GREAT ESCAPES FOR WINTER - 10 OF THE BEST

Give yourself a break and take off for a few days this winter - there are cosy and relaxing places all over Ireland to tempt you, and some fantastic value to be enjoyed off-season too. And with Valentine's coming up, maybe one of these would be perfect for that romantic treat...So browse through this gloriously diverse collection and take your pick...

The Brooklodge Hotel & Macreddin Village
Macreddin Village Co Wicklow

A favourite destination for food loving folk and now dubbed ‘Ireland’s only luxury BIO hotel’, the history of this extraordinary food, drink and leisure complex is romantic and we visited the site often when it was under construction in the late ‘90s, to see the dream of the Doyle brothers - Evan, Eoin and Bernard - emerging on the site of a deserted village in this Wicklow valley. Today, it’s a spacious and welcoming ‘green’ hotel with a unique food offering, green events and a luxurious spa. Thanks mainly to Evan, who is the hands-on visionary, they have long since earned national recognition for their pioneering position on organic and wild food and - whether eating in The Strawberry Tree (Ireland’s first certified organic restaurant), La Taverna Armento (authentic Italian alternative for dinner) or popping into the atmospheric Actons Country Pub (just the spot to enjoy their organic craft brews) - BrookLodge gives great value too. Just a short distance from Dublin, it’s always a wonderful place to visit - and, as the late great Gerry Galvin used to say admiringly, ‘much more than the sum of its parts’.

Galgorm Resort & Spa
Ballymena Co Antrim BT42 1EA

Set amidst beautiful scenery, with the River Maine running through the grounds, this former ‘gentleman’s residence’ outside Ballymena is now one of Northern Ireland’s most impressive hotels. Well known as a wedding venue (separate facilities), it has deluxe bedrooms in the former walled garden area, many of them with river views - sad from a gardener’s perspective, but it works well for the hotel. With an equestrian centre on site as well as a magnificent Spa & Thermal Village, there’s no shortage of things to do - and there are some very good things going on in the food and drink department too. The Conservatory Cocktail & Gin Bar is a special experience in itself and there are three restaurants to choose from - fine dining in the elegant River Room restaurant should be a series of pleasant surprises, and informal meals (including breakfast) served in the atmospheric Gillies Bar & Grill are also consistently pleasing.

Barberstown Castle
Straffan, Co Kildare

A hotel with a difference and very handy to Dublin, Barberstown Castle offers frazzled city folk an easy getaway with all the advantages of being in the country, minus the long drive. High on character, the Blue Book property has the distinction of having been occupied continuously for over 400 years, and now has sections from four different periods - the original castle keep, an Elizabethan house (16th century), a ‘new’ Victorian wing added in the 1830s by Hugh Barton (also associated with nearby Straffan House, now The K Club, with which it shares golf and leisure facilities) and a large sympathetically designed new wing. Some especially romantic rooms are in the Castle Keep, but most are more recent - stylish and spacious, some with four-posters. As well as the Barton Rooms restaurant offering fine dining of character (check opening nights), ‘small plates’ are served in the Garden Bar and there are two drawing rooms with big log fires - a cosy scenario for a winter break.

The Lodge at Castle Leslie
Glaslough Co Monaghan

An extraordinary place, Castle Leslie Estate has been in the Leslie family for three centuries and, until recent years, it had changed remarkably little. The castle itself is perfect for private parties, although the accommodation is also open to individual guests. Except for Afternoon Tea at The Castle (and groups), dining options for both residents and non-residents are at The Lodge At Castle Leslie, an atmospherically designed 4* hotel just inside the castle gates. It offers pleasing, mainly contemporary, accommodation and good food in the informal Conors Bar and Snaffles Restaurant, where you may be lucky enough to sample dishes based on old recipes from the Castle Leslie Estate Cookbook - and a very good breakfast is served here too. It’s a seriously appealing short break destination, especially if you can make full use of the hotel facilities (equestrian; Victorian Treatment Rooms) as well as the lovely surroundings.

Ashford Castle Estate
Cong Co Mayo

Renowned for luxury, atmosphere and superb food and wine, Ashford Castle is a predictable favourite with international travellers - but it’s also one of Ireland’s great treat destinations for off-season breaks. With big fires and twinkling lights creating a cosy ‘away-from-it-all’ atmosphere at night, a stunning new spa and plenty of outdoor activities including golf, walking and falconry to sharpen the appetite for celebrated Executive Chef Philippe Farineau’s culinary creations, the castle is especially desirable in winter. And, with all of the improvements both (very) large and (relatively) small that have been undertaken by the current owners to enjoy, plus some tempting off-season offers at both the Castle and the nearby Lodge to lure us to this beautiful place, it is well worth considering - perhaps for that romantic break. And Galway city’s only down the road too.

