I was very lucky last weekend to get the chance to visit the notorious Ashford Castle, as well as stay in The Lodge at Ashford Castle for two nights.
I was there for work which meant I didn’t get the opportunity to do one of the many activities that they offer there such as boat rides on Lough Corrib, Falconry, Archery, and much more. But, I did get to enjoy the Lodge in all it’s entirety and explore the castle!
The Lodge has 24 guest bedrooms and 26 unique suites, many of which are off the courtyard around the back. The Lodge is fully equip with a bar, restaurant, function room and even a spa but if you feel the need to experience the castle for any of these they have a driver who can bring you from the Lodge. It has absolutely everything needed for the perfect wedding – which is probably why it is such a popular destination for them!
My room was so spacious and the bed was like an absolute dream – but these are the things to be expected when one goes away, right? The things I did really love about the hotel room were the small handmade chocolate & fudge treat for you, locally handmade soap as well as handmade shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower. It’s the little things like them being locally sourced that show they go the extra mile which I loved.
Ashford Castle is a medieval castle that looks like something straight out of an old film and sits on 365 acres of land. It’s huge, and it’s amazing! It was built in 1228 and it hasn’t stopped wow-ing people ever since. The castle is where you go when you want to get steeped in history where the Lodge is a more modern, clean cut hotel with modern art and quirky furniture around every corner. I love exploring the old style feel of the building, but the prints and patterns aren’t really for me – so to be able to stay in the Lodge where they have a more modern approach was absolutely perfect.
A few things to note are:
- You would almost definitely need a car of some description to both get here and get around. It’s a big area and the nearest large town is probably Castlebar which is 40 minutes away. It’s charm lies in it being out of the way, but it can be a pain if you need to buy something.
- For me, I found the Lodge bar food quite expensive. The bar bites are quite small – and a slider is €10! So if this isn’t for you I would consider looking around for lunch. That being said, there breakfast is absolutely gorgeous, and if I had the pleasure to eat dinner there I’m sure it would have been the same.
- Try book a table to eat in ‘The Dungeon’ in Ashford Castle. It’s a cosy room with not too many tables where you can have dinner. The whole experience is just great and the staff are amazing!
- If you stumble upon Garvin and Cronin the two Irish Wolf Hounds give them a rub from me! Two absolutely gorgeous animals.
Have you ever stayed in a castle before? Or got lucky enough to get to experience somewhere because of work? Let me know 🙂
So cool you got to stay there! We looked at it when we visited Ireland a year and a half ago, but couldn’t fit it in. Can’t wait to go back to Ireland again as soon as we have the chance.
We stayed in a castle (Chateau de Ternay) in the Loire Valley in France. Loved the combination of history, luxury and stunning views.
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I know, I got very lucky! you definitely should.. for a small country we have a lot to offer 🙂
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Amazing blog post! Keep up the good work 🙂
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Wow, what a majestic place to have been able to stay! Thanks for sharing the experience with us!
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Amazing! Even the arch entrances to the castle look amazing. Will try eating in the Dungeon when I get there. Haven’t ever done that before!
Thanks for posting!
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The Dungeon is definitely a great experience! 🙂
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This looks amazing! I would love to stay in a gorgeous castle. And I like the chocolate and free shampoo. I would also love to say hi to the Irish Wolfhounds!
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The wolfhounds stole the show! Within minutes they had a huge crowd gathered around them! 🙂 thanks for commenting!
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I always try to add at least 1 extra night to business trips so I can explore on my own a bit. This looks like a cool place to stay!
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Definitely a good idea and one I think I will be doing more often if I can!
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The Lodge at Ashford Castle looks like an all round great stay + experience. Love that you can have a taste of history yet enjoy a modern quirky hotel stay. Will have to remember this one!
Kristie (you.theworld.wandering)
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It’s such a nice place to stay – it’s just a pity it’s a small bit out of the way from usual places to visit! Thanks for commenting 🙂
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It looks like a charming place to stay at. Will note it down for when I visit Ireland.
❥ tanvii.com
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It really is one of the most impressive castles I have seen in Ireland! 🙂
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I adore old castles! Especially if you can stay there for a while 🙂
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This was one of the most impressive ones I have ever visited I think! Really steeped in history 🙂
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That is one expensive slider! I’m a sucker for good hotel breakfasts though.
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Yeah considering just how small it was I was pretty shocked. The breakfast did make up for it though 🙂
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