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Campsites just like tents, motorhomes, caravans and campervans come in all shapes and sizes. One size does not suit all. Beauty, even when it comes to campsites, is in the eye of the beholder. |
Don’t get me wrong, I love Best of lists.
I like them for a few reasons. To see if I agree with the
choices, to see if my favourite places are included, to see how many of the
other spots I have visited, to see what good locations I have missed out… and
to see which selections with which I
would thoroughly disagree.
Seriously though, it’s all just a bit of fun and a great
conversation starter.
Take the top 20 beaches in Europe as announced last week by
the reputable Lonely Planet.
What did you do first? Go looking for what beaches in
Ireland are included?
I was chuffed to see Keem
Beach in Achill listed at number 18 on a beauty pageant line-up of beaches
which extended from Norway to Sicily, from Scotland to Montenegro, Wales and
everywhere in between.
Keem Beach is
stunning. A special place. But we could list off others too. Busy beaches,
surfing beaches, secluded hideaways, long stretches of sand as far as the eye
can see or rugged coves with wild and unpredictable outcrops surrounded by
stunning scenery.
That’s why when it comes to Best Beaches top 10 or 20, I
take them with a pinch of salt. One size does not suit all. It’s a subjective
opinion to give us a taste of what’s on offer and the option of making an informed
choice for ourselves.
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| It can be an uphill struggle on a bike to make it to Keem Beach but it's well worth the trip. |
It’s the same when it comes to campsites. One size does not fit all.
For instance if you have a serious attachment to the family
mutt and it goes everywhere with you, well then a campsite that doesn’t take
dogs is never going to feature in your top ten.
Some campsites don’t take kids, so hardly suitable for that
family summer getaway. There are campsites which are quiet, peaceful and
secluded with a riverside walk the extent of all the exertions expected of you.
Then there are those who like the bustle of a lively stand, close to town and
their favourite tavern.
Campsites just like tents, motorhomes, caravans and campervans come in all shapes and sizes. Beauty, even when it comes to campsites, is in the eye of the beholder.
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| A small pop-up tent can be as much fun as a fancy motorhome if you are into the spirit of camping and the great outdoors. |
So with that in mind and in no particular order - you can discuss and argue and decide later for yourselves - here are my recommendations of some of the best sites for this summer’s camping season, which is already simmering with heavy advance early bookings.
Campers everywhere are chomping at the bit to get going
again with the indications that it could be June at the earliest before we can
hit the road.
When we do get going here’s ten good ones to choose from.
Says who? Says I…
If location is the key to great camping then Clifden Eco
Beach Camping is world class, and it is. Everything you’d want, hope for and
dream of in a great campsite. Well managed, amazing rugged shoreline location
in the heart of Connemara. While it is extremely well organised the pitches are
more ad hoc and informal than the
standard style of marked-out box-like pitches which gives it that more organic,
authentic camping feel, all with a strong emphasis on sustainability and a
healthy eco-vibe based on best environmental practices.
Stunning views and sunsets are fitted as standard at this
secluded camping paradise with direct access to its own beach. No hurdy-gurdies
or gimmicks here. This is back to nature at its best and you make your own fun.
Kayaking is a thing at Eco Beach. Pets are welcome.
And it’s just out the road from Clifden which has a cool Arts
Festival and the Connemara Pony Show.
You also have the Connemara National
Park nearby. This is oyster country too, so do make time for an oyster picnic
in Letterfrack.
Clifden Eco Beach
Camping info@clifdenecocamping.ie
www.clifdenecocamping.ie
Tent/Car 1 adult €14 to €15; Unit and 1 adult €18 to €20; Unit
plus 2 adults €22 to €24; 2 adults and 2 children €28 to €32
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| An aerial view of the magnificent Clifden Eco Beach Camping by Pat Nevin. Every room has a seaview. |
Sleepy Hollows, Donegal
If I was to look for a place to save my soul or mend myself
it would be Sleepy Hollow in Donegal. For no particular reason that I can point
to, Sleepy Hollows just has a good feel to it, and makes you feel good too.
It may have something to do with Nicola and Ian who clearly
put their heart and soul into running this oasis of calm and it rubs off.
