NC500 or Northern Ireland trip!

[Realist2022]

My DS 11 and I are looking at an 7-8 day holiday and can't decide between NI or the NC500. It will be just the two of us and we will be going away for a week abroad later in the summer but we also like to spend some time getting to know the UK. We love castles, wildlife and adventures but DS is not much of a walker and can get a bit whingey.

I have Chat GPT'd both trips and they both look fab but just looking for any personal experience. We would be going probably first Saturday in July which I think is the start of the school holidays in both NI and Scotland so any thoughts on that would be also be welcome.

He loves the idea of a campervan but not sure how practical that is in NI?

Anyway, any tips, suggestions, thoughts, absolute nos .... that would be really helpful!

No personal experience but we have been really looking into the NC500 and quite a few people have said not to do July as it’s so busy and it’s also when midges are at their tiny velociraptor worst.

Is late June an option? Avoid July 11/12th in NI - the parades, bonfires and often associated tensions are an absolute nuisance and even as someone born and raised here I feel quite ashamed of this weekend of ‘culture’. It feels like the country goes back in time for a few days. Many people purposefully go abroad on holiday that week to avoid it, it’s definitely not the best time to see and embrace all of the wonderful things that NI has to offer.

NC50O is getting stupidly busy and overcrowded especially with campervans. Unfortunately July wouldn't be the best time to go.

Family celebrations have taken us to NI a few times in early July in our camper van - one time we had a solid fortnight of rain (aargh) so be prepared!
But, other times we've had a great holiday and it wasn't super busy. There's a lovely campsite on a National Trust site at Castle Ward near Strangford Lough, as seen on Game of Thrones, which did get busy at the weekend but there was plenty of room during the week. You get free entry to the grounds as a camper.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/northern-ireland/castle-ward-caravan-park
They also have pods which might be an alternative to hiring a camper van.

You probably don't want to know my views on the NC500...

Also, if you head across to Donegal as well, it is very beautiful and quite like the West of Scotland (if you are hankering after the NC500) and no bonfires.

And this is why I asked the question! Neither midges nor parades sound like quite what we're looking for!

We went to Belfast for 3 nights last summer. Went out to Giants causeway and Ballintoy harbour and loved it - we didn't hire a car so were limited but I loved the coastline and would like to go back.

Also recommend a trip to Derry - we loved the city.

We discussed similar yesterday. We are toying with the idea of doing the west coast of Ireland instead of NC500.

I wouldn't do the NC500 with an 11year old, you'd be better picking one base in Scotland to explore from as its really quite remote and there's not a whole load of attractions along the way. I actually think it's ruined a beautiful part of the country as it's no over run with tourists in hire car and motorhomes, most of whom have no idea how to drive on single track roads!

Absolutely agree with @MiddleAgedDread .

I have a friend who lives on Skye and often comes home to find her drive blocked and loads of cars everywhere around so she can't park anywhere near her house.

On one occasion she came back to find a campervan on her drive. When the occupants came back, they said they thought it was a car park for the nearby attraction.

People regularly knock at her door to ask if they can use the toilets as, along with a lack of parking, there's a lack of facilities.

It was a good enough idea but practicalities not thought through.

Camper vans aren't practical in Scotland on single track roads, I don't really understand why so many people now think that they are.
I agree with picking a base in Scotland if you want to go there and then exploring.

Northern Ireland is lovely but if you are not used to a camper van there are a lot of very narrow roads and you will have to reverse quite a bit .

Belfast is a great city to visit and NI campsites are often in lovely locations , very clean and well ordered and not that busy , in fact in June we were at some sites, near the border in Fermanagh the only van .

Stay in Belfast a day or two , then giants causeway , coastal route, Fermanagh and the borders and Mourne mountains are easily doable.