Ashford Castle

The multi-award-winning Ashford Castle is one of the most beautiful castle hotels in Europe. It is picturesquely situated on the shores of Ireland's second largest lake. The castle was owned by the Guinness family until 1939 and has seen celebrities such as Grace Kelly, John Lennon and Brad Pitt. Afternoon tea is served in the elegant Connaught Room with a view of the garden. In the rooms and suites, a royal feel-good ambience has been created with antiques, amazing wallpaper and grandiose details. We sink into soft sofas and sleep in a four-poster bed. A fireplace spreads cozy warmth at the touch of a button. The bathroom is the most sumptuous I have ever brushed my teeth in. If you feel like it, you can watch the classic film "The Quiet Man", which won two Oscars, in the hotel's own cinema in the evening. When the movie was filmed on the Ashford Castle grounds in the summer of 1951, the weather was so good that a fire engine was needed to simulate a rainy day. My morning walk with the castle's own Irish Wolfhounds is a powerful start to the day. Breakfast in the George V Dining Room with its wood-paneled walls and Waterford crystal chandeliers is served à la carte in style, complemented by a small, very fine buffet. The scones are heavenly. The Ashford Castle Spa has been named "Ireland's Best Hotel Spa" at the World Spa Awards for the 7th time in a row. The leisure activities on offer are also truly "royal": horse riding, golf, fishing, clay pigeon or archery, a lake cruise or a visit to Ireland's oldest falconry school, to name but a few.

Test highlight... A lake cruise on the picturesque Lough Corrib, considered one of the best lakes for fishing in Europe