For outdoor experiences, there really is nowhere better than West Cork
In Paris, campsites used to be subsidised by the state as they were not profitable as a standalone business. However, French tourist authorities recognised that a youthful camping trip often kickstarted the first stirrings of a lifelong love affair with the French capital, that saw those young campers return repeatedly throughout the rest of their lives, each time spending more.
In Ireland, unfortunately, for too long our native tourism sector has relegated camping and camper van vacationing to the ha’penny place, even though it is extremely popular with central Europeans. Eagle Point is possibly the best camping site in the country, with facilities of a par with the standard that prevails in the multiple campsites in many Central European countries.
Set on 20 acres in a beautiful West Cork location, it has all you could ask for in terms of hygiene and convenience (shower blocks, waste disposal, laundry, scullery/potwash) as well as leisure (TV rooms, tennis court, football pitch, basketball court, playground), and is entirely family-friendly with access to all sorts of outdoor activities in the region.
Goleen Harbour Eco-Village is not the first to enter this space in Ireland, but it is not only hands-down one of the most beautifully located, but it also does a superb job of bringing the holiday to you, offering a summer-long programme of music and food, in the form of concerts and pop-ups.
Accommodations range from pitching up your own tent to the on-site portfolio: Glamping, in bell tents, furnished or ‘raw’; cosy and cool eco-cabins; and, best of all, geodesic domes offering 180˚views of sunrises and stars, as well as your own private deck.
The 38-acre coastal farm is a living, regenerative landscape, including 10,000 native trees, solar-powered facilities, campers’ kitchen and communal firepit.
Upcoming food pop-ups include Glass Curtain, James ‘Leviathan’ Martin, Epi Rogan and Padraig Nagle, and Gautham Iyer, while live music includes a date with The Calvinists and a DJ weekender including live bands, headlined by Shane ‘Fish Go Deep’ Johnson.
Esk Mountain is a 270-acre nature restoration project in Glengarriff, on the Cork-Kerry border, that offers a truly magical immersion into the natural Irish world. It includes a foraging trail, exploring the mixed-species woodland, including rainforest, and a woodland kitchen constructed of natural materials from the immediate surroundings.
The trail encompasses wet meadow, stream, lake, heath and bog through a series of boardwalks and bridges.
Esk also offers an extensive programme of experiences in nature, including a tour of the Esk Trail, Foraging and campfire lunch, Taste of Esk Tour & Dinner, and Paddle, Forage and Feast package.
But what about the accommodation, says you? Well, this is where it gets very special, possibly the most exclusive accommodation experience on this list, with the owners having repurposed their portfolio for 2026, resulting in a unique Failte Ireland-approved studio apartment, The Nook & The Nest. Furnished with unique custom-made pieces, including a relaxation swing for two and a private fern-themed bathroom, the property also includes a patio with a firepit BBQ (wood supplied) and a rhododendron staircase to a rooftop terrace with views over Bantry Bay. Breakfast is a hamper of local produce and foraged treats. EV/eBike charging, dog-friendly (in accommodation and private garden), 10% guest discount on events and experiences, and 100% of profits go back into the nature restoration work on Esk Mountain.
