The drive along Northern Ireland’s coast to this site is spectacular. When I arrived I was pleased to see that I wasn’t leaving the iconic green hills behind me; the site is nestled among lush green meadows with established trees and shrubs throughout.

There are three fields allocated for tourers. All the pitches are level hardstandings and fully serviced with electric hook-up, water tap, and waste water disposal point.

The site facilities are housed in a central block that is heated and kept immaculately clean. As well as toilets and showers, the block houses a family room, disabled facilities, a dishwashing area, a launderette and a toilet chemical disposal point. The hot water to all these services is free.

On site you will also find a children’s play area and a large recreation field. These are within site of two of the touring fields. There is also a lake surrounded by walking tracks. When I visited, it was home to two mute swans with a large brood of cygnets.

The site also has several other useful services that are not offered by every touring park. Caravan accessories can be purchased in reception, for example, and you can use a computer with internet access for free. There is a borrowing library of board games and books for rainy afternoons.

There isn’t a shop or restaurant on site, but Bushmills is just a few miles away. The town has Spar and a Co-op grocery shops and a range of restaurants open for lunch and dinner. Drive to town and take advantage of the of the free parking, or take a bus that picks up passengers from the site seven times a day.

Ballyness is in a world-class location on a stretch of coast classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nearby you’ll find plenty of places to visit, such as the Old Bushmills Distillery, the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and Dunluce Castle. As well as going into Bushmills, the bus that stops on site completes a circuit of tourist attractions. This way, you can leave the car on site if you don’t feel like driving.

Further afield, but still an easy day trip, are Derry and Mussenden Temple. Even the city of Belfast is only a couple of hours away, so it won’t take you long to get to site from the ferry.

The Causeway Coast is stunning, and Ballyness is ideally situated for exploring the area. It’s modern facilities, plentiful space, and friendly staff will make your stay pleasant and convenient. If you are planning to visit Northern Ireland, I’d recommend this site. You’ll enjoy your stay whether it is just a couple of nights or a couple of weeks.

Practical Caravan Top 100 Parks Award 2008

Northern Ireland is renowned for the stunning natural beauty of its countryside and coastline. The attractions of the Antrim Coast, from the extraordinary Giant’s Causeway to the walled city of Londonderry, and their ancient myths and legends are all within reach when you stay at this site. It has been extensively planted with natural trees and shrubs to blend in with the surrounding area and
attract wildlife. The hardstanding pitches, set among rolling
green countryside, all have electric hook-up and water points.
The washroom, washing-up and laundry facilities are located between the two touring areas. The site also has a library, play area and recreation field. For shops, cafés and pubs, the village of Bushmills is within walking distance. Stop in at the famous Old Bushmills Whiskey Distillery for a guided tour and maybe a meal in its restaurant while you are there.

Practical Caravan Top 100 Parks 2007
Region winner

Located in the beautiful Dee Valley, with the picturesque villages of Overton and Bangor-on-Dee nearby, The Plassey Leisure Park is in a lovely spot. More akin to a small village than a caravan site, this former dairy farm has been transformed by current owner John Brookshaw into a wonderful location suitable for families and couples.
The site’s outbuildings have been converted into
a magnificent restaurant,
a coffee shop and a hair salon. The buildings also house a computer repair and advice depot, and a great collection of clothes and gift shops.
This site will suit outdoorsy types with its two miles of specially created footpaths that thread their way around 250 acres of farm and woodland. The onsite golf course and coarse fishing lakes will also appeal. And if you need to relax after a day outdoors make use of the heated indoor swimming pool and sauna facilities.
The touring area does not disappoint either and has had a number of improvements over the years: more fully serviced pitches have been added for 2007, raised flower beds are also a new addition.
This site’s breathtaking location, top-notch facilities and well-kept pitches make it a worthy regional winner.

