Northern Ireland -early August

[CharlieS]

I'm heading over with the family to the north Antrim coast for the first two weeks of August, and wondering if anyone here can answer a few questions:

1. Recommend me a good campsite for a family? Ideally just by a beach with easy kayak launching.
2. Anyone want to come for a paddle? I'd love to do something like going round Rathlin Island but I wouldn't want to do it on my own.
or 3. Anyone recommend someone who does surf courses up there?

Thank you,

Charlie

p.s. if anyone from there was interested in buying a folding kayak (K1 expedition) I could stick it in the trailer and bring it over.

[Voodoo]

Hi

You could try Adrian from www.justkayak.ie he will know the N coast very well plus will be able to sort you out with any training or assessments you may want or need,

Nigel

[CharlieS]

Hi Nigel,

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll get in touch with him.

Charlie

[Ocean Addicts]

Hi Charlie

Check out Robin he lives in Portrush and knows the coast very well! http://www.robin-ruddock.com/

[Jim]

A bit further west there is camping at Benone strand with reasonable access to the beach - too far to carry a kayak but easily tolleyable, plus the beach is firm (once you get through the wind blown stuff at the top) so would be Ok for a trolley too.

To the west is probably less interesting and is a firing range sometimes in the week (when it isn't there is a beachside pub at the point, not made it there yet myself but the local goal is always to kite buggy along there for a pint), to the east the coast looks much more interesting round to Castlerock and Portrush.

My top tip would be dont pay to visit the giants causeway, paddle round to it instead - I have no idea about logisitcs I just noted that Staffa is way better and doesn't cost a fortune in parking, which you might be able to avoid by paddling.

[CharlieS]

Jim - Thanks for the suggestion. I think we'll go there.
On further digging there are two sites that take tents: Golden Sands, and Benone Tourist Complex.
The tourist complex is council run, smaller and closer to the beach so I think I'm going to try them.

Thanks for the help.

Charlie

[CharlieS]

In case it helps anyone else in the future:

Benone tourist complex was very suitable for us. We camped in their non-electric caravan site which meant more space and much sunnier than being in their tents section. Several other families with small kids, loads of white sand just a short walk away, and a nice bouncy castle/kids pool set up on site. It was possible to carry a kayak to the beach (carry and then decent path for trolley) but it was also easy to drive onto the beach itself.

We were there Sunday night - Saturday morning and should have left one night earlier. Maybe just that weekend, but quite a rowdy crowd descended and stayed up shouting until 4am on the Friday night. Why not go and sit on the beach 4 minutes away and make as much noise as you want?

There was an excellent pub almost immediately after you turn right out of the gates on the main road that had really good local meat in everything.

Thanks for the sugestions,

Charlie