Whether it’s camping, glamping or the comfort of a caravan, holiday space providers in Northern Ireland have been evolving rapidly to include dogs.
From hotels to Airbnbs, the number of businesses pushing their dog friendly status is rapidly growing.
But campers and caravanners have quietly led the way taking their dogs to sites for years - and more are joining them.
Read more: More than 200 dog friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants in Northern Ireland
Most place a two dog maximum on each family, but others are open to discussion so it is always worth checking if you are a multiple dog group.
And then there are a few who have turned accepting animals from a bonus into a way of life. At Willowtree Glamping Mournes in Annalong, Co Down, dogs, cats and even horses are made very welcome with room to stay in creature comfort.
We’ve listed many of Northern Ireland’s favourite dog friendly campsites with a variety of styles of stop over, and of course there are many more dog friendly campsites to be discovered.
If you know of others that should be added email details to jilly.beattie@reachplc.com
Willowtree Glamping Mournes Newry, Down
17a Mill Rd, Annalong, Newry
This is an adults only luxury retreat with mountain views, a shepherd hut, bell tent and hot tubs, 10 mins from the beach.
Nestled into the Mournes Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s set beside three forest parks which offer amazing walks, mazes, water sports and much more.
All the options here are hand built, giving privacy and seclusion. Whether you choose the charming shepherd’s hut or the roomy bell tent, you’ll have cooking facilities, a comfy bed, furnished interior with heating and bedding provided.
Both offer a magical outdoor heated rain shower and your own private flushing toilet so no shared facilities.
There’s also a private fire pit and barbecue area for each and the ultimate luxury as an optional extra - your own private hot tub with a mountain view and it’s open all year round.
Prices
- Range from £90 per night
- Pets charged at £20 each
willow3.co.uk
East Coast Glamping Camping and Caravan site
34 Upper Knockbarragh Rd, Rostrevor, Newry BT34 3DP
Plenty of activities to choose from, family pods with ingenious space solutions and all close to beautiful Rostrevor.
Prices £80 per night.
Call 02841739923
Deighan’s Benone Caravan Park
5 Benone Ave, Limavady
The park requires a 4 night minimum stay over the Easter Weekend, the Platinum Jubilee weekend and between the July 8 - 12 and also 3 night minimum stay during the August Bank Holiday Weekend.
The reviews are good, calling it a fantastic site that is very well run and maintained and even when the site is busy it doesn’t feel overcrowded. Plus the is repeatedly described as spotless.
Prices
- Vary and they ask that full payment is made at time of booking.
www.deighanscaravans.com
Highview Holiday Park, 219 Ballybogey Rd, Portrush
Highview Holiday Park gives holiday makers a chance to check out the beautiful North Antrim Coast and Glens with a restful space to call home.
If you’d rather just turn up, pop down the sleeping bag and have a comfy home ready for you, the park’s glamping log cabins are available. Each sleeps four with a double bed settee and two chair beds, kettle, toaster, fridge, television and power supply for charging gadgets. Supply your own bedding.
The park also has fully furnished static caravans for hire, sleeping four or six inside, and one holiday cottage.
Prices
- Pitch Fee £64 per night
Static holiday homes £79 per night with a three night minimum stay. A 15% discount applies for a 7 night stay.
Highview House cottage £79 to £109 per night (3 night minimum stay).
www.highviewholidaypark.co.uk
Carnamuff Glamping
Ballykelly, Limavady, Co Derry
Cosy glamping in en suite pods and a lakeside cabin.
A great place to explore life by the water, woodland scenery and comfy glamping options.
Some of them have a balcony area and all are furnished with comfortable beds and sofa beds to sleep two or three. Two pods include a flat screen TV and one is an en-suite pod with its own self contained facilities.
There’s electricity for plugging in your gadgets, heating and lighting. Open all year.
Prices
- From£190 for two people in a pod, or £200 for two people in an en suite pod per night.
Email catherine83@yahoo.co.uk for availability
Delamont Country Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Killyleagh, Down
The rate varies on the time of year, length of stay, pitch type, membership status and the number of people in your party.
Located near Strangford Lough and surrounded by Delamont Country Park, the park is in a rural setting, offering peace and the shade of trees even on the warmest days.
Pitches are set on both grass and hardstanding with electricity, perfectly placed for walks, games and BBQs in the country park. Non-members welcome.
Prices
- Start from £9.25 per night.
www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/northern-ireland/co-down/delamont-country-park-camping-and-caravanning-club-site
Castle Ward Caravan Park, Strangford, Co Down
Located in the sprawling Castle Ward estate, this park offers 25 hardstanding pitches all with access to electricity and water facilities, and 10 basic tent pitches.
There are back-to-basics tent pitches on the green of the site and a range of hardstanding pitches for campervans, caravans and motorhomes that include electric hook-ups, water hook-ups and space for an awning. These are right by the shores of the lovely lough.
A maximum of two dogs can join you for camping or touring and there is plenty of space for them to explore. Camping pods set among the trees are available but they are not dog friendly.
Prices per night include two adults and a car. For availablity and booking to go castleward@nationaltrust.org.uk
Causeway Coast Holiday Park Ballycastle, Antrim
In a spectacular setting overlooking the seaside town of Ballycastle and its beach, this park puts is a gem just 20 minutes from the famous Giant’s Causeway.
Touring pitches are available to suit caravans and motorhomes on level grass, with everything included: EHU, waste disposal and fresh water points and there are a range of luxury holiday homes for sale to suit families.