Last year they were one of the few spots taking tents and to
their credit pulled out all the stops with hard work to maintain a site with
all services including the campers’ kitchen, showers and toilets fully
operational, despite all the restrictions and protocols, which saw most other
sites retreat to restricted services for self-contained units only.
Important to note that this is an adults only site, so that
may have something to do with the calm around the campfires. There’s so much to
do, explore and enjoy in this area you’d need the whole summer to put a dent in
it with surfing, kayaking, pony trekking and lots and lots of music. Leo’s Tavern, the home place of Clannad and Enya is litterly a five minute walk up the road.
I just love Donegal and they love dogs at Sleepy Hollows.
Sleepy Hollows hello@sleepyhollows.ie www.sleepyhollows.ie Tents from €12 per person; Unit plus one adult €18; unit and 2 adults €24 (No children).
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| Sleepy Hollows, a special place. |
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| Riverside walk at Sleepy Hollows. |
The Apple Farm, Tipperary
In the interest of balance, if I don’t include the Apple
Farm my granddaughter Kayla would kill me.
It’s one of our favourite spots which we return to each year
and is unusual in that respect as it’s not on the coast.
Being from a landlocked county, we head for the coast every
chance we get, with one eye also on the surf conditions as a bonus.
So what keeps bringing us back to the Apple Farm?
I did have this thing for robbing orchards as a boy so maybe
it’s something deep down to dwell among the rows and rows and rows of ripe red
apples and resisting that temptation…
The Apple Farm campsite is slap bang right in the middle of
a working orchard with a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly
cultivation.
We love to go during the harvest and share the early autumn
atmosphere with the sheep dogs, donkeys and rabbits that hop between the rows
of apple trees in this adorable Traas family run camping location. (Important
to note no dogs allowed here either).
Instead of struggling to find a TV signal I much prefer to
pop open a bottle of Con’s Cider one of the specialities of the site.
If you like it here then we’d also recommend Parsons Green in Clogheen, Tipperary
and Nore Valley Park,
Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny as all three are really great for children.
The Apple Farm www.theapplefarm.com Adults €9, children €6, electricity €2.50 (No dogs allowed & no extra charges) Closed Monday & Tuesday. 5 night packages available commencing Wednesdays each week.
Nagles in Doolin is easy to recommend.
This well-established family run concern is perched up on
the edge of the Atlantic. Tantalisingly close enough to see the ferries pull
away from the pier as they head for the Aran Islands and to catch a glimpse of
the Cliffs of Moher, yet safe and secure in all seasons.
It’s just a short walk into the village itself with all its
musical and other charms and a great staging post to explore The Burren, the
rugged coastline and the delightful villages of west Clare.
The facilities here are top notch and the spacious pitches
make it a popular stop off for Irish, UK and European tourists alike.
This year your neighbours are more likely to be the cows
peering over the stone walls.
We always have an interesting time here and a handy spot in
which to have a bike for short trips and recon purposes. Strongly recommend a
trip out the road to Kilfenora and
the Poulnabrone Dolmen.
Plenty of other camping options in these parts too with the
more compact and more central O’Connors
Riverside Caravan, Camping and Glamping inside in Doolin village itself.
Nagles Doolin Camping & Caravan Park ken@doolincamping.com www.doolincamping.com Hiker/Cyclist €10; Unit plus 2 adults €25 to €28; 2 adults and 2 children €31 to €34.
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| Nagles of Doolin is an excellent staging post for visiting the Burren or the Aran Islands, where you can hire a bike (below) to tip around. |
Goosey Island, Kerry
Goosey Island is an aire
style camping facility on the Ring of Kerry in the picturesque village of
Sneem.
I could leave it at that and simply suggest you go and see
for yourself as words fail me to do justice to this magical place in the
Kingdom.
It’s the sort of spot you could simply hang out all summer
or if the humour takes you, there is that spectacle that is Kerry to be delved
into and explored.
People have been known to visit here and never leave and I
can perfectly understand why.
