Winter Campervan Hire in Northern Ireland: What It Costs

Winter campervan hire means a quieter Causeway Coast. The roads are emptier, the car parks at the big sights have space, and there are more campervans free on the dates you want.

This guide sets out what a winter trip with Karen & Co. costs, how the campervans stay warm, and why four nights gets you more than two. For where to go, see our guide to Northern Ireland in autumn and winter.

What winter campervan hire costs

Every hire has two parts: a nightly price for the campervan, and a £90 insurance fee that’s charged once, however many nights you book. The minimum hire is two nights, all year round.

Nightly prices

• Klaudia (sleeps 4): £120 a night
• Kerry (sleeps 5): £120 a night
• Kitty (sleeps 5): £120 a night
• Kirk (sleeps 2): £115 a night
• Kodi, Kirby, Kit and Kenneth (sleep 2): £110 a night

On top of the nightly price

• Insurance: £90, charged once per hire.
• Excess cover (optional): £15 a day, covering the full £1,000 excess.
• Security deposit: £300, taken when you collect and refunded after you return, as long as there’s no major damage.

Why four nights beats two

Collection is from 2:30pm, and in December it’s dark before 4pm, so the first evening is mostly about settling in. Return is by 10:30am on your last day. Two nights gives you one full day of winter light. Four nights gives you three, which is enough to wait out a wet morning and still see the coast at its best.

A longer trip is also the cheapest way to hire, because the £90 insurance fee is spread across more nights. In Klaudia:

• 2 nights: £330, or £165 a night
• 3 nights: £450, or £150 a night
• 4 nights: £570, or £142.50 a night

Are campervans warm in winter?

Ours are. Every premium campervan has a diesel heater, so the van is warm when you climb in after a cold walk and stays warm through the night. We’ll show you how the heater works when you collect.

• Diesel heater in every premium campervan
• Memory foam mattress on a full-length double bed
• Off-grid power from a leisure battery, so no hook-up needed
• Bedding available as an optional extra
• Unlimited mileage, anywhere on the island of Ireland

A four-night winter loop from Ballymoney

This loop uses stops from our Northern Ireland in winter guide, which has directions, walks and overnight tips for each one.

1. Day 1, collect and settle in. Pick up from 2:30pm in Ballymoney, leave your car in our car park, and take a short walk in Portglenone Forest before dark.
2. Day 2, the Glens of Antrim. Head east to Glenariff for the waterfalls, which are at their fullest after winter rain.
3. Day 3, the north coast. Downhill Demesne in the morning, then Magilligan Point for the birdlife along Lough Foyle.
4. Day 4, rivers and a wet-day plan. Follow the river through Roe Valley if the coast is wild. If it pours, Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy is an indoor stop worth planning for.
5. Day 5, home time. Return by 10:30am, or add a late drop-off at checkout for £30 and return by 12:30pm.

Prefer the coast road? Our Causeway Coastal Route guide maps every stop.

Before you go

• Book your nights ahead. Many campsites close or cut back their facilities in winter, so check opening dates first.
• Plan for showers. None of our campervans has a shower, so most people stay at campsites with facilities.
• Know where you can stay. Our guide to what to know before hiring a campervan in Northern Ireland covers overnight stops.
• Pack for the weather. Our campervan must haves list covers warm layers and wet-weather kit.