About This Community Review
Submitted by: A Caravan Adventuring community member
This review was submitted by a member of the Caravan Adventuring community. The experiences, opinions and scores are entirely those of the contributor and do not represent an official rating by Caravan Adventuring.
We booked Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park looking for a peaceful break in a scenic part of Northern Ireland. Set beside the Lower River Bann, this council-run park offers a relaxing riverside setting surrounded by mature trees and countryside.
This Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park review covers our experience of the surroundings, facilities, cleanliness, pitch quality and value for money. We also look at what we enjoyed and the areas where we felt the park could be improved.
Surroundings
Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park enjoys a beautiful location on the banks of the Lower River Bann in County Antrim.
The river is a major part of the park’s appeal. Together with the marina, mature trees and surrounding greenery, it creates a peaceful atmosphere.
There are also woodland and riverside walks to enjoy directly from the park. These are perfect for an evening stroll or a walk with the dog.
One minor issue is finding the correct entrance when you first arrive. We found the signage slightly confusing and felt it could be clearer. However, once you are inside the park, this is quickly forgotten.
The location is also excellent if you plan to explore more of Northern Ireland during your stay.
The Causeway Coast is within easy driving distance, giving you access to some fantastic coastal scenery. You can also visit popular attractions such as The Dark Hedges or explore the towns and villages along the coast.
The Causeway Coastal Route is another reason to choose this area as a touring base. It stretches between Belfast and Derry~Londonderry and passes many of Northern Ireland’s best-known attractions.
You can find places to visit and ideas for days out on the official Causeway Coastal Route guide from Discover Northern Ireland.
Overall, Drumaheglis gives you the best of both worlds. You can spend the day exploring before returning to a peaceful riverside setting.
Facilities
Drumaheglis has a useful selection of facilities without feeling like a large commercial holiday park.
The marina is one of the most distinctive features and adds plenty of character to the site. It also fits perfectly with the peaceful riverside surroundings.
Families are well catered for thanks to the children’s play area. It gives younger visitors somewhere to enjoy themselves without the need for a large entertainment complex.
Laundry facilities are also available, which can be particularly useful during a longer stay.
Another highlight is The Slipway, the on-site café. It provides somewhere convenient to enjoy breakfast or grab something to eat during your stay.
Unfortunately, the washroom arrangements are where Drumaheglis loses several points.
Showers are not included within the standard pitch price. Instead, you need to pay £1 for eight minutes of shower time.
There is also an additional 20p charge for using the hairdryers.
We found these extra charges disappointing. Showers are a basic campsite facility, and we would normally expect them to be included within the pitch fee.
Having to make sure you have the correct coins available also feels unnecessarily inconvenient.
Wi-Fi is another area that could be improved. The connection can be intermittent, which may become frustrating if you need reliable internet access.
Overall, there is a good selection of facilities at Drumaheglis. However, charging separately for basic washroom facilities has a significant impact on our score.
Cleanliness
The grounds at Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park are generally kept to a very good standard.
The outdoor areas are tidy and well maintained, which creates a good first impression. The wardens are also helpful and clearly put plenty of effort into looking after the park.
Unfortunately, the toilet and shower facilities do not always maintain the same standard.
During busy periods, the toilets and showers can become less clean as the day goes on. The floors appear to be the main problem, particularly around and behind the toilets.
The disabled washroom can also require more attention during peak periods.
This does not mean the facilities are always dirty. However, cleanliness can become inconsistent when the park is busy.
Therefore, more frequent checks throughout the day would help maintain a better standard.
It is worth pointing out that this issue does not reflect the rest of the park. The pitches, grassed areas and general surroundings are well cared for.
For us, the toilets and showers were the main area where cleanliness could be improved.
Pitch Quality
We stayed on one of the hardstanding pitches and found it spacious, level and straightforward to set up on.
There was plenty of room for our caravan and car without the pitch feeling cramped. The level hardstanding also made setting up much easier.
As a result, we did not have to spend too much time making adjustments with our levelling ramps.
The electric hook-up and water were conveniently positioned nearby. Therefore, getting everything connected was straightforward.
There is also a reasonable amount of grass around the pitches. This helps prevent the touring area from feeling like one continuous stretch of hardstanding.
