When you start looking up glamping in Belfast, you are usually met with the exact same thing across the board. A curved wooden pod, a couple of plastic camping chairs out front, a communal shower block somewhere down a gravel path, and a tiny bed where your feet hit the front door.
It is a grand setup if you are backpacking or trying to relive your school camping trip days. But if you are planning a proper night away with your partner or a close friend, you shouldn’t have to compromise on basic comfort just to get close to nature. We took the general city escape concept of belfast glamping, meaning the peace, the view, and the outdoor air, and we decided to build something that doesn’t require you to rough it in the slightest.
Dont worry about packing sleeping bags or trekking across a damp field to find a cold bathroom. Everything here is entirely self contained and completely yours for the duration of your stay. We don’t really call ourselves a standard glamping site, mostly because you wont find any communal facilities or paper thin walls here. Tucked away into the Castlereagh Hills, Belfast Lodges consists of just two completely private, luxury lodge suites.
Instead of a basic pod layout, we designed these spaces to feel like a high end boutique hotel suite that just happens to be surrounded by trees and fresh air. You get all the benefits of being out in the hills without any of the annoyances that usually come with standard glamping pods in Belfast.
Luxury Glamping Pods Belfast Way with Private Saunas
The main reason people look for glamping pods belfast way is the outdoor experience. Sitting outside with a drink while the sun goes down is hard to beat. We took that concept and turned it up a bit.
Instead of a shared hot tub area where you have to book a time slot or make awkward small talk with strangers, each of our two lodges features its own completely private wellness setup built directly into your balcony decking.
- The Sunken Hot Tub: Right on your private balcony, set low so you can slide into the water effortlessly and look out over the landscape completely hidden away from the world.
- The New Private Saunas: We have just finished installing brand new, individual saunas for both suites. They feature massive glass viewing windows so you can watch the weather roll over the hills while staying warm.
It is giving serious luxury thermal spa wellness, except you don’t have to share the water or the steam with thirty strangers. You can go from the heat of the sauna straight to the hot tub at two in the morning if you feel like it and nobody is going to stop you.
A Proper Setup Inside
Inside the lodges, we didn’t skimp on the details. You get a massive, proper king size bed with crisp hotel linens, a modern ensuite bathroom with a powerful rainfall shower, and electric blinds so you dont have to get out of bed to block out the morning sun.
If the Belfast weather decides to take a turn, you arent stuck sitting on a cramped wooden bench. Each lodge has a full home cinema setup inside with a 100 inch projection screen and complimentary Netflix already loaded up. You can mix a proper drink at your own hand crafted cocktail bar area, pop something into the Ninja Air Fryer, and just hide away from the rain in peace.
We also make sure you start your stay properly with a complimentary breakfast basket and a chilled bottle of bubbles waiting for you on arrival. Just keep in mind we dont have a full oven or hob setup in the kitchen, but with the city center only a short drive away, you are perfectly placed for a dinner out or getting something decent delivered straight to the hill.
To keep the atmosphere completely peaceful, we are strictly an adults only destination and we don’t allow pets. It means no kids running past your deck and no barking dogs breaking the quiet. If you want a getaway that feels miles away from everything but is actually just a few minutes from the edge of the city, skip the basic pod.
Are the hot tubs and saunas completely private?
Yes, you get total privacy here. We do not do shared spa areas, communal facilities, or awkward booking slots where you have to cross your fingers and hope you dont clash with other guests. Each of our two suites features its own dedicated balcony decking with a private outdoor sunken hot tub and a brand new custom built sauna with a massive glass viewing window. They are completely yours to use whenever you want, day or night.
Where are you located and how close are you to Belfast?
We are located at 55 Lisleen Road, tucked right into the Castlereagh Hills on the edge of County Down. Even though the views make it feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere, you are actually only a ten minute drive from the bars and restaurants in Ballyhackamore and about fifteen minutes from Belfast city centre. It gives you the perfect balance of total rural peace without a massive journey to get there.
Can you get a taxi to and from the lodges?
Yes, absolutely. Because we are so close to the city boundary, local taxi firms like Fonacab and Value Cabs service the Lisleen Road regularly. You can also get an Uber to drop you off or pick you up if you want to head into town for dinner or a few drinks without worrying about who is driving back up the hill.