Bloody Bridge Campsite, Co Down

An ideal location for exploring the stunning beaches of Northern Ireland, with a campsite that is located at the foot of the mountains. The pretty seaside town of Newcastle offers plenty in the way of shops, eateries, and a traditional seaside holiday.

Well sheltered with shrubs and trees, Bloody Bridge Campsite is dramatically situated at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, on the edge of the sea. 

There are 25 spacious, gravel pitches that are flat, terraced and well delineated, each with a hook-up, a green area, a wooden bench or, in our case, a log table. There are camping spaces, a playground, a recreation green and two quite small toilet/shower blocks. A rustic outdoor campers’ kitchen has a kettle and a toaster. 

The campsite accepts cash payments only and currently does not have a shop, but there are plans for one in the pipeline. There is a shop less than a two-minute drive away towards Newcastle, where you can pick up essentials. More in the way of shops and facilities are available in the town of Newcastle, just over two miles away. From the back of the site, you can wander off-grid along unmarked trails towards the mountains. Watch out for squirrels, donkeys and deer in the adjoining woods. 

Newcastle is a pretty seaside town with lots of seafront and a long, wide high street used by locals and visitors alike with a huge range of facilities. The pier is at one end of the promenade, and the iconic turreted red-bricked Slieve Donard Hotel at the other end, about a 30-minute stroll. We nicknamed our end of the promenade ‘ice cream strip’ for obvious yummy reasons. 

From the main street and promenade area you can walk to the beach, playground, hike trails for all abilities on beach, cliff or mountain, and walk to the tidal slipway and pier for swimming and pier jumping. The main street is a perfect mix of traditional stores, eateries and tourist shops. It has great thrift shops and a library, too. There is food for all ages, tastes and budgets, including fish and chip shops, pizza parlours, bistros, numerous cafés, local bakeries and a deli. There are seaweed baths, a seasonal outdoor pool (opens from June), an indoor children’s play centre, plus a mini cinema in the local community centre.

Newcastle has some of the best beaches in Northern Ireland, too numerous to list, but all within easy access of Bloody Bridge Campsite.

A great option for families and anyone looking to enjoy a coastal break in this part of Northern Ireland. The town with its many amenities being only two miles away means this is a super convenient location, too.