Practical Motorhome Independent Site Reviews: Sept 2006

Ballyness Caravan Park is the perfect site for anyone who wants to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Antrim coast. Located near Old Bushmills Distillery, the world's oldest commercial whiskey distillery, and only four miles from the Giant's Causeway, this well-managed site enjoys a superb motorcaravanning location.
But there's more to this site than just its great setting. The staff are extremely welcoming and work hard to keep the site in tip-top condition. The reception building overlooks immaculately maintained grounds, a nature walk, plus three small ponds that are teeming with wildlife. In fact, Ballyness Caravan Park was the first site in Ireland to win the prestigious, David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation.
The luxurious shower block has to be seen to be believed.
It boasts underfloor central heating, soft background music and pine trim. The showers are adjustable and free to use, and private washing areas, a bathroom, launderette and a spacious dishwashing area complete the outstanding facilities.
Ballyness' motto is "The Warmest of Welcomes" which just about sums up the owners' impeccable hospitality.
• Four miles to Giant's Causeway where you can discover its unique basalt columns.

Practical Caravan Top 100 Parks Awards 2005

This small five-star site is an absolute gem, but the fact that it is located within walking distance from the Old Bushmills Whiskey Distillery and just four miles from the Giant’s Causeway makes it even better.
The site is well signposted from Bushmills village along the B66 Dervock Road. It is discretely nestled in a small valley and approached through a stone-wall entrance gate that is locked between 7.30am and 11pm.
The site’s reception building overlooks immaculately maintained grounds where the emphasis is on detail. There are two areas for tourers: one offers huge pitches beside the three small wildlife ponds, with a nature walk and a multitude of wildlife; the other has spacious pitches beside the
well-equipped children’s play area. All pitches are allocated by number and are fully serviced. The pitches are laid out in circles and divided with grass areas.
The luxurious shower building has to be seen to be believed. It boasts under-floor central heating, soft background music and pine furnishings. The showers are free and the water flow and temperature are adjustable. The building includes private washing areas, a bathroom, a launderette, and a spacious dishwashing area.
Dogs specified under the Dangerous Dog Act are not permitted, although others are welcome provided they are kept on the lead. The friendly and helpful staff create the atmosphere reflected in the motto of the site, which is ‘the Warmest of Welcomes’.

Practical Caravans Top 100 Parks Awards 2004

This small five-star site is an absolute gem, but the fact that it is located within walking distance from the Old Bushmills Whiskey Distillery and four miles from the Giant’s Causeway makes it even better.

The site is well sign-posted from Bushmills village along the B66, Dervock Road. It is discreetly nestled in a small valley and approached through a stone-wall entrance gate which is locked between 11pm - 7.30am.

The reception block overlooks immaculately maintained grounds where the emphasis is on detail. There are two areas for tourers: one has oversized pitches beside the three small wildlife ponds, with a nature walk and multitude of wildlife; the other has spacious pitches beside the well-equipped children’s play area. All pitches are allocated by number, are suitable for awnings and are fully serviced. The pitches are laid out in circles and divided by grass.

The luxurious shower block has to be seen to be believed. It boasts under-floor central heating, soft background music and pine trim. The showers are free and adjustable, and private washing areas, a bathroom, a laundry room and a spacious dishwashing area complete the facilities.

Dogs are welcome provided they are kept on the lead and owners clear up after them. The friendly and helpful staff create the atmosphere reflected in the motto of the site - it has “the Warmest of Welcomes”.

Practical Caravans Top 100 Parks Awards 2004

Ballyness is a relatively new site which has made great strides in such a short while. As well as having 30 hardstanding touring pitches (16A) on site, all with water, drainage and electric hook-up, there is also a cottage-style heated amenity block with key-code access. This is fully equipped with hot showers, a unit for the disabled, a laundry room and dishwashing facilities. This is all of a very high standard and spotlessly clean.

Children are particularly well catered for on site. A football pitch and play area have been specifically set aside for them. The park also has a number of nature trails which the whole family can follow and enjoy. Should you want to go wandering even further, there is plenty to see. There is the Giant’s Causeway, of course, and visitors can also find a number of peaceful walks around St Columb’s Rill and the Meadow Ponds.

The town of Bushmills is within easy walking distance. You will find an assortment of small shops, pubs and places to eat. It is also home to the famous Bushmills Whiskey Distillery. But while Ballyness’ success is partly due to its location and facilities, it has also been built on its ability to blend into the area. The park has deliberately been planted with native trees and shrubs in the hope that it will attract wildlife and birds. This has deservedly earned it a David Bellamy Conservation Award and makes it ideal for beinging so close to nature. The pitches face the Meadow Ponds, making it a perfect spot to gaze out of the window with a cup of tea – or something even stronger.