Caravanning in Portrush

Caravanning is the backbone of a north coast holiday, and the numbers bear that out: there are 23 caravanning stays published on BritStays in the Portrush region, and nothing else in this set — no lodges, no glamping, just pitches and holiday home parks. That makes planning simpler than it looks, but it does mean the choice sits between parks rather than between types of stay, so the details matter.

Where the parks are

The bulk of them sit in Portrush itself: 19 of the 23. Bushmills accounts for two, with one each at Castlerock and Coleraine. If you want the classic seaside set-up — a short walk or short drive to the sea, somewhere to get a bag of chips, plenty happening within reach — Portrush is where to look first, and you'll have the widest pick of pitches.

Bushmills suits a quieter trip. Ballyness Caravan Park and Bush Caravan Park are the two listed there, both with toilets and disabled access, and Ballyness also lists WiFi. With only two parks in that area, they're the ones to try early if a calmer base appeals. Tullans Farm Caravan Park is the Coleraine entry and lists evening entertainment alongside toilets — handy if you'd rather not drive out for an evening. Castlerock has a single park in the set, so treat it as a lucky find rather than a plan.

What the facilities data actually says

Read the facility counts honestly and you'll pack better. Across the 23 parks:

• EV charging nearby is the most commonly listed feature, on 12
• Toilets appear on 9 — so fewer than half flag a toilet block
• Laundrette on 8, which matters on a longer stay with wet coats
• Playground on 6, and a bus stop nearby on 6
• WiFi on 5, a train station nearby on 5, and disabled access on 5

Nothing in this set is flagged as dog-friendly, which doesn't mean dogs aren't welcome — park rules vary and often aren't listed. If you're bringing a dog, ring the park and ask about the number of dogs allowed, whether they must be kept on a lead on site, and whether dogs are permitted in any on-site facilities. Do the same for toilets and showers if you're in a tent or an older van without full facilities.

Matching a park to your trip

For families, Craigahulliar Holiday Park in Portrush lists a gym, playground and toilets, and Bush Caravan Park pairs a playground with toilets and disabled access. If you want the whole thing on site, Holiday Home Park in Portrush is the outlier in this set, listing a swimming pool, hot tub and spa — worth noting if a wet afternoon would otherwise mean three car journeys.

Couples after something more low-key might look at Shepherds Rest (toilets, gift shop, parking) or Bellemont Caravan Park and Ballyleese Town and Country Caravan Park, both listed without a long facilities roll-call. Golflinks Holiday Home Park is at the other end: a bar, restaurant and takeaway food on site, which suits a group or anyone who'd rather not cook in a small kitchen.

Arriving without a car, or wanting to leave it parked? Juniper Hill Caravan Park, Deighans Caravan Park and Dungannon Park Caravan & Camping all list a bus stop nearby, with the last two also listing EV charging nearby. Tivole Caravan Park lists EV charging nearby too, as does roughly half the set. Drumaheglis is another Portrush option in the list, though without facilities published — worth a direct enquiry.

What to do once you've levelled up

The coast does the heavy lifting. The Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge are the two big days out, with Portstewart Strand and Mussenden Temple for beach walks and views, and Hezlett House and Drenagh if you like old buildings and gardens. The Dark Hedges is a quick stop rather than an afternoon.

For children, Curry's Fun Park and The Lake Kilrea WaterPark are the obvious choices, with North Coast Alpacas for something gentler. Rainy days are well served by museums: Coleraine Museum, Ballymoney Museum, the Tower Museum, the Museum of Free Derry and Seamus Heaney HomePlace over in County Antrim.

When to book

With 23 parks and 19 of them concentrated in one town, July and August weekends go first, followed by Easter and bank holidays. Aim to book school-holiday pitches several months ahead, particularly hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up, which are usually the smallest category on any park. The specialist stays — Holiday Home Park for the pool and spa, Tullans Farm Caravan Park for entertainment, the two Bushmills parks — have the least spare capacity, so get those in early.

Shoulder season, from spring into early summer and again in September, is where the flexibility is. If you're travelling then, phone the park rather than assuming: confirm the pitch size, whether you need to arrive before the office closes, and what the access is like for a larger outfit. Ask about awning rules and seasonal pitch holders too, as both affect what's actually free on the dates you want.