Rostrevor Mountain Lodge & Glamping (Dog Friendly)

Jennifer and Ian were such helpful hosts. They took time to suggest places to eat and plan our days out, and even gave us tips for the rest of the holiday. We had a lovely five-night family stay at this beautiful hostel, and the staff really deserve praise. The refurbished rooms have new, really comfortable beds. The bathroom was great and cleaned daily, with fresh fluffy towels available when needed. There’s also a well-equipped communal kitchen with plenty of room. We had a great time trying the water sports and summer school. The pier jump was terrifying, but canoeing and the banana boat were great fun. A really good place to stay.

Everyone could choose from activities that suited our group, and the staff were so accommodating. They’re welcoming and helpful, and the place feels like a home away from home. We had a fabulous time at East Coast Adventure Centre, as always. We’ll be talking about the trip nonstop until we go again!

The location and views are stunning, but after our December stay, I wouldn’t choose this place in winter. The pod was advertised as “toasty,” and with no bedding provided we expected it to be warm when we arrived. Two tiny radiators were on, but it was nowhere near toasty, not even 18 degrees. The owner kindly showed us a shack where we could gather, but its lights didn’t work and there was no firewood for the small stove. He said we could drive back to the village to buy some. It would make more sense to let visitors buy wood on site than send them 10 km back and forth along icy country lanes. Once we finally got some and lit the fire, the shack still never really warmed up. We then found a gap about an inch wide between the wall and the door. We hoped to use the internet to play music while celebrating in the shack, but there was no Wi-Fi or mobile coverage. There was a World Cup football match that evening, so we asked if we could watch it in the house below. We were told we couldn’t. The two radiators eventually got the pod we slept in warm enough, at about 1 am. Probably a great place at another time of year.

The kids have just finished the five-day adventure camp and loved it. They were busy every day and got to try new things. Five stars!