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- 14th Oct 2026
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Galgorm Resort review: the Irish wellness getaway that’s just a 45-minute flight from Newcastle
We ventured a bit further afield recently, popping to County Antrim to see if Galgorm’s famous Thermal Village is worth the trip. (Spoiler – it is)
Flights from Newcastle Airport to Belfast International take under an hour, run several times a day with easyJet, and are consistently some of the cheapest short-haul routes out of the region. From touchdown, it’s roughly a 30-minute drive to Galgorm Resort; a 550-acre estate on the banks of the River Maine near Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Door to door, that’s a shorter journey than many UK staycation spots, and you end up somewhere truly magical.
Galgorm has built its name on the Thermal Spa Village, the first of its kind in Ireland. Rosie went along to find out whether a wellness weekend here should be on your to-book list.
Staying in a Shepherd’s Hut at Galgorm
Galgorm’s accommodation runs from 125 rooms and suites in the main house to a scattering of log cabins, cottage suites, forest dens and private residences across the grounds, but the shepherd’s huts are where the ‘getting away from it all’ feeling is strongest. Ours sat in Galgorm Wood, a short walk from the main resort, with the River Maine running just outside.
Inside, it’s compact but thought through: a mini kitchen with a hob, microwave, fridge and coffee machine, a shower room, a lounge area, and Galgorm’s own toiletries and mini bar as standard. You know this is a luxury stay when you find a Dyson hairdryer ready for you to use.
The real draw, though, is outside. Each hut has its own terrace, lit by fairy lights, with a private outdoor bath and a fire pit, so the evening plan writes itself. Pour yourself a G&T, light the fire pit, run yourself a hot bath and pour in some bubbles. Sink in and enjoy the sound of the river and peep the stars popping out.
The bed is perfect after a busy day relaxing in the spa, and if you’ve booked in winter and find you need warming up – never fear, each hut has an electric fire ready to keep you cosy. While you’re spoiled for choice with on-site restaurants (more info on those later), if you don’t feel up to getting dressed and heading out, you can treat yourself to an in-hut takeaway from the nearby takeaway service – think pizzas, pastas, pan-Asian treats and sides, all ready for you with the scan of a QR code and delivered to your hut.
The Thermal Village: the reason to book
This is the part of Galgorm that gets talked about, and it earns it. The Thermal Spa Village is spread across four separate gardens: the Riverside Garden, the Alpine Garden, the Forest Spa Garden and the Walled Garden, each with its own pools, hot tubs, saunas and quiet corners, and connected by boardwalks and bridges over the river.
The Riverside Garden has the outdoor pools, hot tubs and the Celtic Sauna; the Alpine Garden is where the Vitality Pool and the Alpine Bar sit, right on the water; and the Forest Spa Garden, tucked away across a private bridge in Galgorm Wood, is the most secluded of the lot: three woodland hot tubs and heated cabanas with waterbeds – and barely another guest in sight. The Walled Garden rounds it off with a steam room, sauna and The Palm House, a botanical spot for a cocktail among the olive trees.
Moving between all four over the course of a few hours, in and out of hot and cold, keeping sated with coffees or cocktails from the in-Village bars, surrounded by gorgeous woodland, you’ll find this is genuinely different from a standard hotel spa day. It’s not a single facility, but more a whole landscape built around relaxation. It’s open daily from 8am to 10pm, so there’s room to come back for a second or third session across a stay rather than treating it as a one-off.
Dining
You can book a stay to include breakfast, and we absolutely recommend this. With breakfast served from 8am – 11am, you’ll have plenty of time to wake up, stretch, enjoy a coffee, and then head to the main hotel. You could enjoy a buffet-style breakfast at Gillies Restaurant or visit The Conservatory for a leisurely a-la carte breakfast, with a Full Irish Breakfast on the menu, of course, as well as a selection of other treats – porridge, Eggs Royale, French Toast and buttermilk pancakes.
In the evening we ate at Fratelli, the resort’s Italian restaurant, all exposed beams and an open kitchen with a distinctly rustic-but-polished feel. The menu leans into proper Italian cooking (cicchetti for sharing, stone-baked pizzas, pasta made with well-sourced Italian produce) rather than a generic hotel-Italian offering, and it’s clearly built for exactly the kind of relaxed, no-rush evening a spa break calls for.
