Staycation

Magnificent Benone Strand stretches seven miles from Magilligan Point to Downhill. If the tide is out far enough it is possible to walk from the point the whole way to Castlerock - another fine bathing spot. The spectacular golden strand is on the Atlantic and thus can be prone to rip currents so extra care should be taken. There are lifeguards at Benone and Castlerock so swim between the flags.

17 of the best beaches in Derry and Donegal to go for a swim

The Apprentice Boys parading in Derry city centre.

Apprentice Boys to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parade in Derry city centre

An expert has shared tips and tricks on how to secure a budget-friendly staycation and save money when choosing to holiday in the UK. (Photo: Getty Images)

The best way to save money on a UK holiday for summer 2026

Marylebone High Street looked like a winter wonderland at night time

Enjoy a festive shopping and foodie trip in Marylebone Village, London

Oct 1997 Derry Hallowe'en

23 photographs of festivities from the home of Hallowe'en - October 1997

1991 Hallowe'en 13

Back in the day! The home of Hallowe'en - October 1991

Pingle Cottage with its beautiful Peak District backdrop

We took the dog to a luxury retreat in the Derbyshire Peak District

The fabulous terrace area at the front of the Shandon Hotel & Spa in Dunfanaghy.

A picture perfect retreat at the stunning Shandon Hotel & Spa

The Barceló Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

A relaxing break at the Barceló Playa Blanca on Lanzarote's south coast

The Poppy is a luxurious yet charminly rustic treehouse set in the thousand-acre countryside of Fullerton Farm.

You'll love these luxurious yet charmingly rustic treehouse hideaways

St Ives in Cornwall is a resort that inspires relaxation, exploration and wonder, all rolled into one. (Tim - stock.adobe.com)

The seaside town of St Ives will lift your soul the moment you arrive

The Redcastle Oceanfront Golf & Spa Hotel can be your perfect base for a 'wee break' or your Halloween base!

The Redcastle Oceanfront Spa & Golf Hotel is your perfect Halloween base...

London boutique hotel is the perfect place to stay with the family

We visited beautiful Yorkshire holiday park for a week of family fun

Fabulous Strictly Come Dancing experience at Studley Castle

Hawthorn Hideaway: The perfect setting for a romantic break
Hawthorn Hideaway is the perfect setting for a romantic break with peace, tranquility and nature on your doorstep.
Stephanie Bateman

The north west coastline of Derry and Donegal in particular has hundreds of beaches, coves and inlets which you can have to yourself on any given day and the beaches in Inishowen are some of the best in Ireland for water quality and spectacular locations and scenery. You can easily find a secluded coastal spot around the peninsula but if you fancy a bit of company the west coast Inishowen town of Buncrana offers numerous choice. While never over-crowded, some of the beaches like Lady's Bay above can be buzzing with day trippers and holidaymakers joining locals during the summer.

55 great summer day trip ideas in Derry & Donegal

You could be 'mixing' with Lisa Snowdon in this gintastic competition

Fancy winning £500 for drinking gin with a celeb?

Marella Discovery 2 - a ship with a trip that ticked all the boxes

The Majestic Princess has been refitted for 2025

Superb new spaces and fabulous food on board revamped Majestic Princess

Night falls on Landal Twin Lakes, a stunning lakeside retreat alive with wildlife, awash with natural beauty.

Sink into illuminated bubbles beneath twinkling skies at Landal Twin Lakes

Breathtaking Billesley Manor Hotel is a spectacle of 16th-century splendour

An escape set in natural beauty at the birthplace of The Bard

Romancing the soul on the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada

The Packhorse has 16 bedrooms.

Fancy a countryside escape with a day at the races?

Reflection of trees on the water of the canal.

This was a canal trip with a difference

History and luxury combine on superb Surrey stay

The Runnymede on Thames Hotel

History and luxury combine on superb Surrey stay
Saving the best till last - a hackneyed phrase, and a song to boot - but one which perfectly summed up our stay at The Runnymede on Thames, the latest addition to Warner Hotels' considerable adults-only collection of venues.
Dean Mellor

Saltmoore is a woodland haven near Whitby

We took our four-legged friend to Whitby for a posh hotel break

The coastline around The Fairmont St Andrews is stunning

The Fairmont St Andrews: Golf and spa in glorious surroundings

Deirdre with her family, including her husband, who sadly passed away.

