Courtney McGrailCourtney McGrail explores the options available for family camping holidays
It is hard to be fabulous when roughing it in a tent in the middle of festival muck or in the middle of a field with grass and twigs stuck in your wind-swept hair. However, being fabulous is not the point of camping. Camping is for the resilient.
Camping is a must for young children before they become teenagers and think they are ‘too cool’ to go on a family holiday and before they fall victim to the all- consuming power of the Xbox that kidnaps children and won’t let them out of their bedrooms.
Camping is an adventure! Forget flying off to foreign countries as soon as school’s out. Forget crowded airports, long flights, jet-lag and sand on our sunburnt fair Irish skin. Camping is man against nature especially when nature decides that the one thing your tent was lacking was an indoor pool. There is never a dull moment when it comes to camping.
Studies have shown that children who spend four or more hours a day watching TV are more likely to be overweight and are also more likely to display aggressive behaviour. Exercise stimulates our bodies and produces endorphins and serotonin that reduces stress and acts as a natural antidepressant.
Also, natural light helps to regulate our natural body clock or circadian rhythm. Therefore it is believed that a healthy benefit of camping is that it gets us out into the fresh air and sunlight, which helps our bodies regulate our serotonin levels and produce vitamin D for strong bones – especially important for growing children.
Camping is an excellent way to get the family together and explore the surrounding beauty. Ireland is abundant with natural beauty, history, culture, friendly people and spontaneous weather conditions that just add to its charm.
Imagine waking up in a beautiful meadow to the sight of wild Irish hares leaping through the long grass. Imagine waking up to a view of Blarney Castle in the summer sun or imagine waking up to the sound of crashing waves on the Causeway Coast and breathing in the fresh sea air with the historical Giant’s Causeway at your feet.
Camping as you know it may not be glamourous but it’s fun, it’s rough, it’s an adventure.
Glamping
However, for those families who prefer a little more luxury when on holiday there is a new craze known as ‘glamping’.
Hybridity is the theme of modern culture just think of cronuts (half croissant, half donut) and glamping is the term coined for ‘glamorous camping’. Yurts, tree-houses and even wigwams offer families the camping experience while also benefiting from proper beds, electric sockets, kitchen facilities and private toilets.
Inspired by nomads in places such as Mongolia, yurts are small, portable wooden structures; however, glamping yurts are bright, colourful and cosy – somewhere between a tent and a hotel room.
A collection of these quirky yurts brings images of the hobbits’ village in The Lord of the Rings to mind. As you would expect though, they are more expensive than ordinary camping.
Details of camping and caravan sites can be found through the Irish Caravan and Camping Council which covers 32 counties. Full details of locations and facilities can be found through the website www.camping-ireland.ie/parks. However here are some of the options available:
Ballyness Caravan Park, Bushmills, Antrim 5*
On-site facilities include a centrally heated amenity building, an accessories shop, a games room and free WIFI. Activities include fishing, sailing and surfing at the area’s blue-flag beaches. It is close to the Bushmills Distillery and the Giant’s Causeway.
Prices range from €24- €26.
Camac Valley Tourist Caravan and Camping Park, Naas Road, Dublin 4*
For those who want to escape the city noise, this site offers tarmacked and grass walks, fishing lakes with a coffee shop, rose gardens and tree plantations.
For entertaining young children, there is also an animal farm. On site facilities include seven accessible shower and toilet areas and an accessible kitchen and laundry room.
Prices range from €20- €25.
Keel Sandybanks Caravan and Camping, Achill Island, Mayo 4*
This island is only accessible by crossing a bridge and the camp site is close to Keel beach.
This site has an offer that if pre-booked you will get seven nights for the price of six.
This is an excellent camp site for exploring the rugged landscape and quaint village. There is a games room, children’s playroom and TV room.
Activities include surfing, angling, golfing and windsurfing.
On site facilities include washing and ironing facilities and a campers’ kitchen.
Prices range from €16-€23.
Blarney Caravan and Camping Park, Blarney, Cork 4*
This site is ideally situated with views of Blarney Castle and the surrounding countryside and there is a nearby golf course. Cork City is close by along with the Cobh Heritage and Titanic Centre and the Fota Wildlife Park.
As above if pre-booked, this park will do seven nights for the price of six.
Prices range from €22- €30.
Here are some glamping sites of interest:
The Jungle, Desertmartin Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, Derry
Here families are able to stay in ‘glamping pods’ which can fit up to eight people but families must also book an activity. The pods are equipped with mattresses, lighting, are fully lockable and have a kettle. There are toilets and showers close by and a communal campfire for the all- important sing-along.
Prices are £120 per night.
Causeway Coast Wigwams, Bushmills, Antrim
Wigwam rentees can access the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, walk on one of the area’s blue flag beaches or visit the Giant’s Causeway. Wigwams fit four people and some are ensuite, but the site provides toilets, showers and self- catering facilities.
Prices start from £35 based on two people sharing. For two adults and two children up to 16 years of age it is £46.
Hare’s Leap Boutique Camp, Rock Farm Slane, Meath
Situated in Slane Castle estate, Hare’s Leap is an eco- friendly glamping site that is open April to November. Families can stay in either one of their five yurts that sleep four to six people or two shepherd huts that sleep two people.
Overlooking a meadow it gets its name for the wild Irish hares that live there. There is a communal area called Le Shack where families can avail of toilets, showers and self-catering kitchen facilities. Hare’s Leap can provide food packs for €15 per person and they can also provide a hosted barbeque for €25 per person.
Prices range from €160 with a special child rate of €10 per night.
Teapot Lane, Leitrim
Families can stay in yurts in Teapot Lane but they can also stay in Ireland’s first ever treehouse rental if the children are five and over. All yurts have a king sized bed and a wood burning stove. The treehouse sleeps 2-3 with a deck where visitors can enjoy breakfast delivered by picnic basket each morning.
Yurts range from €220 for two nights with two adults and two children to €700 for the week. The treehouse is €150 per night and €250- €300 for a two night stay. The vintage caravan is €140 for a two-night stay.