (one of the largest permanent hedge mazes in the world) justify the visit.

What you get: Wooden pods, shared facilities, forest park setting, bike trail access.

Best for: Mountain bikers, families, budget glampers.

The Causeway Coast

Ballyness Glamping, Bushmills

Positioned between Bushmills and the Giant’s Causeway, Ballyness offers safari-style tents and wooden lodges on a working farm. The coast is minutes away — the Causeway itself, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and the clifftop paths that connect them.

The safari tents are the standout option: spacious canvas and wood structures with king-size beds, wood-burning stoves, and private decking. The farm setting gives it an authenticity that purpose-built glamping parks sometimes lack — there are actual sheep, actual fields, and an actual farmer.

The proximity to the Giant’s Causeway is the selling point, but the wider Causeway Coastal Route is equally compelling — a drive that takes in Dunluce Castle, the Whiterocks, and a string of harbour villages. Our Causeway Coastal Route road trip guide covers the full route.

What you get: Safari tents, wooden lodges, wood-burning stoves, farm setting, coastal access.

Best for: Couples, anyone doing the Causeway Coast.

Finn Lough, County Fermanagh

Technically lakeland rather than coast, but Finn Lough deserves its place on any glamping list. Located on the shores of Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, this is glamping at the luxury end — transparent bubble domes that sit among the trees on the lough shore, giving you an unobstructed view of the sky from your bed.

The bubble domes are the headline act. They’re fully transparent (with blackout blinds for when you want them), insulated, and surprisingly comfortable. On a clear night, you’re essentially sleeping under the stars with a duvet and heating. The site also has lakeside lodges and a spa.

Fermanagh itself is Northern Ireland’s least-visited and most underrated region. The Lough Erne waterways, the Marble Arch Caves, and the quiet countryside make it worth several days — see our guide to Fermanagh Lakeland for more.

What you get: Bubble domes, lakeside lodges, spa, lough-shore setting.

Best for: Couples seeking luxury, stargazers, anyone exploring Fermanagh.

County Antrim

Sheans Horse Farm, Glens of Antrim

Deep in the Glens of Antrim, Sheans Horse Farm has been offering rural accommodation for years, but their glamping yurts are the draw for visitors who want something different. The yurts sit in meadows above the farm, with views down the glen to the sea. Horses graze in the surrounding fields. The silence — broken only by birdsong and the occasional horse — is striking.

The Glens of Antrim are one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful and least touristed areas. Nine glacial valleys running from the Antrim Plateau to the coast, each with its own character. Glenariff, the “Queen of the Glens,” has a spectacular waterfall walk. Cushendall and Cushendun are picture-perfect coastal villages.

What you get: Mongolian yurts, meadow setting, horse farm, glen views.

Best for: Anyone wanting genuine rural remoteness, horse lovers.

Torr Head Glamping Pods

Perched on the northeast tip of County Antrim, near the headland of Torr Head — the closest point on the Irish mainland to Scotland — these pods offer some of the most dramatic coastal views in Northern Ireland. On a clear day, the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is clearly visible across the narrow channel.

The pods are modern, well-insulated, and positioned to maximise the sea views. The road to Torr Head itself is an experience — a narrow, winding single-track that drops steeply to the coast. It’s not for nervous drivers, but the views are extraordinary.

From here, Ballycastle is a short drive south — gateway to Rathlin Island and the Causeway Coast. The area feels genuinely remote in a way that much of Northern Ireland’s tourist trail doesn’t.

What you get: Coastal pods, Scotland views, dramatic headland location.

Best for: Anyone seeking coastal drama and remoteness.

County Down

The Cuan, Strangford

Overlooking Strangford Lough, one of the largest enclosed sea inlets in the British Isles, glamping options around the Cuan area put you on the edge of a landscape of extraordinary ecological richness. The lough supports seal colonies, vast bird populations, and marine life that draws divers from across Europe.

Several operators around the Strangford and Portaferry area offer pods and yurts with lough views. The setting is gentler than the wild Causeway Coast — rolling drumlins, quiet harbours, castle ruins — but no less beautiful.

Strangford Lough is also rich in Game of Thrones associations — Castle Ward, on the lough’s western shore, served as Winterfell in the pilot episode. See our Strangford Lough guide for the full story.

What you get: Lough-side pods, seal-watching opportunities, quiet countryside.

Best for: Wildlife enthusiasts, Game of Thrones fans, those who prefer gentle landscapes.

Tollymore Forest Park Area

Tollymore Forest Park, at the foot of the Mournes near Newcastle, is one of Northern Ireland’s most atmospheric forests — ancient trees, the Shimna River running through it, and a collection of Gothic follies and bridges built in the 18th century. It also featured extensively in Game of Thrones (the Haunted Forest).

Several glamping operators sit in and around the Tollymore area, offering everything from shepherd’s huts to luxury treehouses. The forest park itself is on your doorstep, and the Mournes rise directly behind.

What you get: Forest-adjacent glamping, river walks, mountain access.

Best for: Families, hikers, anyone who wants forest and mountain in one location.

County Tyrone & County Armagh

Omagh Area — Off-Grid Retreats

County Tyrone’s rolling countryside hosts several off-grid glamping operations that lean into the “escape” ethos more than most. These tend to be smaller, owner-operated sites with one or two cabins or yurts, no Wi-Fi (intentionally), and a genuine sense of isolation.

The Sperrin Mountains, Northern Ireland’s largest mountain range and one of its emptiest landscapes, are nearby. Hiking, cycling, and simply sitting in silence are the main activities. For visitors from cities, the absence of background noise is startling.

What you get: True off-grid experience, silence, Sperrin access.

Best for: Digital detoxers, those who want genuine solitude.

Lough Neagh Shores

Lough Neagh — the largest lake in the British Isles, bigger than all the English lakes combined — has glamping options along its shores in counties Armagh and Tyrone. The lough is vast, flat, and atmospheric rather than dramatic. Sunsets over the water are exceptional.

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, on the southern shore, has walking trails and a bird-watching hide. The lough’s eel fishery is one of the oldest commercial fisheries in Europe — Lough Neagh eels have been exported to London’s pie and mash shops for generations.

What you get: Lakeside setting, wildlife, vast water views.

Best for: Birdwatchers, those who prefer water to mountains.

Practical Tips

Booking: The best glamping sites book out months ahead, particularly for summer weekends and bank holidays. Book early. Mid-week availability is usually easier.

Seasons: Glamping works year-round in Northern Ireland thanks to insulated pods and stoves. Winter glamping — shorter days, wood smoke, hot tubs in cold air — has its own appeal. Autumn is particularly beautiful, especially in the Mournes and the Glens.

What to bring: Most glamping sites provide bedding, kitchenware, and basic supplies. Check individual sites for specifics. Bring good walking boots regardless — you’re in Northern Ireland, and there will be mud.

Getting around: A car is essential for reaching most glamping sites. Public transport in rural Northern Ireland is limited. See our guide on how to get to Northern Ireland for transport options.

Costs: Expect to pay £80–£150 per night for a quality glamping pod or yurt in peak season. Luxury options (bubble domes, treehouses) run £150–£300+. Off-season rates are significantly lower.

Weather: It will rain. Probably. This is the north Atlantic coast of Ireland. Bring waterproofs, embrace the wood-burning stove when the weather turns, and remember that the landscapes look most dramatic in changeable conditions. The light after rain in the Mournes or along the Causeway Coast is worth every damp walk.