In my post about Coworth Park I mentioned that I would be blogging about some of my pandemic staycations at luxury hotels in England and Ireland. One of the absolute highlights of those trips was our stay at the magnificent Ashford Castle in County Mayo in Ireland. The property is a real jewel in the crown of Ireland's luxury hotel scene, and unquestionably one of our most enjoyable weekends away of the last couple of years!
The Appeal
Ashford Castle has an illustrious history, and is absolutely ancient - the husband (who is an Antipodean) was bowled over by the story of the property over many centuries! The core of the building is a fortified castle dating to 1228, when it was founded by the de Borgo family and held through conflict for hundreds of years. The property eventually passed into the hands of the Guinness family in the 19th century (yes, that Guinness family!) who over a number of decades greatly expanded both the castle itself and the surrounding property - this was the time at which the property's beautiful gardens were established (which I absolutely loved exploring, as you'll see below).
The property was subsequently bought by John Mulcahy who established the world-class golf course, and is now in the hands of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection who undertook an extensive renovation to bring this magnificent property into the 21st century as a world-class hotel and resort.
The historic castle is stunning, marrying ancient elements like the drawbridge over the River Cong leading up to the castle gates with beautifully refurbished spaces like the George V Dining Room, named after the then-Prince of Wales who visited the property in 1905. The mossy stones of the fortifications really show the weight of the years the property has seen, and the sympathetic updating of the property has retained many beautiful wooden interior features in the reception and restaurant areas.
The Bedroom
We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Lake View Deluxe Room by the kind staff at Ashford Castle - as the name suggests, these rooms have an amazing view out over the castle grounds to the tranquil Lough Corrib. Our particular room was in the oldest wing of the castle, located right between the Kennedy Suite and the Reagan Presidential Suite - no points for guessing who stayed in those suites in the past!
Our room had a beautiful four-poster bed with gold and light teal coloured drapes - it was just what you expect to find in a castle, a bed fit for royalty! The teal colour theme carried through the whole space, with the furniture and the bathroom fittings perfectly matched.
But the thing that really had me most excited was the beautiful marble fireplace. I love a bedroom with a fireplace, it's right up there with free standing bathtubs in my list of favourite hotel room features! The husband and I were delighted to find a bottle of champagne chilling for us in a little seating area by fireplace when we arrived - the perfect spot to settle in and indulge!
The Food
Ashford Castle genuinely has something for everyone when it comes to dining, boasting an incredible seven separate restaurants plus three bars. These range from the casual Cullen's at the Cottage, perfect for a quick bite and a tea after a round of golf, to the fine dining elegance of the George V Dining Room, another feature at Ashford Castle named after the visiting Prince of Wales.
Hungry after our drive down to County Mayo, we grabbed a late lunch in the Drawing Room. Perfect for drinks any time of the day, this restaurant serves a casual sit down lunch menu, and boasts stunning views out to Lough Corrib. The husband couldn't resist the fish and chips, made with delicious locally caught cod fresh off the boats on the County Mayo coast. We treated ourselves afterwards to a delicious apple crumble - two spoons required for this one! Tea and coffee are served with the most delicious chocolate biscuits - a dessert in itself really.
The only booking we had made in advance was a dinner reservation in the George V Dining Room. This restaurant is a real experience, in every way - the room itself is stunning, with rich wood panelling and signature Waterford Crystal chandeliers twinkling above the tables. We opted for the tasting menu - while this changes periodically, ours had a real seafood focus with perfectly seared scallops and cod fillets both featuring. The husband and I are both lovers of seafood, so this was a real treat!
We returned to the George V Dining Room the next morning, as it doubles as host for Ashford Castle's breakfast. I couldn't resist the porridge, garnished with a delicious berry coulis, while the husband dug into a Full Irish, savouring the Clonakilty black pudding in particular - no other pudding will do since he discovered Clonakilty!
The Activities
Undoubtedly the prime attraction from the many activities on offer at Ashford Castle is the golf. The castle's grounds feature a picturesque 9-hole course, and the area around Ashford Castle features a number of world class links-style courses including the Connemara Championship Golf Links and the County Sligo Golf Club. The husband was gutted that we didn't have the space for his golf clubs on this trip, but I've promised him we'll come back! There are a number of other exciting activities on the estate, such as fly fishing in the River Cong and equestrian trail rides - I'll be coming back for the latter!
One of the more relaxing activities is simply exploring the beautiful gardens that I mentioned at the start of this post. First established by Lady Ardilaun of the Guinness family, they have been sympathetically restored and beautified by the Red Carnation group. Garden is perhaps too narrow a term to describe what is on offer here - the grounds range from lush forests running along the Lough Corrib shore to winding paths through beautiful flowers taking you to the Walled Garden. I'm not exaggerating when I say there are hours of exploration to be had!
The Wrap-Up
I cannot recommend Ashford Castle enough - from the stunning grounds and impeccable service, to the broad range of activities for all the family, and a real slice of Irish history all wrapped into one! We'll definitely be returning - this was a taster trip and I can't wait to explore the grounds further on horseback while the husband fishes the River Cong and finally gets that round of golf in! I will also make sure to book spa treatments in advance next time around as it was booked out when I visited - this may have been a pandemic-related requirement at the time, but make sure to check when booking so you don't miss out too.
I'll leave you with the husband's favourite photo of the trip, he just couldn't get enough of the beautiful castle and gardens ...
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