The Vibe at

I swear there’s something in the air in the North Coast of Ireland that just makes you appreciate life.

You kind of live in the moment here, whether that’s in a more adventurous way, or in a I just need to chill out and lie on the grass this weekend and go for a sea dip to wash away the craziness of the past week kind of way.

I’m not originally from the North Coast.

I’m not even from Northern Ireland 😬…

But every time I come to Lagom, I do always feel at home, which makes the place feel pretty special.

I’ve been lucky enough to see the transformation of Lagom almost from the beginning, and seeing it come to life has been amazing.

There’s a tagline written on our home page that it was built by travellers for travellers, and honestly, that sums up Lagom to a T.

Everything that you could possibly think about if you’re a well-travelled person has been catered for here, which is why you probably do feel at home the moment you drive through the gates.

Every time I’ve visited, I’ve always met some really cool people and had the most interesting conversations. You meet people from all walks of life and can get lost in conversation for hours, which is why when Jordy suggested hosting a retreat here, it felt like a no-brainer… I just feel like the place is built for it, ya know?

Exploring the Grounds

Maybe I’m a genuinely lucky person, but every time I’ve come to Lagom, I’ve had at least one, if not multiple, sunny days.

This means I’ve spent a lot of time outside in the courtyard, whether that’s been doing a spot of work, attending an outdoor event (ft. delicious pizza ofc), or just roaming about listening to the sounds of nature. There are so many little nooks and crannies that you can go sit in and switch off from the world, but equally as many communal spaces where you can have a chit chat with whoever is staying there. If you’re lucky, you might get to meet a dog or two.

Plus, you can’t beat a hot tub and a wind-down with a glass of wine if you’ve spent the day hiking or biking along the coastal road or in the glens.

The Rooms 

I’ve always woken up feeling like a new woman after a stay at Lagom, and frankly, it can be hard to get out of bed (until you remind yourself of all the fun activities you’re going to get up to for the day! 💃🏻).

One thing I love about the rooms is that every single one is different; I’ve stayed in the main house multiple times and in Riders Lodge. I’ve also had friends stay in the hideout, so I got to nosey their digs and it was all super cool. My personal fave is room 3 in the main house because the bed is super cosy, and I usually travel alone, so it’s just the perfect amount of space for me. But trust me when I say I am never disappointed with whatever room I am given during my stay.

And also, just a note on the travellers’ building accommodation for other travellers piece I mentioned earlier…

As a gal who travels with hand luggage only when visiting the North Coast (because, let’s face it, checked bag fees on Ryanair are a disgrace), I have to pack light, so having all the little essentials in there, like a hair dryer and wash stuff, is a nice touch.

Plus, there’s always plenty of charging points for your laptop/phone – usually near the beds so you can have an uninterrupted evening scroll (and upload/tag Lagom on social media in all the dreamy content you made of the place that day 😉)

The Food (My Fave Part) 

One of my favourite parts of a trip to Ballycastle and, of course, Lagom is knowing that I’m about to eat some of THE best food 🤤.

As someone who’s attended both events at Lagom and just visited as a regular guest on a random weekend, I’ve been able to experience how the space caters for different kinds of settings so I can speak to the different ways to enjoy your retreat meals.

I personally am a breakfast girlie through and through.

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, and one of my favourite experiences of Lagom was attending an event and sitting around the table chatting, having breakfast with everyone the day after it.

The kitchen is so well set up for doing something like this and it feels super social.

Plus, there’s a coffee machine and fresh milk and bread are available daily, which is a nice little touch to have in the kitchen.

I’ve also sampled (much to my joy) some of the North Coast’s best food trucks outside in the courtyard at Lagom, and it’s such a great space to dine because you can do the long table sit-down meal vibes, but you can also do a really casual setting too.

Chill by the fire, toast some marshmallows, eat a slice of pizza, and have a chat with good company kind of vibes.

Without sounding like the person who’s like, “Oh, they can do everything,” they literally can, from chef-prepared banquet-style gatherings to dim sum on a plastic plate while strolling around the garden. We LOVE to see it.

The Atlantic Dip

I know you were desperate to ask about this one…

But when I tell you I am not a girl who enjoys getting in cold water, I was the last person who I would think would be excited to jump in the North Atlantic Ocean every time I visit Lagom, but it’s actually very exhilarating once you’re in and something I ALWAYS look forward to.

Also, sauna afterwards? Erm yes, please.

You can also show off to your friends about how tough you are and that you’re basically the new Wimhof

(yes, that’s me recording my sea dip on Strava🤣)

The Post-Lagom Blues 

The worst part about a trip to Lagom is the moment when you have to say goodbye 😭

But hey, if you’re lucky like I am and work remotely, you might use this as an opportunity to explore more of the Irish North Coast while you’re here.

We have tonnes of blogs on the website that tell you more about the local area.

If you’ve just been to visit us for a retreat, you could sign up for the next LagomPresents waitlist.

It makes the blues less harsh when you know that you’ll definitely be coming back.

Getting to Lagom

Before I leave you, I did want to include a bit of practical advice here, because I feel like whenever I write a blog, I’m compelled to let you know how easy (or hard) it is to get there and how you actually get there.

I’ve always personally driven to Lagom.

It’s the easiest and simplest way to get there, so I will fly into Belfast and drive up from there; just make sure you book in advance, especially if you’re coming on a retreat weekend, so you can guarantee availability. It’s usually a little bit cheaper to hire in advance, too, so it’s win-win, plus you then have the freedom to explore some of the other towns and scenic spots around Ballycastle.
There are always plenty of parking spots available at Lagom. I’ve never struggled to find space, and they even have EV chargers as well if you have an electric vehicle.

Jordy and Matt are locals and super helpful too, so if you ever need any help with finding local transport providers, feel free to reach out and they’ll get you sorted. Especially if you’ve booked onto one of the Lagom retreats, you’re not from the North Coast and you’re hopping over from a little further afield, as I did.

That’s all from me for now, but hopefully this will give you a little bit of insight into what it’s like to spend a weekend at Lagom.

I need to dash off now because I heard on the grapevine that tickets are dropping for the next LagomPresents tonight…eeek.

– Sal