The scenery is breath-taking, the landscape is stunning but
there’s something about the pace of life here, the atmosphere, the people and
their ceád mile fáilte that sets
Sneem apart as a special place again.
It’s safe to say Goosey Island left an impression and is
etched in our hearts forever. Was it that glorious evening kayaking out into
Kenmare Bay; picking those plump blackberries from the brambles on the boreen; the luxurious scent of the wild
dog roses from the hedgerow; the fresh brown trout we were gifted for our
barbecue by a fellow camper, Laddie, who didn’t know us from Adam, or the
wonderfully weird man with the amazing puck goat on a lead and we staring at
them and their matching beards…
Again Kerry is spoilt for choice when it comes to camping
with Mannix Point in Cahirsiveen, Wave Crest in Caherdaniel and Anchor Caravan Park in Castlegreory all
superb options.
Goosey Island Contact 087 6710106. €10 per vehicle per night, €5 extra for electrical hook-up (EHU) if required.
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| Goosey Island, Sneem. We're smitten. |
The Beach Bar Camping, Sligo
The Beach Bar Campsite in Sligo saved last summer.
We arrived up there on a wing and a prayer towards midnight
last August, half in hope, and half in desperation.
The next morning the sun rose and didn’t set for a fortnight
as we tucked in to our little parcel of paradise with Ben Bulben waving over at
us from the shore across the bay.
We had landed on our feet in an out of the way Aughris Head and
this easy-going, fend-for-yourself facility was the perfect antidote and cure
for all post lockdown blues.
We had such a glorious, fun and interesting sojourn at the
Beach Bar Camping that it will forever be engraved in our hearts as a special
memory and never off our list of places must you go to before you die, and go
to heaven.
It’s an ideal spot for children, no problem with pets if you
want to bring the family mutt along and one evening a troupe of traditional
musicians just struck up a seisiún on
the wall along the shoreline, uileann pipes and all. Sure where would you get
it?
Plenty of interesting places nearby for other camping and
activity options too in Strandhill and Easkey in the opposite direction. The Beach Bar Camping info@thebeachbarsliogo.com
Unit €15 per night plus €5 for EHU. No tents. No bookings. First come, first
served. Metered showers.
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| The Beach Bar Camping saved the summer. |
Achill Seal Caves, Mayo
You haven’t really gone camping in Ireland until you have
experienced Mayo and Achill in particular. Achill is sound for so many reasons
and it really is a haven for camping and outdoor pursuits.
For my money Achill is best enjoyed all day every day by either
hiking or cycling but you need a good base.
There are a variety of good camping options available and
Seal Caves Caravan and Camping at The Strand in Dugort is ideal. A meticulous
and hands-on family run Seal Caves making it in turn ideal for families.
Nestled between Dugort Hill and Slievemore Mountain with the Dugort blue flag
beach literally across the road.
Achill is paradise for hiking and hill walking, you won’t
get a better spot for water sports like surfing and windsurfing with plenty of
hire options. I’ve even spent a grand evening picking wild field mushrooms for
my supper while out for an aimless stroll near the Deserted Village.
Keem Beach is that world class view boasting turquoise
waters and sometimes basking sharks which dare to bask in the shallow waters in
the one-time whaling station. The Aquarium on the island is ideal for children
to explore.
If you fancy a livelier spot more in the heart of the action
then Keel Sandybanks Caravan and Camping
Park might be more your bag, where every ‘room’ is a sea view as you awake
to the Minaun Cliffs and the lapping waves along the 5km Keel Beach.
Achill Seal Caves Caravan & Camping info@achillsealcaves.com www.achillsalcaves.com Hiker/Cyclist €12 to€14 per person; Unit plus 2 adults €20 to €23; 2 adults and 2 children €24 to €27
It would be tantamount to sacrilege to compile a best of
camping and not include the Garden of Ireland. Wicklow was designed with
camping in mind and so too was Hidden Valley Resort the award winning family-friendly
campsite that has earned all the accolades and plaudits.8
Kids love it here, pets love it here, so parents love it
here at Hidden Valley. Set against a backdrop of mature forest along the
cascading Avonmore River a ten minutes stroll into the village of Rathdrum it’s
no wonder so many families swear by Hidden Valley, and return time and time
again.
