Your Guide to Camping in the West of Ireland
When it comes to exploring the beauty of Ireland, there's plenty of various ways to go about it. You can choose to rent a gorgeous Airbnb, book a unique glamping experience, embark on an adventurous road trip – or pack a tent and do some classic camping. Read on for everything you need to know before you pitch your tent.
The camping essentials – and where to find them
Before you go camping, you'll need to make sure you've got the essentials. Most important is a decent tent, and one that can bear the moody Irish weather. You don't want to swelter in an unexpected heatwave or freeze during a bitter Atlantic wind!
Key things to look out for are tents with good ventilation, solid ropes, and a high waterproof rating – avoid anything less than 1500mm. If it's your first time, try to go for a tent that is good quality but not too finicky to set up and take down; there's no quicker way to take the romance out of camping than dealing with frustrating equipment.
Other important camping gear to add to your list:
• Comfortable sleeping bags
• Sleep mats or a blow-up mattress (a yoga mat can do the job in a pinch)
• A torch, headlamp or tent light
• Reliable camping chairs (get the ones with arms – trust us!)
• A heavy-duty backpack or trolley to carry everything
• A camping table
• Cooking equipment: portable kettle, stove or barbecue, cooler, and plastic utensils
The West of Ireland has some great outdoorsy shops to pick up camping gear. Booley in Galway and Call of the Wild in Westport are two great local shops to pick up both camping gear and attire, and both have online stores for convenient ordering.
Camping spots
There are a number of beautiful places to camp around the West, from sites overlooking sandy beaches to riverside grasslands and lush parks. Unless you're wild camping (more on that later), you'll need to look up the specific camping site you're interested in and see their requirements. Each one has different rules, and there's often a small fee, though some are free. Almost all will require you to register your intended camping dates either way.
Camping Ireland has an up to date list of the active sites around the West. They're all totally unique, with some a little cushier (think WiFi, showers and toilets) and others offering a more natural, authentic camping experience.
Left: Nagle's camping park in Doolin, Right: Renvyle beach in Connemara
Highlights on the list include Nagle's in Doolin, which is nestled between the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren and has breathtaking views; Lough Arrow in Sligo with beautiful cycling routes around the lake; and Renvyle in Connemara, offering a serene beach-side getaway.
Wild camping
Best spoken about in hushed tones only, wild camping is not strictly allowed but tolerated in some parts of the West. This is only applicable to very small groups and with a one-night-per-site unspoken rule. We've compiled the most important rules to follow if you're venturing out into the wild West.
Leave no trace
To follow the guidelines of Leave No Trace, try to camp late and leave early. Avoid damaging any vegetation, use a very temporary set-up and take absolutely everything with you when you leave. The site should look exactly as it was when you arrived.
No private land
Choose places like national parks or state-owned forests, and stay away from farmland, houses, roads, walking routes, and anywhere with livestock or crops.
No fires
Stick to ready-made snacks or discreet camping stoves – open fires aren't encouraged and should be avoided especially in forests or during very dry weather.
Stay safe
We recommend camping with friends or family, but if you do go solo, make sure someone knows where you'll be setting up camp. Map your route carefully and know your way back, and double check that you've got the right supplies with you before you head off.
Happy camping!
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