Absolutely! From wild camping to glamping, there are tons of excellent options in Ireland’s Ancient East.
A great choice is the
Wicklow Mountains National Park, which is the largest of Ireland’s six National Parks and is a wonderland of blanket bog and heath, streams, deep lakes and wooded valleys. Provided you abide by the
Wild Camping Code, which includes no lighting of campfires and leaving no trace, the park is a perfect place to immerse yourself in the great outdoors. Camping here is definitely a unique experience: it requires you to hike for around three hours out of the Glendalough Valley and into more remote areas – a good bet for those “doing a multi-day hiking trip and seeking a wilderness experience”. Think natural wildlife, beautifully clear night skies and glorious isolation.
Feel like something a bit closer to creature comforts? Only a 40-minute drive from the park is Wicklow’s
Hidden Valley Holiday Resort, which is set in a lovely valley overlooking the Avonmore River. Hosting traditional campsite and caravanning spots, this resort also boasts top-notch facilities. With plenty of great activities, including an Aqua Park and Combat Laser Tag, your stay will be jam packed with fun!
County Wexford is known for its knock-out beaches and
Morriscastle Strand Holiday Park is a brilliant spot for anyone looking for blasts of fresh sea air and beautifully clear waters. It’s ideally situated close to the
Blue Flag Morriscastle Beach, which is one of the longest unbroken stretches of beach in Europe. With plenty of caravan and tent spots, the holiday park here boasts great facilities including a football pitch, tennis court, games room and playground. Fancy a treat? Why not try one of their glamping pods.
Continuing on the luxury theme, how about a stay
Rock Farm in County Meath? Set in the grounds of the historic
Slane Castle by the scenic River Boyne, it’s a gorgeous little spot boasting shepherd’s huts, bell tents and yurts. There are tons of activities to choose from here, including electric bikes, kayaking, rafting and farm tours, as well as lovely little perks such as a hot tub and a wood-fired pizza oven.
Wherever you decide to go, a useful tool to have on your camping holiday is the
Camping Ireland app. It helps you locate nearby campsites and travel from one campsite to another and also has the useful feature of marking your favourite spots that you can return to in the future.
And remember, if you’re wild camping in Ireland, you need to be sure it’s allowed – much of the land in Ireland is privately owned, and while some landowners permit camping on their land on request, it’s not always the case. To be on the safe side, go for one of the National Parks that allow it: Ballycroy in County Mayo, Connemara National Park in County Galway, or Wicklow National Park. Coillte, which looks after Ireland’s forests, also have designated camping areas that are listed
here. In Northern Ireland, the rules about wild camping are the same, but you can camp also camp in
designated forests.
Do any of our community members have any other recommendations of places to camp along Ireland’s Ancient East?