28 amazing Irish glamping spots for your 2021 staycation

I'm not a celebrity, but get me the hell out of here.

I don't know about you, but I'm very, VERY excited about the prospect of a holiday. Or two... The domestic travel light is finally at the end of the big pandemic-shaped tunnel - hurrah!  Yes, staycationing in Ireland in 2021 is finally more than a pipe dream and our fingers are hovering over that 'book' button, waiting for places to take our money. This year and last, our love of the great outdoors has been thoroughly rekindled. So what better way to staycay, than in a cosy pod with your own veranda? Or what about an awesome treehouse hut? The kids will think it's a dream come true. I've been beavering away on this little list for weeks, trawling the length and breadth of the country sussing out the quirkiest, cosiest glamping spots for us all to explore this year. As a result, I want to go everywhere. It's going to be a busy summer. I've discovered a wealth of amazing options so, without further ado, feast your eyes on 28 of the best glamping spots Ireland has to offer.

1. Wild Atlantic Camp, Donegal

Accommodation: Pods, villas (pictured above), cabins, bell tents and motorhome bays.

Activities: Playground, AstroTurf pitch, pitch and put, FootGolf, tennis and cycling, Kid friendly: Quiet time from 10pm - 7am. Pets: Pets are allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

2. Oakwell Holiday Village, Donegal

Accommodation: Cottages, huts and bell tents.

Activities: A short drive from Rathmullan Beach, Lurgybrack Open Farm and Glenveagh National Park. Kid friendly: Playground on site and board games and puzzles provided. Pets: No pets allowed

3. Apple Orchard, Leitrim

Accommodation: Hobbit House and yurts.

Activities: Canoeing, outdoor pizza oven and cider orchard. Kid friendly: Playground, games, fairy garden and ship wrecked boat. Pets: Pets are allowed

4. Causeway Country Pods, Co Antrim

Accommodation: Pods with private hot tubs Activities: Breakfast, BBQ packs, and gorgeous farmlands Kid friendly: Pods only sleep two adults each, so ideal for couples Pets: Not allowed

5. 4* Benone Getaways – Glamping Village, Co Derry 

Accommodation: Luxury and exclusive glamping pods with private areas Activities: Hot tub, fire pits, scenic views Kid friendly: Pods are aimed towards adults but self catered apartments are available for families

6. Log Cabins at Fairy Glen, Coleraine, Co Derry 

Accommodation: Cabins and apartments Activities: Fairy walks, hot tubs, BBQ, yoga studio, local dogs Kid friendly: Fairy Forest, treehouses, and play areas

7. Teapot Lane Glamping, Leitrim

Accommodation: Yurts, treehouses and cottages.

Activities: Families are very welcome, but children should be supervised. Kid friendly: BBQ and BYOB bar tent. Pets: Pets are allowed.

8.Belmullet Coast Guard Station, Mayo

Accommodation: Main Coast Guard Station building and pods.

Activities: Golf, surfing, fishing and walking all very local. Kid friendly: Plenty of space and a private beach. Pets: Pets are allowed.

9. Mayo Glamping, Castlebar

Accommodation: Hobbit Huts and wooden cabins.

Activities: BBQ and pizza oven. Kid friendly: Outdoor play area and board games provided. Pets: Pets are not allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

10. Aran Islands Camping & Glamping, Inishmore

Accommodation: Tigíns, glamping pods and tent pitches.

Activities: Beaches, cliffs, boats, Dún Aonghasa... All that Inishmore has to offer. Kid friendly: Great for families and older kids.

11. Cabu by the Lake, Cavan

Accommodation: Luxury cabins.

Activities: Kayaking, boating, fishing, gift shop and outdoor dining. Kid friendly: Children are welcome and rollaway beds and cots are available to rent. Pets: Pets are allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible (with limits).

12.  Wildflower Glamping, Cavan

Accommodation: Yurts, wagons, huts, tents and caravans.

Activities: Communal picnic and BBQ area. Kid friendly: Children's play area and plenty of room to run around. Pets: Pets are allowed.

13. Gyles Quay Caravan Park, Dundalk

Accommodation: Touring pitches and glamping pods.

Activities: Tennis Court, 5-a-side football, bar on site with live entertainment. Kid friendly: Children’s playground and lots of local things to do Pets: Pets are allowed.

14. Loughcrew Megalothic Centre, Meath

Accommodation: Caravan and camping pitches and yurts.

