Glamping is one of the best ways to get close to nature without giving up all the comforts of home. While I love wild camping, I’d much rather spend the night in a luxurious king-sized bed than curled up in a sleeping bag, especially if I’m on a romantic getaway.
Glamping offers the perfect solution, combining the freedom of the great outdoors with the luxury of a comfortable bed and a room you can stand up in!
Sometimes referred to as “roughing it smoothly,” glamping can be simple, extravagant, or just quirky, depending on where you go.
You could opt for a shepherd’s hut in Wicklow or a yurt in Cork, but wherever you go, you’ll have the added luxury of a hot tub on site, and what could be more romantic than that?
10 Best Spots for Glamping with Hot Tubs in Ireland
#1 Pebble Pods, Co Down
These cozy glamping pods overlook Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, providing guests with privacy and luxury. Each pod boasts its own private hot tub, where you can relax or celebrate while soaking up views of the surrounding countryside.
Credit to Pebble Pods website
Each of the four pods is tastefully furnished and includes a king-size bed, a small kitchenette, and a spacious deck area. There are communal bathroom facilities on site, as well as a thermal sauna.
Depending on how romantic you’re feeling, you might just choose to spend the whole day in bed, but if you do venture out, you could go kayaking on the lough where you might catch a glimpse of a red squirrel on the shores, or an otter playing in the shallows.
If you prefer to explore on foot, why not head to Delamont Country Park, where you can stretch your legs along one of its many trails?
After watching the sunset from the warmth of your hot tub, why not treat yourself to a romantic meal at Balloo House in nearby Killinchy?
#2 Finn Lough Forest Hideaway, Co Fermanagh
The accommodation at the glamping retreat is about as far as you can get from sleeping in a tent in a muddy field.
The transparent pods, known as Bubble Domes, look like something out of a sci-fi movie but offer the comfort of a five-star hotel. Nested in the forest, you’re surrounded by nature, but protected from the elements, meaning you can sleep under the stars even when the night-time temperature plummets.
Start each day with a breakfast hamper delivered to your door before exploring the ancient woodland around you. There are some world-class golf courses nearby if you fancy a swing and some excellent surfing opportunities in nearby Donegal.
If that all sounds a bit too energetic, why not stay closer to home and enjoy the self-guided spa experiences on offer? Wake yourself up with a lake plunge before enjoying the benefits of the hydrotherapy pool and hot tub.
There’s also a restaurant on-site where much of the food is grown or foraged from the local area, and talented chefs offer traditional Irish dishes with a modern twist.
#3 Burrenmore Nest, Co Londonderry
The accommodation at Burrenmore Nest is so luxurious it almost seems wrong to call it glamping! Picture yourself snuggled in a king-size bed, looking out at a forest of trees, or relaxing in a private outdoor whirlpool bath. This is romance at its best!
Credit to Burrenmore Nest website
Each lodge is elevated, so all you can see through the floor-to-ceiling windows are trees. Once nestled inside, you’ll find every imaginable convenience, from a built-in home cinema projector to wireless blackout blinds. There’s also an ensuite waterfall shower room and a fully equipped kitchenette.
There are four lodges to choose from, two of which are pet-friendly and even have dedicated pet baths for your four-legged friends!
While you might be unwilling to leave the comfort of your lodge, if you do want to expand your horizons, there’s a communal fire pit over which you can share stories and toast marshmallows, just keep the noise down after 11 pm!
From Burrenmore Nest, you can explore the Causeway Coast. You can join the Binevenagh Scenic Route at Downhill Beach, a seven-minute drive from Burrenmore, and follow the route over Magilligan to Donegal.
#4 Willowtree Glamping, County Down and County Armagh
One of the things that sets Willowtree Glamping apart from the crowd is its choice of accommodation.
Credit to Willow Three Glamping website
You won’t find any pods here, just yurts and log cabins, each with its own private hot tub! The perfect destination for a romantic getaway, Willowtree’s accommodation stands in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains as they sweep down to the sea.
Each yurt and cabin has a king-sized bed, bathroom, and either a wood-burning stove or electric heating, so you’ll be warm enough whatever the weather. Spend your days embracing the simple things in life, like hiking in the mountains and cooking dinner over the campfire.
Willowtree is just a stone’s throw from the coast, but you don’t have to go anywhere to enjoy a dip, as there are some idyllic wild swimming spots right on your doorstep.
#5 Grove House, Co Cork
This is glamping, but not as you know it. There are no bell tents or yurts here – just fully equipped, eco-friendly treehouses. With more facilities than your average pod, Grove House takes glamping to a new level with spacious living and sleeping areas, a bathroom complete with a walk-in shower, and on the deck outside, a private hot tub.
Credit to Cottages for Couples
Prepare your meals in the well-equipped kitchen or, if you can drag yourself away from your idyllic accommodation, head over to the colorful market town of Skibbereen for a bite to eat.
Grove House is the perfect base for exploring the marine life in Lough Hyde or taking a romantic stroll through the Knockomagh Wood Nature Reserve.
