North Coast 9
Last week I was invited to capture and stay at North Coast 9 Glamping site. North Coast 9 consists of nine glamping pods spread over two sites in the North Coast. One based in Armoy that holds six pods and the other in Ballycastle that holds three. I had the opportunity to stay at their Armoy site to capture and write about my experience.
North Coast 9 is owned by Sinead & Colm, a young family passionate about creating a sustainable but practical accommodation that enables their guests to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Each pod has its own personal hot tub filled with natural spring water, an outdoor area with a fire pit and barbecue. Inside, each pod has its own private ensuite, bespoke king-size bed, TV and kitchen area.
I travelled to Armoy on a sunny Thursday afternoon and upon arrival I was greeted by Sinead who told me all about their journey to creating this site. From the initial idea right the way through to sourcing the pods and the hot tubs. There is nothing I love more than hearing people talk so passionately about their businesses, especially ones so early on in the process.
After spending a few hours capturing the pods and the surrounding area, I drove to Ballycastle just a short 10min drive from the site to get some dinner and explore the beautiful coastline.
There are a lot of unique places to eat in Ballycastle but I chose to have a lovely meal in Anzac bar and restaurant. The food was delicious with great service and a very very reasonable price.
With it being such an unexpectedly beautiful day, I took the opportunity to walk along the shore at Ballycastle to take in those stunning views.
When returning to the Pods, I spent another few hours capturing the the site and surroundings. The sun was low in the sky so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to test out the spring water hot tub… I am pleased to say it did not disappoint. The still warm water was incredibly relaxing, I could have stayed there all evening watching the sunset over the fields.
I eventually parted with the hot tub and sat outside with a cold drink beside the fire pit and enjoyed my last few mins before heading inside for the night.
The next morning I was blissfully awoken with the golden sun peaking through the curtains. I took myself outside and enjoyed a slow morning with a cup of coffee and a beautiful morning view over the fields. After gathering my things, and drinking in some sunshine, I left this unique stay and drove to Coleraine to get some breakfast in Fidela Coffee one of my absolute favourite spots for a good brew on the North Coast. I drove home feeling refreshed and super excited to start editing the photography for this very blog post.
After my stay I was able to ask Sinead & Colm some questions about how their business venture began.
Read below for more...
Tell us a little bit about yourselves and the story behind North Coast 9?
We are a husband and wife team, with a young family, who grew up in the local area. Having both lived and worked away in different countries we have come to greatly appreciate the area we are lucky enough to call home.
North Coast 9 came from a desire to create a sustainable rural business that enables guests to enjoy and explore our beautiful surroundings.
Did you take inspiration from other places you had stayed or seen before deciding on your pods?
Yes, we looked and stayed at numerous places which helped us decide on the main priorities to guarantee a quality experience for our guests. Each pod has a full glass gable to embrace the views from our location. Uninterrupted view from the pods within the site. Handcrafted bespoke king size bed with top quality bedding. Ensuites with shower.
What do you love most about your accommodation?
We made a conscious decision that our accommodation would have to fit with our surroundings and provide a tranquil retreat. You are constantly questioning, is it working? So when guests tell us how peaceful and relaxing their stay was, how they felt they were 'getting away from it all', 'unwinding' and 'recharged' we know we are on track.
Who would you recommend coming to stay at North Coast 9? Families, couples, friends?
One of our unique selling points is that we are an adult only site, ideally suited to couples, friends or individuals who want to reconnect with nature and each other. It is also a fantastic base for exploring what the North Coast and Glens has to offer.
Where would be your top 5 places to visit near by? (attractions, shops, cafes)
We really are spoiled for choice when it comes to local attractions, picking just five is very difficult.
The Dark Hedges, featured in Game of Thrones, a few minutes from our pods. Take a drive to the Giants Causeway on your way check out Kenbane,
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Ballintoy Harbour and Dunluce Castle Ballycastle, picturesque seaside town 5 mins drive from pods with many popular restaurants like the 'Anzac', bars like the 'House of Mc Donnell', cafes like 'Thyme and Co'.
Day Trips to Rathlin Island by ferry, with puffins, lighthouses and much more. Head into the Glens to visit Glenariff Forest Park on the way check out Cushendun caves, Fair Head and Torr Head.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to do something similar?
We are a new business, still learning, two things come to mind…Before starting, do your research, know your target guest, identify what will work in your own area. When started, do not underestimate the amount of effort and work behind the scenes, the attention to detail required to maintain standards.
I wouldn’t hesitate to book a weekend at North Coast 9 - all in all it was an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend going with some close friends to enjoy the hot tubs, scenery and nearby restaurants and coffee shops. Watching the sunset over the hill from a their beautiful still water hot tub is something I will never forget.
You can book to stay here
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