Activities: Explore the ancient passage tombs of Loughcrew Cairns, cottage cafe and bbq. Kid friendly: They'll love the playground and rolling hills. Pets: Pets are allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessibility in select rooms.

15. Rock Farm, Slane

Accommodation: Yurts, bell tents, shepherds huts and cottages.

Activities: Kayaking, rafting, electric bike hire, farmer's market and shop. Kid friendly: August is reserved for families. A tree swing dubbed 'the smile machine'. Pets: Pets are welcome with a €12 additional cleaning fee. Accessibility: Accessible rooms are available.

16. Glasson Glamping Farm, Westmeath

Accommodation: Busses, wagons, huts and pods.

Activities: Walking, cycling, games shed and outdoor dining. Kid friendly: Table tennis, games and the novelty of sleeping on a bus! Pets: Pets are not allowed. Accessibility: "No steps anywhere, to accommodate the young and the less agile."

17. Podumna Village, Portumna

Accommodation: Pods, cabins and shepherds huts.

Activities: Canoeing, sailing, water skiing and windsurfing, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting and go-karting trips can all be arranged. Kid friendly: High chairs, travel cots and on-site babysitting can all be booked. Pets: Pets are not allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair access. Call ahead for specific enquiries.

18. Glamping Under The Stars, Laois

Accommodation: Bell tents, shepherds huts and wooden lodges.

Activities: BBQ, castle ruins, lake and forest walks. Kid friendly: Very - adult groups are only allowed if they book out the whole campsite. Pets: Pets are not allowed.

19. Doonbeg Pods and Cottages, Clare

Accommodation: Cottages and glamping pods.

Activities: 300m from White Strand Beach. Kid friendly: Pull-out sofas for extra little bodies or a cottage for a family. Pets: Pets are not allowed.

20.Legan Castle Farmhouse, Kilkenny

Accommodation: Bells tents and cottage rooms.

Activities: Luxury guest lounge in the farmhouse and local walks. Horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, fishing and canoeing can all be arranged. Kid friendly: Picnic with Legan Castle's amazing grazing boxes in the long grass - heaven! Pets: Pets are not allowed.

21. River Valley Holiday Park, Wicklow

Accommodation: Treehouses, huts and lodges.

Activities: Tennis, table tennis, go karts and crazy golf. Kid friendly: Pet corner, remote control cars and boats and kids entertainment. Pets: Pets are allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

22. Hidden Valley, Wicklow

Accommodation: Wooden lodges.

Activities: Splash Valley Aqua Park, family laser tag, boating lake, mini golf, bungee trampolines, rock wall and playgrounds. Kid friendly: It's a kid's paradise. Pets: Pets are allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible options available.

23. Ardmore Glamping Pods, Waterford

Accommodation: Glamping pods.

Activities: Ardmore Open Farm & Mini Zoo adjoins the glamping facility. Kid friendly: Visitors also have the use of a large indoor soft play area. Pets: Pets are not allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

24. Chleire Haven, Cape Clear Island, Cork

Accommodation: Yurts, bell tents and tent pitches.

Activities: Whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking, sea and rock fishing all available nearby. Kid friendly: A great family escape for kids who love the outdoors and beach life. Pets: Pets are allowed.

25. The Lux Bus, Cobh

Accommodation: A bus, that's lux.

Activities: Movie night, evenings in the snug around the wood stove or a trip into Cobh. Kid friendly: Sleeping on a bus? They will LOVE it. Pets: Pets are not allowed.

26. Top of the Rock, West Cork

Accommodation: Glamping pods, tents and campervan pitches.

Activities: Book a 'Farm hands' experience to feed baby animals and learn all about the farm. Kid friendly: There's plenty of woodland exploring to do and a playground. Pets: Pets are allowed. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

27. Teardrop Glamping, Ballydehob

Accommodation: Converted barn and teardrop camper vans.

Activities: BBQ in the gorgeous mature garden with views over Mount Gabriel. Kid friendly: A totally unique family escape. Pets: Pets are allowed.

28. Killarney Glamping at The Grove, Kerry

Accommodation: Luxury wooden glamping lodges.

Activities: Stroll through the meadow, toast marshmallows over the pit or chill on your heated patio. Kid friendly: Over 12s here only, but we reckon we'll save this one for kid-free time! Pets: Pets are not allowed.   So... Do you pod?