10 great places to go glamping in Ireland

If you’d like to experience a few nights of camping in nature without leaving the luxury behind, then Dromquinna Manor on Kenmare Bay is the perfect spot. The estate is set on the waterside with its own boat pier and your safari-style tent has a private deck and is surrounded by shrubs and trees. Sustainability is important and menus in the Boathouse Bistro and Shutters pizza restaurant feature local produce. This is a great base for exploring Kenmare with the Ring of Kerry, Killarney National Park and the Beara Peninsula all within easy reach.

If you like the idea of sleeping in a bubble dome under the stars in the forest, surrounded by nature, then Finn Lough in County Fermanagh is the perfect place. The restful Forest Bubbles are in a peaceful haven on the shores of Lower Lough Erne, and are the perfect location for exploring the county’s beautiful Fermanagh Lakelands. Sustainability is important at Finn Lough – they avoid single use plastic and provide locally made toiletries full of gorgeous natural ingredients.

The Causeway Coast has some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular scenery, so the Further Space glamping pods on the grounds of Glenarm Castle are perfect for an overnight stop with sea views. Each luxury pod is heated and has its own shower room and you can also explore the castle grounds, perhaps pottering around the Walled Garden or woodland walk before visiting the castle’s Tea Room for breakfast to set you up for exploring the Causeway Coast.

If you like the idea of glamping in posh surroundings, try the grounds of Ballyvolane House, a peaceful country estate in north east county Cork. The bell tents and glamping arks sleep two and are surrounded by trees. Inside, they have raised beds and comfy mattresses made with recycled materials, plus treats like local apple juice and homemade cookies, and there’s a café in a stone barn for breakfast. There’s excellent salmon and trout fishing on the River Blackwater, and in the evenings you can have dinner in the main house or try Ballyvolane’s gin, Bertha’s Revenge.

A treehouse, a converted red bus and a shepherd’s hut are just some of the delightful glamping experiences on offer at Ox Mountain Adventure Camp in the hills of south County Sligo. It’s a great base for exploring the rest of the county, whether you want to climb mountains like Knocknarea mountain, take to surfing the waves, or explore Yeats country, and there’s a hot tub on site to soothe any aching muscles after your day’s adventures.

If you want to wake up on an island just steps from a beach, then hop on a ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Island, and book in to Aran Islands Camping and Glamping. Spend your days admiring the amazing landscape, biking or walking the island to see the ancient fort at Dún Aonghasa, and then fall asleep under the stars in your cosy wooden pod. To keep the island beautiful, Aran Islands Glamping has a sustainable policy which covers energy, water use and recycling as well as preserving the local community and the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area.

For a true rural setting in the heart of the countryside, you can’t beat a night or two on a real farm. The glamping pods at Thornfield Farm have mountain views, and you can also feed the farm’s hens and perhaps see some baby lambs. You can order a breakfast or BBQ pack for your pod and even tuck into afternoon tea on fine china. The farm is also not far from the iconic Dark Hedges avenue of beech trees, plus Bushmills Distillery and the Giant's Causeway.

Bell tents, glamping villas, pods and chic cabins with clear walls are some of the cosy offerings at Wild Atlantic Camp which has views down to Donegal’s stunning Sheephaven Bay, a sheltered inlet between Horn Head and the Rosguill Peninsula. Doe Castle and some of Donegal’s best beaches are nearby, and Glenveagh National Park and Ards Forest Park are both within easy reach for daytrips and picnics. On site, there’s a playground, tennis court, pitch and putt and an AstroTurf pitch.

In the heart of the County Wicklow countryside, Hidden Valley Holiday Park is great for family members of all ages – with adventures on site such as an aqua park, laser tag, kayaking, fishing, an adventure park for kids and cinema nights. The glamping options include lodges which sleep five or six, and the site is all geared to families rather than groups (with a noise curfew). It’s also a short drive to Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains National Park or the golden dunes of Brittas Bay.

For an island escape, Rathlin is 10 kilometres off the north coast, around 25 minutes by ferry from Ballycastle. The cosy pods at Rathlin Glamping face the sea but are fully insulated and heated, and you have access to barbecue and fire pit areas. The island is home to huge colonies of seabirds and you can learn more at the West Light Seabird Centre at the lighthouse. Rathlin Island is the perfect place for long walks, with a number of marked walking trails.