On the Map

On the Map: Northern Ireland’s Most Unusual Places to Stay

30 July 2021

Distinctive and spectacular, the six counties of Northern Ireland are home to a jaw-dropping selection of natural delights, from Giant’s Causeway to the Glens of Antrim (ideal if you’ve ever fancied a role in ‘Game of Thrones’.)

Full of Celtic myth and treasured heritage, you’ll not only discover Narnia’s inspiration amongst the Morne Mountains, but you can mark St. Patrick’s Day in his own beloved city of Armagh… where celebrations are long and loud!

Find your own perfect Northern Irish retreat, by browsing our hand-picked selection of suitably unusual stays.

Author: Nina Jervis
Main image: Quarry Hill Church | County Down

Drum Gatelodge

Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

On a quiet country road at the edge of the historic Ballylough Estate, discover the utterly charming Drum Gatelodge - a romantic and unique hideaway for two in the stunning County Antrim countryside.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£271 (2 nights)

Triumphal Arch Lodge

Colebrooke, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Make your holiday a triumph with a stunningly stately stay in the gateway to historic Colebrooke, set by the tranquil lakes of County Fermanagh.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 4

From

£290 (2 nights)

Magherintemple Lodge

Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Experience all the fun of the seaside while you stay in an charmingly historic chocolate-box haven on the North Antrim Coast.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 4 (2 adults 2 children)

From

£290 (2 nights)

Kiln Wing, Old Corn Mill

Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Escape from everyday life with a romantic break in a lovingly converted County Antrim corn mill, where your soundtrack is the gentle rushing river.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£271 (2 nights)

Ketch

Killough, County Down, Northern Ireland

Make memories on the wild shores of the Irish Sea at Ketch, tucked away in the shadow of Ireland's tallest onshore lighthouse.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 4

From

£318 (2 nights)

Helen's Tower

Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland

It's not every day you can stay at an enchanting home immortalised in the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, yet Helen's Tower in stunning County Down offers exactly that.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£292 (2 nights)

Belle Isle Castle and Private Island

Lisbellaw, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Gather your favourite people to experience a life of historic luxury, in your very own fairytale castle and private island accommodation set by the sparkling Fermanagh water's edge.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies

From

£116 / night

Sperrinview Glamping

Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Gaze at the stars from the warm comfort of your cosy pod, dreamily positioned at the foothills of Northern Ireland's Sperrin Mountains.

Bedrooms: Open plan

Sleeps: Up to 5 per unit

From

£110 / night

The Oat Box

Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

A luxurious, vintage-styled former horse box for two, beautifully secluded amongst private, hen-dotted farmland close to Ireland's North Coast.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£120 / night

Quarry Hill Church

Strangford, County Down, Northern Ireland

An award-winning conversion that blends cherished heritage and design-led luxury, for a captivating stay in a timeless Irish village.

Bedrooms: 5

Sleeps: 10

From

£600 / night

Barbican

Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

An impossibly romantic ‘miniature medieval castle' with gothic windows and a stone turret staircase, beautifully located by the Glenarm River in one of Ulster's oldest villages.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£272 (2 nights)