If it’s good enough for Kim K’s honeymoon… let me tell you, it’s good enough for your next vacay. Ireland is a beautiful holiday destination. I spent most of my life having never travelled to Ireland so when a press trip came up, I was very keen to go.
Although this was a few years ago now, I thought now was the perfect time to share my experiences as more and more people are turning to staycations and holidaying closer to home.
I had heard great things about the beauty of Ireland and where better to experience it than from the decadent comfort of Lough Eske Castle?
I took my friend Grace as my plus one for the trip and we embarked on a girly weekend in the countryside. After a short flight to Knock airport, we were greeted by Michael, the castle’s regular driver and as we made our way along the stunning coastline, he pointed out areas of interest and even stopped for us to get a photo of the breathtaking view.
We were travelling in September, so we weren’t really sure what to expect weather-wise, but luckily we came equipped with scarves and gloves. It was pretty nippy – especially on the coast! But we didn’t mind about the chill as we stood beaming outside the castle doors for a picture – the sheer magnitude and grandeur of the place was mesmerising. I particularly liked that there was even a red carpet at the foot of the door – not just for us, but for every single guest – as when you stay here, you will be treated like absolute royalty.
Each member of staff we met was another friendly face, welcoming us like old friends – living up to the captivating Irish charm we had been expecting. We were whisked off to see our room, a quaint yet luxurious suite with a generous bathroom and beautiful big windows overlooking the grounds.
During our stay we sampled a range of different meals at the hotel – a hearty breakfast buffet with a chef on hand to whip up omelettes and pancakes to order. Watching the skilled chef begin to make my veggie omelette I realised this is where I had be going wrong the whole time – vegetables in first and then eggs after. Who knew? (Okay probably everyone but me, but I do now!). We also sampled the casual bar menu for lunch and the fine-dining cuisine served in the main restaurant come evening. Everything was delicious – high quality without being pretentious.
The hotel is all about rest, relaxation and recreation so we did a little of all three. One lazy morning was spent in the spa, snoozing in the beautiful relaxation room and then dipping in and out of the Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms. I experienced an amazing full body massage which was heavenly, but the pampering continued back in our room too. I had come equipped with sheet masks for Grace and I to get that pre-dinner glow – turns out you just roll around in stitches when you see each other’s serial-killer-esque faces! I have never laughed so hard.
Before check out on the final day, we went for a stroll around the hotel’s vast grounds. We made our way along a shaded woodland path and after a while we could see the glistening of the lake that the hotel staff had told us about. Emerging from the forest area to what can only be described as a picture-perfect scene – it was honestly like arriving on an exotic holiday. Just check out that for a view!
It was a blessing and a curse that the comforts of the hotel were so incredible – we had a fab weekend, but that meant that we didn’t get any time to explore Donegal properly. But that just means that a return trip is on the cards, to explore all of those cute Irish pubs and venture further to Giant’s Causeway!
What do you love about Ireland? Let me know below.
R x
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