Glenarm Castle Ocean View Pods

The Ocean View Pods are a small group of glamping pods on the Glenarm Castle estate in County Antrim, on the coast of Northern Ireland. They are not rooms inside the castle: the stay is in a pod, with the castle estate as the setting. Each pod is individually decorated to reflect the surrounding landscape, with an expansive glazed entrance, a private shower room and a seating area, and every one looks out across Glenarm Bay.

The pods

Each pod sleeps up to two adults, two teens or children and one infant in a travel cot. It has a double bed with hotel-quality linen and integrated bunk beds, which suit guests up to 5ft 5in because they are smaller than a standard single. Facilities include Wi-Fi, USB charging points, a mini-fridge, microwave, kettle and hairdryer, plus thermostat-controlled heating. The glass frontage has no curtains, so eye masks are provided. Every pod has a private fire pit.

Two pods, Bay View and Tully, have an eco-friendly wood-fired hot tub. It is heated by a stove, which takes roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours to warm up, so plan your arrival accordingly. One pod is dog friendly.

Spa and extras

Guests can also book the Ocean View Retreat, a private hillside spa overlooking the glen and coast. Sessions include a covered jacuzzi, a sauna and a cold plunge barrel. Extras include s’mores for the fire pit, breakfast in bed, and early check-in or late check-out, subject to availability.

Check-in is from 3pm to 9pm and check-out is by 10am. There is a separate stay in a 19th-century gatehouse above the castle wall, so ask if you want something in the castle’s own walls.