Deirdre named finalist in ‘A Season of Connections'

The Devonshire Arms at Beeley

We took our pooch on a dog-friendly winter stay in the Peak District

Fairmont St Andrews: Luxury experiences at iconic destination to gift

Top UK Staycations for 2025 revealed at Caravan & Camping Awards

The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa

I took my dog on a luxurious four-star Yorkshire country hotel break

The Headland is an iconic clifftop oasis overlooking Newquay’s world-famous Fistral beach.

Heavenly spa hotel has a new restaurant with unrivalled Atlantic views

London Park Plaza Waterloo: Contrasts of capital with world-class view

The Barceló Fuerteventura Mar's main pool and bar area

Fancy just floating around in Fuerteventura?

I visited Blackpool's Boulevard Hotel - ideal base for family weekend

The very best seats in St Ives at Trevose with stunning views of the harbour.

Why this place is perfect for your next staycation at St Ives

The social spaces are bright, modern and welcoming

I visited newly refurbed London hotel with amazing food and local wine

Jordan Bernard and friends loved every minute of Butlin's Big Weekender

Butlin’s Big Weekender: Nostalgia, fun and high-energy entertainment

Helen Hamlett pictured with her family from Warrington in England on a visit to the Derry Girls mural.

WATCH: Tourists give opinion on bar extension at Derry Girls mural

Anna Doherty, Chief Executive at Derry's Chamber of Commerce. Airport Managing Director Steve Frazer and Brenda Morgan, Head of Business Development at City of Derry Airport. Photo Lorcan Doherty.

International passenger numbers rise at Derry Airport

Over a hundred Donegal pubs have closed over the past 18 years, a new report by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has shown.

122 Donegal pub closures over the past 18 years – 36 since 2019

The House of Gods hotel in Glasgow will open in January 2024.

I was treated like a star in a luxury suite at House of Gods Glasgow

Domestic tourists from the North accounted for 103,458 (39%) of the trips, British tourists accounted for 91,493 (34%) and tourists from elsewhere made 71,521 (27%) overnight trips.

Tourists make 266k trips to Derry/Strabane, staying 820k nights, generating £63m

I stayed in a studio perfect for a summer holiday getaway in Cornwall where the beach was right on the doorstep. (Photo: Isabella Boneham/Sykes Cottages)

The perfect stay in Cornwall with the beach on your doorstep

The hotel was once an 18th Century manor house and the site of the first hydroelectric power to be introduced in Ireland. The historic manor house has been beautifully restored and together with the original coach house and gate lodge, gives the Roe Park Resort its unique charm.

£160k boost for Roe Park Resort with complex for sale guiding at £14m

Young people enjoying the Lincoln Court Youth & Community Association senior summer scheme

23 brilliant photographs from the Lincoln Court senior summer scheme

Derry and Donegal are in for a sunnier and drier period over the weekend and into next week, according to meteorologists on both sides of the border.

Weather: Derry and Donegal set for sunnier and drier period

Ebrington Square.

Fancy a Picnic in the Square or Sunrise Pilates at Ebrington

Oktoberfest will be returning to Derry this autumn with plans for a Bavarian-style beer festival in the city centre.

Oktoberfest events returning to Derry and Strabane in September and October

The high-spec campervan we hired through Camplify took us along the UK's south coast in complete comfort

We found the perfect set of wheels for weekend staycation on Camplify

NYX Holborn bedroom. Credit: NYX

NYX Hotel London review: everything you need for a perfect city break

Over the last few weeks, young people from sports clubs, youth groups and community organisations have been taking part in workshops where they have been creating props and artworks for the event including a willow bull structure created by young people and the artist Brendan Farren which will form a centrepiece for the finale.

Creggan getting ready for Lúnasa celebrations as part of Derry Féile

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