Ireland Tour

A luxury tour based at two hotels, Lough Eske Castle in the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains in Donegal. The Lodge at Ashford Castle adjacent to the Connemara and yes, we do drive the “Sky Road” National Park in Galway. Lough Eske Castle in Co Donegal and The Lodge at Ashford Castle in Co Galway. They are both well-appointed but completely different in character. Because location and area are so critical on our tours it was important to find you hotels from which we could plan good routes without travelling miles through suburbia to get to the scenic areas, so only unpack-twice.

As for your runs, in both locations we take you through mountain passes, down valleys, over moors and around loughs there are a few hairpin bends, but these are more fun than arduous and go through some spectacular scenery.

Hotels: Lough Eske Castle is set in beautiful grounds with bronze sculptures scattered around and has good dining and bar facilities. One of its major benefits is the large American-style bedrooms which are a hard act for any other hotel to follow. There is a pool and beauty spa, lovely walks around the grounds and it’s set in a quiet country area.
It is in the best location to explore the mountains and valleys of Donegal and the Bluestack Mountains are within easy reach.

As for The Lodge if you can imagine staying in an art gallery with rooms, private dining and good food in the grounds of Ashford Castle (voted the world’s best hotel a few years ago) then that is what you’re doing. After Lough Eske Castle it’s a bit of a culture shock to stay in smaller hotel rooms but that would apply to any hotel that followed on from there. Nothing is comparable to the art which hangs on every wall in the hotel. The owners have a London art gallery and use the Lodge to showcase their art as well as pieces solely for use in the hotel. Absolutely unique, we’ve never seen art like this displayed in a hotel.

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