Dara from RTC gives her account of her stay at the fabulous 4* Star Hotel - The Lodge at Ashford Castle

I stayed at The Lodge at Ashford Castle last December, and it’s one of those places where you arrive and immediately start thinking, “I could definitely stay here for a few more days.”

Visiting in December made it feel particularly cosy, with a lovely festive atmosphere throughout the Lodge. It was the perfect setting for a winter getaway, especially if you’re looking to slow down and enjoy a few days somewhere a little different.

A Cosy Winter Escape

The Lodge sits on the Ashford Estate overlooking Lough Corrib, right on the Wild Atlantic Way, so the setting is pretty hard to beat. There’s something really nice about being surrounded by so much countryside, while still having plenty to see and do right on your doorstep. In winter, it was especially peaceful.

The Lodge has a bit of history too. It was originally built in 1865 as the Estate Manager’s residence during the Guinness era, which I think makes it even more interesting. These days, it has a much more relaxed and contemporary feel, but it still has plenty of character. It’s stylish without feeling stuffy, and the Irish hospitality makes you feel at home pretty quickly.

One of the first things we were given when we arrived was a welcome drink of mulled wine, which was very welcome after travelling. It was a nice way to settle in and definitely helped get us into the festive spirit.

The rooms and suites are spacious and comfortable, and there are options for families too, so it’s not somewhere that’s just aimed at couples. In fact, I think that’s one of the things that makes The Lodge so appealing. You could come here for a romantic few days, bring the kids, meet up with friends or even get the whole family together for a break.

From Mulled Wine to Dinner at Wilde’s

We had dinner booked at Wilde’s Restaurant as part of our stay, but before dinner we headed into The Quay Bar for a cocktail in front of the fire. It was a lovely place to sit for a drink before dinner and definitely suited the winter setting.

Dinner at Wilde’s was delicious. I had the steak and honestly, it was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. One of the things I really liked about the food at The Lodge is how much of it is connected to the estate itself. Seasonal produce is foraged around the grounds, with ingredients also coming from the polytunnels at the Lodge and the Estate Kitchen Garden. It’s nice knowing that so much of what’s being served comes from close by and reflects what’s in season.

But I think the best thing about staying at The Lodge is that you’re not just booking a night away. There’s a whole list of things included that make it feel much more like an experience.

Things to Do at Ashford Estate

There’s complimentary activities throughout the week. You can join Pilates at Éalú on Friday mornings or head out on a heritage walk through the Ashford Estate on Monday mornings. There are even complimentary dog meet-and-greets at the weekend.

There’s also plenty to do if you’re feeling energetic. Guests can play a round on the nine-hole golf course, use the two all-weather tennis courts, explore the gardens at Ashford Castle or make use of the Éalú leisure centre.

The next day, we went for a walk around the Castle Gardens, which was really lovely. We walked along Lough Corrib and spent some time exploring the grounds, and it was a nice way to spend the morning without having to rush anywhere.I definitely want to do the boat tour next time we stay. I’ve heard it’s a great way to see the estate and Lough Corrib, and after seeing the lake from the shore, I can imagine it would be a lovely experience.

And if that still isn’t enough, you can get stuck into some of the activities across the estate. There’s falconry, fishing, horse riding, cycling, tennis, golf and archery, as well as axe throwing and clay shooting if you fancy trying something a little different. 

My Final Thoughts

The great thing is that you don’t have to plan every minute of your stay. You could have a completely packed day trying different activities, or spend half the afternoon sitting somewhere with a coffee and enjoying the views. I think I’d recommend a bit of both!

For me, that’s what makes The Lodge at Ashford Castle such a fun place to stay. And visiting in December definitely added to that. Between the festive atmosphere, mulled wine on arrival, cocktails by the fire and cosy evenings, it felt like a great place for a winter break.

I’d definitely recommend putting The Lodge on your list if you’re heading to the west of Ireland. Come for the views, stay for the food, have a go at something completely random like falconry, and leave feeling like you’ve actually had a proper break.