Camping in Causeway Coast

Camping on the Causeway Coast is rewarding and occasionally humbling. The land is exposed volcanic upland running straight into the open Atlantic, with nothing between north Antrim and Iceland, so wind is the defining condition rather than rain. Pitches on the seaward side of a site will be beautiful and loud; a spot with a hedge or an earth bank behind it will make for a far better night's sleep. Bring proper pegs, guy out everything, and treat a lightweight festival tent as unsuitable here at any time of year.

Ground conditions vary sharply. The council parks and the commercial sites along the coast tend to have hard standings and well-drained grass, while farm sites inland sit on heavier soil that holds water after a wet spell. Sea fog can roll in and out within an hour, and a bright morning frequently turns to horizontal drizzle by lunchtime, so a decent windbreak, a stove that works in a breeze and a spare set of dry clothes matter more than they would in southern England.

Wild camping is not a legal right in Northern Ireland. Unlike Scotland, there is no general access legislation, and all land here is either privately owned, farmed or held by the National Trust and the Forest Service, all of whom prohibit informal overnight camping. Pitching on dunes, beaches or clifftop paths risks a fine and does real damage to fragile marram systems. The practical answer is either a formal site or, occasionally, a farmer's permission asked for in person.

May through September is the workable season, and most sites open around Easter and close in late September or October. May and June are usually the driest months and bring near-endless daylight in midsummer, with light lingering past ten in the evening. July and August are warmest but need booking weeks ahead, especially around the Ould Lammas Fair. September delivers the warmest sea, the emptiest pitches and the best value of the year.