Galgorm also has Gillies Restaurant and Castle Kitchen + Bar on site, plus McKendry’s which has live music acts most nights, so there’s enough variety to eat somewhere different each evening of a longer stay without needing to leave the estate at all.
Exploring Northern Ireland from Galgorm
Part of the appeal of basing a trip here is what’s on the doorstep once you do want to leave the grounds. The Causeway Coastal Route starts a short drive away, and the Giant’s Causeway itself is under 40-minutes from the resort, with Bushmills Distillery, the Dark Hedges and Dunluce Castle all doable as a loop from Galgorm in a day. Belfast is around 30-minutes in the other direction, meaning a wellness weekend here doesn’t have to be spa-or-sightseeing. It’s easily both.
Worth knowing before you book
The Thermal Village is understandably the resort’s biggest draw, so it’s worth booking spa slots and dinner reservations ahead of time, particularly at weekends, and especially if you’re looking for a more private spa experience. Shepherd’s Huts are also amongst a smaller pool of more unique accommodation than the main rooms, so these get booked up quickly too.
The verdict
Galgorm makes a strong case for a wellness break that doesn’t need to mean a long journey. The flight from Newcastle is fast and inexpensive, the drive from the airport is short, and once you’re there, the Thermal Village is worth the trip on its own: four distinct spa gardens providing a much more in-depth experience than a hotel spa.
The shepherd’s hut added a private, whimsical element that suited a romantic couple’s weekend particularly well, and with the Antrim coast and Belfast both within easy reach, you can relax at Galgorm and explore the beautiful area too.
Galgorm Resort: the details
Location: Galgorm, Ballymena, BT42 1EA, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
Getting there: Direct flights from Newcastle Airport to Belfast International with easyJet, roughly 35 minutes’ flying time, followed by an easy 30-minute drive to the resort (car rental recommended, especially if exploring more from the resort)
The stay: Shepherd’s Hut, set in Galgorm Wood, private outdoor hot tub and fire pit, mini kitchen, lounge, Galgorm signature amenities and mini bar included. One of many varied options for stays.
Price from: Stay & Spa packages from £230 per room (current rate, per the resort’s website; check directly for Shepherd’s Hut-specific pricing and availability)
Thermal Village: Open daily, 8am to 10pm. Access included for residents; day spa packages also available for non-residents
Eating on site: Fratelli Ristorante, Pizzeria & Bar (Italian), Gillies Restaurant, Castle Kitchen + Bar, and McKendry’s for live music
Galgorm Resort: your questions answered
How do you get to Galgorm Resort from Newcastle?
The most direct route is a flight from Newcastle Airport to Belfast International with easyJet, which takes under an hour, followed by around a 30-minute drive to the resort in Ballymena, Co. Antrim.
What is the Thermal Village at Galgorm?
The Thermal Village is Galgorm’s spa complex, the first of its kind in Ireland, spread across four gardens (Riverside, Alpine, Forest Spa and Walled) with hot tubs, pools, saunas and steam rooms. It’s open daily from 8am to 10pm.
What accommodation options does Galgorm have?
Galgorm has 125 rooms and suites in the main house, plus Log Cabins, Cottage Suites, Shepherd’s Huts, Forest Dens and private Residences across the estate, with several dog-friendly options among them.
What restaurants are at Galgorm Resort?
Galgorm has several restaurants on site, including Fratelli (Italian), Gillies Restaurant, Castle Kitchen + Bar and McKendry’s, which has live music most nights.
Is Galgorm a good base for exploring Northern Ireland?
Yes. The Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coastal Route are under 40 minutes away, with the Dark Hedges, Bushmills Distillery and Dunluce Castle nearby, and Belfast is roughly 30 minutes in the other direction.
Galgorm, BT42 1EA, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
Phone +44 (0)28 2588 1001 or email [email protected]
Rosie Barker
Head of Sales
Rosie is our Head of Sales. She was our first hire when we started to grow, and has loved growing with the team and expanding her relationships with the lovely business owners in the North East. Rosie has over nine years of experience in publishing and advertising sales, having jumped…
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