The full gambit of camping is catered for here from tents,
caravans, motorhomes, mobile homes and glamping lodges available for hire.
Just in case the natural attractions, amenities and nearby
sites are not sufficient to keep the clan happy, Hidden Valley have dug deep to
give nature a hand out with playground areas, an aqua park, football pitches,
boat rides, cinema nights, laser games, kayaking and a long list of other fun
things to do for a memorable stay. What about teenagers you say, well there’s
free Wi-Fi and fishing on site.
Hidden Valley is a great spot and if you are the adventurous
type don’t forget you’re right in the middle of the Wicklow Mountains with
places like Glendalough, Avoca, Powerscourt, the Wicklow Gap, Brittas Bay, the
Wicklow Way and Avondale House right on your doorstep. On yer bike!
Hidden Valley Resort info@irelandholidaypark.com www.irelandholidaypark.com Hiker/Cyclist €13 to €14 per person; Unit plus 2 adults €26 to €32; 2 adults and 2 children €36 to €42. Mobile Home Rates (6 berth) €375 to €750
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| Family friendly Hidden Valley has the awards and accolades to prove it. |
Kilmore Quay Camping, Wexford
Although it only opened five years ago Kilmore Quay Camping
has already earned a special place of admiration for seasoned campers and
motorhome community. Much of that is down to the boundless energy and effort of
Alice O’Connor who has pioneered this much needed facility in this idyllic
corner of the sunny South East.
The campsite is perched up in the heart of the village with
everywhere within walking distance, the pier, the harbour the beach, the local
hostelries and taverns.
There is of course The
Little Saltee Chipper just around the corner from the campsite and that’s
worth the trip in itself. Be prepared to queue.
The village itself is a gem with its familiar friendliness,
craft shops and even an RNLI station and shop worth supporting.
I have memories of 99 ice cream cones to rival any on the
island (including Teddy’s).
And for that special day and that once in a lifetime memory
you can take the half hour boat trip out of Kilmore Quay Harbour to the Saltee Islands where in season you can
disembark and respectfully view and photograph the nesting colonies of gannets
and puffins. Delighted to have marked that one off my bucket list.
Kilmore Quay Holidy
and Camping Park info@kilmorequaycampsite.ie
Unit plus 2 adults €25 (all inclusive).
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| Kilmore Quay, worth visiting for The Little Saltee Chipper alone. |
Sexton’s Caravan and Camping, Cork
Cork is only mighty camping country. I could readily recommend Eagle Point in Bantry but they’re most likely booked out the door with regulars and season pitches.
Great campsites too in Drimoleague,
Glandore, Skibbereen, Barleycove
and Glengariff.
Desert House Camping
on a working dairy farm is still situated within a short walk of the bustling Clonakilty and the famed Incydoney Beach just out the road.
We’re going to opt
for Sexton’s Caravan and Camping Park in Timoleague.
Sexton’s is a family run caravan and camping site and it has
that friendly welcoming family feel to it. They also know what they’re at as
they have been doing it in their sleep for over 50 years.
Its facilities are only second to none including a disabled
access wet room, laundry and free Wi-Fi, playground and football pitch and a
Campers Kitchen. Fresh local produce is available on site in season.
It’s a beautiful cosy spot with 30 pitches and some of the
finest beaches in Ireland just down the country roads, along by the fuchsia
adorned hedgerows. Kinsale is less
than half an hour away and Clonakilty, as they say, just in the road where
you’re sure to stumble on some good tunes.
Info.sextons@gmail.com www.sextonscamping.com 087 220 8088 Hikers/Cyclists €12; Unit and 2 adults €24 to €30; 2 adults and 2 children €28 to €35; electricity €3. No charge for showers.
Note: Some campsites levy extra charges for awnings, additional occupancy, electricity and metered showers.
A version of this article was previously published in the Sunday Times Travel Section on February 28th, 2021.
SEE ALSO: Ten great camping spots you’d like to visitafter the lockdown
Lar Lynch and the big white lie at the heartof the #Staycation
Best Beaches in Europe - Lonely Planet
