Camping and touring sites in forests
Camping and touring sites in forests can be a fun way to take a short break or spend holidays. There are several forests in Northern Ireland with sites and facilities for camping and touring vehicles.
Facilities
Drinking water, hot showers, toilet facilities, chemical toilet disposal points and electricity hook up points for touring vehicles are provided at main stay sites in forest parks. Some of these sites have cafes, shop and laundry facilities located either in the Forest Park or nearby.
Camping facilities for tent packers may also be available for those who want to experience the great outdoors. These sites share the same washing and toilet facilities with caravan based visitors and have access and parking for cars.
Camping and touring online booking
If you’d like to camp in a tent or stay in a caravan, motorhome, campervan, folding caravan or trailer tent at the forests below, you can now do your booking online:
- Castlewellan Forest Park camp/ touring online booking
- Drum Manor Forest Park camping/ touring online booking
- Glenariff Forest Park touring online booking
- Tollymore Forest Park camping/ touring online booking
These are well-equipped long stay sites where visitors can stay for up to 14 nights depending on availability. Advance booking is advisable during peak season and especially at bank holiday weekends. Find out more about each forest park:
Camping and touring charges
Prices are listed on the following page:
Before you make a booking, understand the camping and touring terms and conditions as they set out the entire agreement between you and Forest Service to use their services. To view the terms, follow the link below:
Touring caravans (Touring in the Trees)
Touring in the Trees annual permits allow you to stay at nine touring caravan sites where you can explore the forests and surrounding countryside. These forest sites are reserved for annual permit holders only. You cannot stay for longer than three nights in a row at one site.
As annual permits for sale are limited in number they're available to first come, first served applicants.
Touring in the trees caravan sites are located at:
- Ballypatrick Forest
- Glenariff Forest Park
- Castlewellan Forest Park
- Rostrevor Forest
- Florence Court Forest Park
- Kesh Forest
- Springwell Forest
- Parkanaur Forest Park
- Drum Manor Forest Park
Youth camping sites
Youth organisations or school groups can arrange to use grass sites at some forests for short camping stays. Facilities on site are very basic, with fresh water and a waste disposal point provided. All groups booked on these sites must have responsible adults present at all times, with a suitable number of adults to young people to make sure that they're properly supervised.
Camping stays must be pre-arranged by telephoning the forest office and cannot be booked online. Phone numbers can be found at the links below:
Information on accommodation options, as well as ideas for great experiences and things to do is available on the Discover Northern Ireland website.