Cashel House Hotel
Cashel Co Galway

If you’re one of the many who love Connemara out of season and hope for the thrill of stormy weather and a cosy home from home to retreat to as darkness falls, the McEvilly family’s gracious and beautifully located country house hotel on Cashel Bay could be just the spot for you. With a well-earned reputation as one of the country’s most relaxing retreats, it’s set in extensive gardens, and they’re known for quiet professionalism, comfortable accommodation, good food – notably delicious breakfasts offering a buffet display of home-made and local produce – and warm hospitality. With open fires at every turn, a proper bar and plenty of comfy places to retreat to with the papers or a good book, this is not a place to be rushed – at least 2 or 3 nights would be recommended. Self-catering accommodation is also available nearby; details on application.

Harvey's Point
Lough Eske Co Donegal

This beautifully located hotel on the shores of Lough Eske was established by the Gysling family in 1989 and, although the property came into new ownership in 2019, the friendliness and helpfulness of its long serving staff remain its greatest asset under the guidance of General Manager Niall Coffey. The hotel is renowned for special activity breaks offered throughout the year; its exceptionally luxurious accommodation (including some new Balcony Suites, recently opened); a fine events venue - and pet friendliness (they even have a 'Crufts' Dog Show at Christmas) The food experience has always been special too - choose between lake view fine dining in the Lakeside Restaurant or informal waterside meals at Harvey’s Bar & Terrace. For many regular visitors Donegal is at its best in winter - and with its cosy fires and genuine hospitality there’s nowhere better to return to after a day in the great outdoors.

Ghan House
Carlingford Co Louth

Halfway between Dublin and Belfast, medieval Carlingford village is a dream destination off-season – while the narrow streets can be very busy in summer, a winter visit here is much more relaxed. And, for many, the Carroll family’s 18th century house is the only place to head for - attractively situated in its own walled grounds, with views across the lough to the Mountains of Mourne, it has earned a reputation for warm hospitality, comfort and good food. With a welcoming drawing room fire, a proper little bar where guests can mingle, and a first floor dining room where non-residents are also welcome, it ticks a lot of boxes. Accommodation - in a combination of pleasing rooms of character in the main house and newer bedrooms in a separate building – is very comfortable, and there are masses of activities and scenic drives to enjoy in the area.

The Cliff House Hotel
Ardmore Co Waterford

There’s a haunting wistfulness about seaside holiday resorts in winter that can be very appealing. Ardmore is a pretty little village, a traditional family holiday destination that fills up easily in summer with the bucket-and-spade brigade and their entourage, giving out all the happy vibes of people busy doing as little as possible. Yet in winter you could be the only people walking on the beach, and there’s a gentle melancholy about it which is very relaxing – and a great contrast to the bright lights and buzz of this very special hotel, which is built into steep cliffs overlooking Ardmore Bay and the Irish Sea. This once traditional seaside hotel is now famous for its vibrant contemporary style, and the ambitious cooking attracts appreciative guests from all over. There’s plenty to do in the hotel (a stunningly positioned outdoor infinity pool - and a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and gym - all overlook the bay) but it’s also an area to explore, as West Waterford is beautiful and gloriously unspoilt: a visit to romantic Lismore is among the recommended outings. The smart contemporary rooms all have sea views, and many have a private balcony for those warmer days – and plenty of special offers to tempt you to spend a couple of nights in this foodie paradise.

Dunraven Arms Hotel
Adare Co Limerick

The Dunraven Arms is renowned for the quality special offers that the Murphy family keep dreaming up to tempt visitors to head for the pretty village of Adare for a cheering break. They’ve managed to maintain the comfortable feel of a small, family run, village hostelry, although it’s actually a large hotel - with all of the associated facilities such as a gym and leisure centre that you will find time to enjoy if staying several nights. Bedrooms are spacious and luxuriously appointed and guests’ sitting rooms with open fires are dotted about the hotel, providing oases of calm; it’s easy to understand how regular guests quickly begin to see it as a home from home - and retaining something of that ‘old inn’ feeling is a remarkable achievement, especially as the food and service are excellent. It’s a good base for a whole range of interesting days out, the village itself is charming of course - and there are lovely riverside walks nearby too.