Romantic Getaways - 10 of The Best

It used to be all about St Valentine’s Day but now it’s February the Month of Love, which makes a lot more sense - and why not extend that to Spring of Love…There’s great value to be found early season if you navigate around Easter and other public holidays, especially if you can take a midweek break. From pubs with rooms to five-star hotels, this micro-collection highlights just a few of the most desirable destinations around Ireland for twosomes (among others) and it includes several winners of our 2024 GCGuides Awards. As well as must-haves like great food and ambience, these places have special activities on site and/or nearby, to enjoy together and create future memories…

The Coach House Roundwood Co Wicklow
With its style, comfort, warm hospitality, delicious local food, delightful rooms and great value, the 'new' Coach House was hugely welcome when it was re-opened a year ago by former Avoca boss Simon Pratt, his wife Monique McQuaid, and old Avoca colleagues Tara O’Neill and Teresa O’Byrne. Winner of our Best Supporter Of Irish Food & Drink Producers 2024 sponsored by Bord Bia, it’s a perfect complement to their popular bakery-deli-café Roundwood Stores next door, where breakfast is served. The inn that Wicklow had been waiting for, could this be a template for something that’s badly needed in so many of Ireland’s towns and villages? Outdoor activities are the big draw in the area, of course - especially walking - but there’s so much more to do in Wicklow. A great offer, The Cozy Escape (DB&B €250 for two) runs to the end of March 2025. Dog friendly.

The Mustard Seed Ballingarry Co Limerick
Set in lovely grounds, including the organic vegetable gardens and orchard that supply Head Chef Angel Pirev and his talented kitchen team, John Edward Joyce’s welcoming country house is a magical and superbly comfortable place where dining is always a special treat. Adare village and the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum are among the nearby highlights and there’s loads to do outside (yes, do bring your walking shoes) but we love that a list of suggested activities includes: “‘Do not disturb’ is often the most enjoyable option for our guests …We won’t disturb you unless you need your tea topped up or your glass refilled!” Pets are welcome by arrangement and it’s good value, with special offers often available (DB&B from c.€170pps). A wonderful place with an ever-growing fan club, The Mustard Seed should be on every discerning traveller’s wish list.

Castle Leslie Estate Glaslough Co Monaghan
As they say themselves, “Perhaps the most magical aspect of a romantic break at Castle Leslie Estate is the opportunity it affords couples to simply be together, away from the distractions and demands of everyday life. …to reconnect, rediscover, and create memories that will last a lifetime”. So book a stay in the extraordinary Castle or the sympathetically designed modern four-star, The Lodge, with its Victorian Treatment Rooms. Good food (perhaps from old recipes in the Castle Leslie Estate Cookbook) is served in both the atmospheric Conor’s Bar and Snaffles Restaurant – and that includes delicious breakfasts. Popular activities include equestrian and horse drawn carriage rides and other options include falconry and boating. Dogs are welcome (Old Stable Mews only, no charge). Special offers are worth checking out - an Early 2025 Promotion for example (Midweek from €265), and perhaps an Overnight Escape (from about €370 for two, on selected dates).

The Lodge at Ashford Castle Cong Co Mayo
The heart of this boutique hotel on Ashford Castle Estate is a fine period house with views down Lough Corrib from the front rooms, the bar and Wilde’s Restaurant - where head chef Jonathan Keane serves wonderfully imaginative cuisine based on the best seasonal local produce. It’s a special dining experience and, together with spacious, comfortable and stylish accommodation and the unique setting, makes for a very romantic break. Guests have access to Ashford Estate activities (which may need to be pre-booked) and pets are welcome). Ask about the walled kitchen gardens at the Castle; a fascinating 5-year project which has already started to supply the kitchens in both hotels, it’s well worth seeing. A Re-opening Offer is available 16th February-2nd March 2025 (from €395 for two) and there’s always something good coming up.

Quinlan & Cooke Boutique Townhouse and QC’s Seafood Restaurant Cahirciveen Co Kerry
With its striking zinc-topped bar, nautical antiques and pictures, Kate Cooke’s atmospheric seafood restaurant is our GCGuides Seafood Restaurant of the Year 2024 and it abounds with character. The ultra fresh local fish and seafood is supplied by the family company Quinlan’s Kerry Fish and - thanks to imaginative development by Kate and her late husband, Andrew - the splendid, quirkily stylish townhouse accommodation is now equally sought out. The comfort and enjoyment of guests comes first here, making it a very special place – and, while a hot breakfast is not offered, the in-room food and drinks provided are exceptionally generous and thoughtful. Must-visits nearby include Skellig Six18 Distillery, Valentia Island (car ferry from Renards Point) and Kells Bay Gardens (all year) among many other special places. Rooms are priced from about c.€150, book restaurant directly; check website or call for current details.

