MOTORBIKE TOURING AND GLAMPING IN IRELAND – 10 GREAT TIPS FOR YOUR WILD ATLANTIC WAY TOUR

Last updated on November 10, 2024

What is glamping? It is glamorous camping, i.e. luxury camping. Glamping is being offered more and more – also in Ireland.

Why is it good? You’re at a campsite, but you don’t have to lug around any tent equipment. Good for motorcyclists, especially if there are already two of them on the bike.

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Seagulls at the cliffs of Slea Head (photo by Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)

Intro

You can sleep in small wooden huts (pods, cabins or domes), or in large, luxurious tents (yurts or bell tents). These are usually well equipped with beds, table and chairs or even armchairs and offer more space inside than the small throw tent. In addition, you don’t have to repack a wet tent and strap it onto the bike – not entirely unimportant in countries where there can be the occasional shower.

The disadvantage? Glamping is of course more expensive than camping with your own tent. Of course.

Why not just go to a B&B? Glamping sites are often beautifully situated and you have more of a feeling of freedom than in a normal house.

Are you curious? That’s good! Try it out on your next motorbike holiday!

Oh yes, and you can fly to Dublin quickly and cheaply and rent a motorbike locally. We had our own motorcycle rental shop here for a number of years, but you can find other shops around Dublin on Google easily.

Below I’ve researched 10 great glamping sites for you. If you go through them in order, you can have a great tour of England’s wild Atlantic coast!

So, here we go:

1. Glendalough Glamping

Your first day gets off to a great start: Wicklow Mountain National Park is fantastic for motorcyclists and the old monastery complex of Glendalough is also a must-see. Close by is this beautiful glamping site on the mountainside. See: https://glendaloughglamping.ie.

2. The Getaway Glamping

Not far from the pretty harbour town of Dungarvan and close to the beautiful Copper Coast is this glamping site. You drive a bit away from the coast, into the nearby mountains and thus have both in the same day – beautiful sea and beautiful mountains. See: https://www.thegetaway.ie.

Grace O´Malley´s Tower (photo by Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)

3 Goleen Harbour

Goleen Harbour is a small bay on the Mizen Head Peninsula. There are geo-domes, eco-huts and tents for rent at the glamping site of the same name. The nearby Mizen Head Signal Station is also definitely worth a visit! See: https://goleenharbour.ie/.

4. Priory Glamping Pods or Killarney Glamping

Killarney is a bustling little town, but also a great base for all kinds of trips around the Ring of Kerry, into the Gap of Dunloe and Black Valley, and into the magnificent mountains of Killarney National Park. Muckross House and Ross Castle are also worth a visit. Here you will find this provider – this time not somewhere on the mountain, but in the middle of life. See: https://www.prioryglamping.ie. Another alternative is Killarney Glamping at the Grove, also in Killarney. See: https://www.killarneyglamping.com.

5. Doolin Glamping

Doolin is a small town near the Cliffs of Moher and just before the karst landscape of the Burren. A perfect stop for your next overnight stay. Doolin Glamping offers very nice yurts and tents. See: https://www.doolinglamping.com/the-rooms.

6. Cong Camping, Caravan and Glamping

Located in Connemara, at the northern end of Lough Corrib, this camping provider also offers glamping tents with facilities. See: https://www.congcamping.com/.

7. Belmullet Coast Guard Station Luxury Pods

Belmullet is a small and very beautiful peninsula north of the equally beautiful Achill Island (accessible via bridge). The former Coast Guard Station is now a holiday home – and there are also pods, i.e. glamping wooden cottages for rent. Of course with a beautiful view of the sea! See: http://belmulletcgs.com/rooms-list/luxury-pods/.

Motorbike at Glenmacnass Waterfall (Foto: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)

8. Lough Mardal Lodge

A little south of the town of Donegal, a little inland on Lough Mardal, lies this fantastic eco-lodge with glamping. You can stay in shepherd’s caravans, or in spacious yurts. See: https://www.loughmardalglamping.ie.

9. Portsalon Luxury Glamping

Fanad Head Lighthouse and the coastline around it are really great to see and drive. The coastal road near Portsalon and southwards is also great because the road runs right along the water. Near Portsalon, on the mountain, is this gem of a glamping site. See: https://www.donegalglamping.com.

10 Battlebridge Camping

On the way back, you can drive along the River Shannon for a while. Carrick on Shannon and the area around Leitrim Village are beautiful. There, right on the banks of the Shannon, is this charming little glamping site in good neighbourhood to a small marina. See: https://www.battlebridgecaravanandcamping.ie/glamping.

Finally

Have you taken a closer look at the offers? Aren’t there some nice overnight stays? And the Wild Atlantic Way is really great to ride by motorbike.

Of course, you can also choose other routes, or combine hotels, B&Bs and glamping – the possibilities are endless.

Whatever you decide, have a great motorbike trip in Ireland.

And if you are still looking for a rental motorbike for your trip, you can find us here: www.easycruiser.tours.