However, there is one aspect of the pitch layout that we were less keen on.
The touring area is very open plan, with little natural screening between neighbouring pitches. There are no substantial privacy hedges separating many of the caravans and motorhomes.
As a result, you can sometimes feel quite exposed to your neighbours.
This is slightly surprising because the wider park feels secluded and surrounded by nature. Some natural screening between the pitches would provide more privacy while keeping the spacious feel.
That said, the pitches themselves are a good size and easy to use.
If privacy is not particularly important to you, the open layout may not be an issue. For us, however, it prevented the pitch quality from receiving a higher score.
Value for Money
Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park is reasonably priced considering its location and the facilities available.
The riverside setting is a major attraction. You also have the marina, woodland walks, children’s play area and on-site café to enjoy.
Furthermore, its location for exploring County Antrim and the Causeway Coast adds to the overall value.
Drumaheglis does not have the large entertainment complexes found at some commercial holiday parks. However, that will probably appeal to anyone looking for a quieter touring break.
The biggest issue when considering value for money is the additional charge for the showers.
Paying £1 every time you want an eight-minute shower can soon add up. This is particularly noticeable if two people are staying for several nights.
The extra 20p charge for the hairdryers is another small expense.
Neither charge is huge on its own. However, we would expect basic washroom facilities to be included within the standard pitch fee.
These extras make the stay slightly more expensive than the advertised pitch price initially suggests.
Despite this, the base price remains reasonable for such a peaceful location.
Overall, Drumaheglis still offers fair value for money. Including the showers within the pitch price would make that value much stronger.
Community Reviewer’s Verdict
Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park has a lot going for it, especially if you prefer peaceful surroundings to a busy holiday park.
Its location beside the Lower River Bann is easily one of its biggest strengths. The river, marina, woodland and mature trees give the park a relaxed atmosphere.
There is also plenty to do without travelling far.
The woodland and riverside walks are ideal for an easy day around the park. Meanwhile, the Causeway Coast and other popular attractions are within easy driving distance.
Families should appreciate the children’s play area, while dog owners have plenty of opportunities for walks. The Slipway café is another excellent addition and provides somewhere convenient to enjoy breakfast or something to eat.
The hardstanding pitches are spacious, level and easy to set up on. However, we would have preferred more privacy between them.
A few hedges or areas of natural screening would make a noticeable difference. They could provide additional privacy without taking away from the open feel of the park.
The biggest disappointment is the washroom setup.
Charging £1 for an eight-minute shower feels unnecessary. This is particularly true when showers are included within the pitch fee at many other touring sites.
Cleanliness within the washblocks could also be more consistent during busy periods. In addition, the intermittent Wi-Fi may be an issue if you need a reliable connection.
Despite these drawbacks, Drumaheglis remains an enjoyable place to stay.
We would recommend it to couples, families and dog owners looking for a peaceful base in County Antrim. It is particularly well suited to anyone planning to explore the Causeway Coast.
If beautiful surroundings, spacious pitches and a relaxed atmosphere are high on your list, Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park is worth considering.
Just remember to keep a few pound coins handy if you plan to use the showers.
Community Reviewer’s Scores
The following scores were awarded by A Caravan Adventuring community member based on their personal experience and preferences. They have not been awarded or adjusted by Caravan Adventuring.
Surroundings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10
A beautiful riverside setting on the Lower River Bann with great woodland walks, though the entrance can be a little tricky to navigate the first time.
Facilities: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/10
Features a great play park, marina and an excellent on-site café, but it loses serious points for charging £1 for showers, 20p for hairdryers and having intermittent Wi-Fi.
Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7/10
The grounds are immaculate, but the toilets and showers can suffer during peak times, with floors occasionally being overlooked.
Pitch Quality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7/10
Spacious and level hardstanding plots that make setting up straightforward, but the completely open-plan layout lacks privacy hedges.
Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7/10
Reasonably priced for a peaceful park, but the extra charges for the showers feel like an unnecessary frustration.
Community Reviewer’s Overall Score: 34/50
This total reflects the community member’s personal scores. It is not an official Caravan Adventuring rating.
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