Gregans Castle Hotel Ballyvaughan Co Clare
A top food destination for many years, Simon and Freddie Haden’s quietly luxurious and restorative country house hotel is also loved for Freddie’s wonderfully thoughtful interiors, warming turf fires, views across the Burren - and this leading eco-destination’s commitment to schemes like The Burren Pine Project. There are masses of activities (notably guided walks), attractions (Burren Geo Park) and exceptional food producers (The Burren Food Trail) to enjoy. Many local products feature in the restaurant (renowned for fine dining) and the bar, where excellent light lunches and Afternoon Tea are served - and also at their superb breakfast, which is the current Hotel winner in our Irish Breakfast Awards, sponsored by Flahavans. Check for special offers like "Sundays & Mondays" and "Spring in the Burren" Feb-Mar. Dogs are allowed by arrangement.

Ardtara Country House Upperlands Maghera Co Londonderry
Once home to the Clark linen milling family, this friendly Victorian property near the Causeway Coast is owned by Browns Bonds Hill Collection with a number of interesting properties in the Derry/Antrim area, and, with Chef Patron Ian Orr overseeing the kitchen team, there’s a real buzz about the restaurant. Atmospherically set in the former billiard room, it (like most of the luxuriously furnished guest rooms) features working fireplaces, which makes for a cosy ambience. You’ll also find excellent fare on the more casual bar menu and, whatever you choose here, you can be sure it will showcase seasonal local foods A destination in itself and an excellent base for exploring this beautiful and unspoilt area, with so many lovely places to visit nearby including the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Lough Neagh and of course the Giant’s Causeway area.

Rathsallagh House Dunlavin Co Wicklow
Insistent that it is ‘not an hotel’, the O’Flynn family’s rambling property on the Wicklow-Kildare border is just a brilliant away-from-it all place to relax in, with its quaint bedrooms, comfy couches, log fires, lovely walks and excellent food. Seasonal produce from the farm and beautiful walled garden is the foundation, and you will eat well here whatever the reason for your visit – and, perhaps down to the practice they get at weddings, service given by the particularly warm and helpful staff is outstanding. And then there’s their famous breakfast, which is always a high point and includes a terrific display of everything you could think of – with a ham on the bone taking pride of place, for carving to order... A special place at any time - and the Country House winner of our Irish Breakfast Awards 2024, Sponsored By Flahavan’s Special offers are usually available, eg Valentines 1 night DB&B from €358 – contact Rathsallagh directly for details.

The Deerpark Inn Virginia Co Cavan
A hop, skip and a jump' from its famous big sister, Virginia Park Lodge, Richard Corrigan's atmospheric Deerpark Inn is our GCGuides Gastropub of the Year 2024 and, while it hosts private parties relating to weddings at the Lodge, it’s also a proper rural pub known for its friendly staff, terrific upbeat traditional bar food and the six lovely guest rooms upstairs. With access to the VPL estate nearby (woodland walks, gardens, fishing on Lough Ramor, golf…) it’s a memorable destination, and there are sometimes Pop-ups at the Lodge too – Dining Specials, for example, and various combinations and meals over Valentine’s weekend, including Sunday Lunch, with overnight for DB&B from €345 (in Shepherds Hut) and some unusual events to enjoy, from Champagne and Cocktail master classes to Oyster Shucking. It’s well worth getting onto their mailing list to hear what’s coming up on the calendar.

Waterfront Hotel Baltimore Co Cork
Built by the legendary Breton chef Youen Jacob in 2008 and now run with informal style by his son, Youen, and his wife Kate, this well-named hotel enjoys views over Baltimore harbour towards Sherkin Island and its many attractions include generous big rooms (with lovely bathrooms), warmth and vibrancy. They reopen for the season from mid-February (5 days a week until Easter) and, although The Lookout restaurant has been closed since the pandemic, some of the famous Chez Youen dishes are still on the excellent bar menu, including the giant Chez Youen Shellfish Platter (which requires 24 hours notice). There’s masses to do in the area of course, with island-hopping a special treat in summer (try, at least, to get to the three main islands of ‘Carbery’s Hundred Isles’ Cape Clear, Sherkin and Heir) and all those magical peninsulas to explore. Seaview rooms are priced from about €160.