#6 Rossharbour Lakeside Glamping Cabins, Co Fermanagh
At Rossharbour, glamping pods and cabins gaze out over Lough Erne and to the Lough Navar mountains beyond. Each one has its own private hot tub, not to mention a fully equipped kitchenette and, most importantly, a luxurious king-sized bed.
Credit to Rossharbour Lakeside Glamping Cabins website
The pods and cabins are fully insulated and heated, so you can retreat inside if the weather turns nasty, and spacious deck areas to enjoy the sun when it makes an appearance!
While the pods have their own en suite bathrooms, guests at the cabins make use of a centrally located communal bathroom.
The on-site bistro is open daily, serving craft beers and freshly cooked meals prepared using local, seasonal produce.
From Rossharbour, you can enjoy a romantic stroll along the blue flag beaches of Rossnowlagh and Bundoran, explore a section of the Cuilcagh Way, or even visit the island town of Enniskillen.
#7 Willowbrook Glamping, Co. Roscommon
At Willowbrook, you’ll find something a bit different from your standard glamping pods and cabins. In addition to a selection of cottages, Willowbrook offers guests accommodation in a handful of authentic Mongolian yurts.
Credit to Willowbrook Glamping website
These spacious structures are decorated with prayer flags and colorful fabrics that create a uniquely cozy place for up to five people. Unlike some glamping sites, Willowbrook welcomes families with young children and has one dedicated dog-friendly yurt for those who can’t leave their canine companions behind.
If you’re looking for a more romantic experience, however, two of the yurts have private hot tubs on their roofed decks where you can while away a few hours or watch the sun go down.
Guests staying in the yurts will be treated to a continental breakfast served in the campers’ kitchen, where they can also prepare meals.
Alternatively, you can pick up a pizza pack at the Toto Schillaci pizza house and prepare it in the wood-fired pizza oven available on-site.
You can take a walk along the River Lung, try your hand at fishing, or indulge yourself at the on-site wellness center, where massages and other holistic treatments will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
There are lots of walking trails nearby, so you can choose whether to explore the area around the Lough Gara Lakes or the Lough Key forest park. Other nearby attractions include the Colemans Irish music visitor center and Urlaur Abbey in Kilkelly.
#8 Mayo Glamping, Co Mayo
With its hobbit houses and fairy huts, Mayo Glamping is a magical place with comfortable yet quirky accommodation. There’s no sleeping under the stars here, where the stone fairy huts and hobbit houses are covered in earth and boast unusual features like circular doors and stone walls.
Credit to Mayo Glamping website
Mayo Glamping’s imaginative accommodation doesn’t end there – it also has a selection of A-framed wooden huts and even an old railway carriage, which they call platform 9 & 3/4s.
In addition to its novel huts and cabins, Mayo Glamping has excellent on-site facilities, including a sauna, a communal hot tub, and a wood-fired pizza oven.
Situated just outside Castlebar, Mayo Glamping is a 30-minute drive from Westport, a charming coastal town on the Wild Atlantic Way.
#9 Causeway Country Pods, Co Antrim
Causeway Country Pods offers some of the best glamping in Northern Ireland with its cozy pods and private hot tubs.
Credit to Causeway Country Pods website
The pods have been carefully designed to maximize privacy while giving guests extensive views of the lush green farmland surrounding the site. Each pod has a double bed, a well-equipped kitchenette, and an en suite bathroom, but they still feel surprisingly spacious.
One of the best things about this glamping site is its location – Giant’s Causeway is just 15 minutes from the site by car, and Dunluce Castle is even closer. This is the ideal place from which to explore the Causeway Coast, taking in its forests, beaches, and natural cliffs.
#10 Killaloe Luxury Pods, Co Clare
These simple wooden cabins are reminiscent of the old timber holiday chalets and, while small, somehow seem to provide everything you need. In addition to a luxurious double bed complete with Egyptian cotton linen, there’s also a fully equipped kitchen and en suite bathroom.
Credit to Killaloe Luxury Pods website
Even better than the cabin itself is the outdoor terrace area, complete with a private hot tub and sun loungers, making it the perfect place to relax on a summer afternoon.
Killaloe Luxury Pods is situated on the River Shannon, about an hour and a half’s drive from the Cliffs of Moher – one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions.
FAQ:
Are Glamping Sites Dog Friendly?
You can find pet-friendly glamping accommodation, and quite a few of the glamping sites we’ve looked at welcome dogs in dedicated units.
Are there also Cheap Options for Glamping?
You can find affordable glamping options in Ireland, but the chances of them having an on-site hot tub are relatively slim.
Before You Go
It’s very difficult to make a camping trip romantic, but that’s not the case with glamping. King-sized beds, luxurious linen, private hot tubs, and wood-burning fires are sure to put you in the mood for a little romance, especially with the Irish countryside surrounding you.
Glamping is a wonderful way to experience nature without getting your hands dirty or having to sleep on the floor. Whether you opt for a treehouse in County Cork or a hobbit hut in County Mayo, you’ll be almost guaranteed an unforgettable stay. And the romance? Well, the romance is all around you in Ireland, along with the magic!