Carrick Dhu Holiday Park
County Antrim
Council-run coastal park on the A2 between Portrush and Portstewart
About Carrick Dhu Holiday Park
Carrick Dhu sits at 12 Ballyreagh Road on the coast road linking Portrush and Portstewart, which puts it within walking distance of both the sea and a couple of restaurants while keeping it out of the middle of either town. It is operated by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, and the pricing and standards reflect that: straightforward, well maintained and reliably cheaper than the commercial parks nearby.
There are 35 touring caravan pitches with electric hook-up and 20 tent pitches, with a number of longer pitches suited to larger motorhomes. Touring pitches are hard-surfaced with artificial grass, so awnings need metal pegs or sandbags rather than the usual plastic ones. Facilities are practical rather than luxurious, with toilet and shower blocks, electric hook-up on the touring side and easy access for both booking online through the council's system and checking in with the warden on site. Tent pitches are booked by telephone.
The position is the main draw. The award-winning West Bay beach is a short walk away, as is Ballyreagh Golf Course, and the Port Path coastal walking route and the Sustrans cycle route run past the gate, letting you get into Portrush or Portstewart on foot or by bike without touching the car. Portstewart Strand, Dunluce Castle and Royal Portrush are all a few minutes away, and Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway are within a twenty-minute drive. For a family wanting cheap, well-placed camping in the middle of the busiest section of the coast, it is hard to beat, but it fills quickly in July and August and should be booked well in advance.