County Antrim Camping: Best Campsites in County Antrim, Ulster NI

County Antrim has some of Northern Ireland’s best scenery, with the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route drive taking in highlights like the unique basalt rock formations at the Giant’s Causeway, the romantic ruins of 16h-century castle Dunluce Castle, and golden strands like Portstewart and Downhill Beach. Along the way you can explore some of the nine green Glens of Antrim, with forest parks, river walks and woodlands, or take a ferry to Rathlin Island to see the bird sanctuary. With golf, surfing, watersports, heritage sites, and Game of Thrones filming locations, it’s a popular holiday spot with great camping options, on the coast or inland.

Top-rated campgrounds

1. The Lost Meadow

1 unit · Tent · NI

A mile from the nearest road and hundreds of meters from the nearest house there is tiny off grid log cabin in a secluded woodland clearing beside a large natural wildflower meadow. The clearing is surrounded by mature hedges and trees and you can lock the gates from inside if you want to enjoy nature ‘au naturale’ although the whole estate is clothing optional for any naturists who care to visit. As well as the composting toilet there is an outdoor kitchen and a gas powered outdoor shower. Solar panels provide lights for the cabin and the kitchen. There is plenty room for up to three large tents in the clearing which is home to some fruiting apple and cherry trees, as well as blackberry bushes (feel free to help yourself in season) The fire pit is safe to use and we can supply firewood if needed. The whole estate is a privately owned wildlife and biodiversity project. Guests are free to roam both the woodland which has over 10,000 native broadleaf trees and the 5 acres of natural wildflower meadow. The owners who live on site in a carbon free eco house are beekeepers and produce the locally renowned ‘Ballymoney Honey’ which is available to buy on site in season. There is a growing bird hide (willow dome) in one of the clearings which has views over the upper meadow and the ground nesting birds that live there. We don’t permit dogs or insect repellents anywhere in the estate to protect the birds and wildlife that lives here. Sorry!

County Antrim has some of Northern Ireland’s best scenery, with the spectacular Causeway Coastal Route drive taking in highlights like the unique basalt rock formations at the Giant’s Causeway, the romantic ruins of 16h-century castle Dunluce Castle, and golden strands like Portstewart and Downhill Beach. Along the way you can explore some of the nine green Glens of Antrim, with forest parks, river walks and woodlands, or take a ferry to Rathlin Island to see the bird sanctuary. With golf, surfing, watersports, heritage sites, and Game of Thrones filming locations, it’s a popular holiday spot with great camping options, on the coast or inland.

Top-rated campgrounds

1. The Lost Meadow

1 unit · Tent · NI

A mile from the nearest road and hundreds of meters from the nearest house there is tiny off grid log cabin in a secluded woodland clearing beside a large natural wildflower meadow. The clearing is surrounded by mature hedges and trees and you can lock the gates from inside if you want to enjoy nature ‘au naturale’ although the whole estate is clothing optional for any naturists who care to visit. As well as the composting toilet there is an outdoor kitchen and a gas powered outdoor shower. Solar panels provide lights for the cabin and the kitchen. There is plenty room for up to three large tents in the clearing which is home to some fruiting apple and cherry trees, as well as blackberry bushes (feel free to help yourself in season) The fire pit is safe to use and we can supply firewood if needed. The whole estate is a privately owned wildlife and biodiversity project. Guests are free to roam both the woodland which has over 10,000 native broadleaf trees and the 5 acres of natural wildflower meadow. The owners who live on site in a carbon free eco house are beekeepers and produce the locally renowned ‘Ballymoney Honey’ which is available to buy on site in season. There is a growing bird hide (willow dome) in one of the clearings which has views over the upper meadow and the ground nesting birds that live there. We don’t permit dogs or insect repellents anywhere in the estate to protect the birds and wildlife that lives here. Sorry!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Campsites in County Antrim guide

Where to go

Causeway Coastal Route

This one of the world’s most scenic drives—with the lush green Glens of Antrim on one side and dramatic coastal scenery on the other. Visit heritage villages like Cushendall and Cushendun, test your wits at the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, marvel at the ruins of Dunluce Castle, or climb on the unique rock formations at the Giant’s Causeway, with scenic camping options all along the way.

Game of Thrones filming locations

Some of the filming locations in County Antrim that were used in the hit HBO series are beautiful in real life—check out the beech trees known as the Dark Hedges near Stranocum, or the golden sands at Downhill Beach which was Dragonstone. Ballintoy Harbour was used for Pyke and the Iron Islands, while Cushendun Caves were used in scenes for The Stormlands.

Glens of Antrim

There are nine glens of Antrim, a series of lush green valleys with rivers, forests and waterfalls, set along the Causeway Coast. Drop into Glenarm Castle to stroll the walled garden or woodlands, or visit the tearoom. There are camping pods overlooking Glenarm Castle grounds. Glenariff Forest Park also has beautiful woodland walks plus a nature reserve, and waterfalls. The forest park has camping pitches for vehicles (but not tents).

Portrush and Portstewart

If you’re looking for the amenities of a seaside resort town, or to take in some golf or surfing, check out Portrush or Portstewart. Here you can take long walks along golden beaches, test your skills against the waves, or enjoy the links courses at Royal Portrush Golf Club. There are bars, restaurants and ice-cream shops to relax in, plus surf schools and watersports centres for sea kayaking or paddleboarding. There are lots of camping options around both towns, with a mix of vehicle pitches, grass pitches for tents and glamping.

Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island is an inhabited island, six miles north of Ballycastle. There’s a passenger ferry (cars are restricted) and the island is a bird sanctuary, in particular for puffins. Learn more at Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre at the lighthouse. Make it a day trip or stay overnight and explore by foot or by bicycle. You need permission from a landowner to camp.

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