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A thirteenth century castle buried deep in a wooded parkland sounds like the setting for a fairy tale, but really it is home to the exclusive Ashford Castle. Standing impressively on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo, Ireland, Ashford Castle is a monument to a fascinating and timeless history. Once the Guinness Family estate, the Castle has since opened its doors as an exclusive luxury hotel in 1939. Where else could one spend the morning learning how to fly a hawk at the School of Falconry, escape to the Walled Garden for a romantic picnic, and relax in the afternoon with a soothing massage at the spa? Filled with family heirlooms, rich furnishings and priceless objets dâ€(TM)art, Ashford presents the chance to enjoy the splendor of a bygone era in comfort and style.
Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle Estate, Leaf Island,
County of Mayo, Ireland
F31 CA48
Nearest Airport: GWY
Ashford Castle is simply amazing! The castle is beautiful, the food is delicious and the staff is superb. I would like to recognize Ciara & Samuel in the tea room. Ciara went above and beyond to make my experience memorable. Thank you for the beautiful tea cups. It was a wonderful birthday!
winetraveler23 - los angeles
Staying for 3 nights in Ashford Castle earlier this month was like living in fairytale. I can't compare this to any other experiences I have so far.. Everything was just beyond highest expectations. Beauty of the Castle and surroundings is stunning. Views from my room and from sitting areas were just breathtaking. Food was delicious. But what struck me most was how exceptionally nice, professional and friendly everyone in the Castle was. People will forget what you said but they will remember how you made them feeling. In Ashford Castle EVERY staff member makes you feeling like a Princess. How did they find so many exceptionally nice people?! I loved my every minute in Ashford Castle. Truly magical. And there is So many beautiful things to do in the Castle: you can play with dogs, you can fly falcons and hawks, you can go for 1 hour boat trip (which I extremely highly recommend!!).. Gym is great. Spa is amazing. I feel recharged and inspired. Special Thank you to Megan at the reception and to Andrea and Eve in the Dining.
olga m - Dublin, Ireland
We visited in December - as we normally do for my birthday. Once again the whole experience was breathtaking. We visit many of the 5 star hotels in Ireland, but Ashford Castle is unique in that the staff are so warm and passionate about their job. They are all different in their interaction (not your usual corporate 5 star blandness). We will be back in February - as we can’t get enough of this place!
James B
Again, we only can say "Wow". The more we stay the more we love it. Many friends we invite also fall in love with Ashford Castle from the moment they walk in and want to come back. The interior is stunning throughout; all rooms are elegant and stylish. The food is outstanding in all restaurants. The grounds are picturesque. Lots of activities to choose from. The real treasure at the castle are the team who always look after us so well. They are amazing! Thanks a million everybody at Ashford Castle for your wonderful hospitality in 2024 and see soon in 2025. All the best! Niall & Tatiana
TatianaNiall - Galway, Ireland
We spent 20-nights touring both Scotland and Ireland, staying at various castle resorts, chasing that Victorian fantasy. Ashford Castle delivered on the aesthetic, both the exterior and the accommodation. It was by far our most memorable room stay, and I highly suggest splurging for a stateroom suite if you're goal is to feel like you are surrounded by Victorian-ear luxury. The highlights of our stateroom: the self-controlled fireplace, the stained-glass windows within the shower, heated bathroom flooring, the corner room with high ceilings and large windows, the canopied bed with a plus mattress that I sunk into and slept so well on. We loved the little touches like a unique cocktail welcome drink upon arrival, the chocolates that were delivered to our room, and the complimentary sherry in a decanter. I also highly recommend doing a "Hawk Walk" with the onsite Falconry team. It was such a unique experience, and surpassed out expectations. We felt such a bond with the animals even after a short time. Our guide was truly wonderful. The things you might not love about staying here are: - It's a bit kitsch in places. Small things like the font for the signage, or a restaurant called "The Dungeon" which looks like it belongs at Medieval Times. That said, you come here for a castle aesthetic, and if you had kids, they would be in heaven. - The food is good, but it's not always great. We were never disappointed with our meals, as they were always good, but had hoped for something truly remarkable. That being said, we had tea here (and in all, we had afternoon tea at about a dozen hotels during out trip), and this one was a standout. The tea selection was decent (I got a chocolate rooibos which was my favorite out of all the afternoon teas we had). We loved the addition of a savory scone, and lemon curd. The coronation chicken was also a favorite. And to end on a high note, the bars here are also fantastic, specifically the Princes of Wales bar. Top-tier cocktails and bar snacks.
julie3947 - Santa Monica, California
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This is one of the finest properties we have ever visited. It is a beautiful castle, but it is also a world class hotel in the most beautiful setting you can imagine. The grounds are large and bikes are available for guests, the fishing on the river and the lake are first rate, and the service is unmatched. We have stayed twice and can't wait to go back again.
-D. & L. Butler