Prices:
- Tent: £20.50-£23.50
- Caravan: £24-£25
- Extra guests per night:
- Extra adult: £2
- Extra child aged 5-17: £1
- Small two man tent 3 metres x 3 metres.
- Large tent tent size maximum 5 metres x 5 metres.
- For tents larger than this or that sleep more than eight people, please book and pay for an additional small pitch.
- Campers and tourers who are not National Trust members will also need to pay admission charges per night.
- Admission charge per person and per night:
- Adult (18+): £9.50
- Child (5-7 years): £4.75
- Family (two adults and three children): £23.75
- Gazebos and mess tents attract a large tent fee. Pop up gazebos will not be charged if no sides are used if they are roof-only as weather protection.
www.hagansleisure.co.uk
Ballyness Caravan Park, Bushmills, Co Antrim
The is special, a thoughtfully planned site planted with native trees and shrubs and is in keeping with the surrounding countryside.
A pathway surrounds several ponds which attract native wildlife and there are plenty of things to do in the area, including the Bushmills Distillery just a mile or so away.
The Giants Causeway and other while-away sites are also within fairly easy reach. There is a dedicated dog walk where you can let your pet run off steam.
- Touring prices per pitch and per night:
- Low season: £15
- High season: £20
Extras:
- Adult swim in the swimming pool: £4.00
- Child swim: £3.00
- Family swim (two adults and two children): £12.00
- Car and Caravan/Motor home & 2 Persons including Electric, Water & Drainage £27.00
- Awning £2.00
- Additional Person aged 18 and over £5
- Additional Person aged 6 to 17 £2
- Children aged 5 and under free
- Additional Car in car park max 1 car per pitch free
www.ballynesscaravanpark.com
Crom Campsite, Newtownbutler, Fermanagh
Crom Campsite is situated within 2,000 acres, with tranquil islands and ancient woodlands, camp or glamp on the shores of Lough Erne about 18 miles from Enniskillen.
This large campsite is spread over two areas, Culliagh and Bell Hill and offers spacious family-friendly plot with 19 tent pitches. The camping area is located with facilities easily accessible from your pitch and two are welcome per family.
The seclusion and tranquility of the Crom Estate is also on offer with three dog- friendly pods. These robust stone pods have two single beds, and have room for three children to stay on the floor. Inside there is lighting, a heater, a kettle, microwave and mini fridge, plus a table and chairs. All with fantastic views over the lough.
Prices:
- Tent pitch prices per night (inc. two adults and car):
- Pitch: £22
- Each extra adult: £8
- Each extra child (5-17): £4
- Gazebo: £3
- Each dog (max two): £1.50
- Tent dimensions need to be given at time of booking.
- Glamping pods per night:
- Low season: £55
- High season (inc. bank holidays): £65
- High season is July and August and all bank holidays.
- A two night minimum stay applies to pods in peak season.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/crom-campsite
Maddybenny Farm Campsite Portrush, Co Derry
This excellent family and dog friendly campsite is in a farm environment, close to Portrush beaches and great water sports.
The site is set on a tranquil family farm, tucked away from the road and with views over Portrush and Scotland.
It’s a well maintained rural campsite with 10 hardstanding pitches on gravel for caravans and motorhomes plus 14 grass tent pitches some of which also suit caravans and there are 16 electric hook-up points too.
Set in picturesque surroundings, with mature gardens all around and plenty of free range hens, ducks and guinea fowl. Dogs are allowed and families should be mindful of resident animals.
Prices:
- These prices exclude July and August, Easter, bank holiday weekends, the NW200 event, Portrush Air show and the local golf week.
- Caravans: £20
- Motorhomes: £20
- Tents: £8 (adults) £5 (children)
- Electric: £3- £4
Family discounts available and infants stay for free.
www.maddybenny.com
Check out more dog friendly caravan and camp sites:
- Annalong Holiday Park: www.chestnuttholidayparks.com
- Portballintrae Caravan Park: golflinksholidayhomes.co.uk/locations
- Edgewater Holiday Park, Kesh, Co Fermanagh: northernview.co.uk/edgewater-holiday-park
- Cloughey Holiday Park, Cloughey, Co Down: exclusiveluxurylodges.com
- Causeway Coast Wigwams, Bushmills, Co. Antrim: www.causewaycoastwigwams.co.uk
- Ford Farm Larne, Co Antrim: www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/northern-ireland/co-antrim/larne/ford-farm
- Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park, Ballymoney, Co Antrim : www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/see-do/caravan-parks/drumaheglis-marina-and-caravan-park
- The Skerries Holiday Park, Portrush, Co. Antrim: skerriesholidaypark.com
- Windsor Holiday Park, Newcastle: www.windsorholidaypark.co.uk
- Golden Sands, Limavady, Co Derry: www.goldensandsbenone.com
- Golf Links Holiday Home Park, Portrush, Co Antrim: www.golflinksholidayhomes.co.uk
- Castle Archdale Caravan Park, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh: www.castlearchdale.com
- Silvercove Caravan Park, Newry, Co Down: www.milneholidayparks.com
- Chestnutt Holiday Park, Newry, Co Down: www.chestnuttholidayparks.com
- Carfunnock Country Park Caravan Park and Campsite, Larne, Co Antrim: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks/carnfunnock-country-park/caravaning-camping/touring-caravan-park-camp-site
