Lough Eske Castle
Hotel · Donegal ·
Upscale castle hotel with spa, pool, and dining
Upscale castle hotel with spa, pool, and dining
"A five-star castle hotel in County Donegal that delivers classic luxury at relatively lower prices compared with marquee Irish castles, where guests can experience upscale accommodations—often available for under $400 a night even in summer—within a scenic, historic setting." - Cailey Rizzo Cailey Rizzo Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. She specializes in reporting on travel, culture, and the arts. She is currently based in Brooklyn. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Many castles have been spoiled by bland hotel makeovers, so it is a relief to find that Irish owners Harcourt Developments have done a stylish upgrade of this magnificent building, which dates from the fifteenth century and is surrounded by 43 woodland acres. The atmosphere is informal (you park your car, but a doorman will help with luggage) and the interiors lavish without being intimidating. Friendly Irish staff are on hand to provide swift assistance. Most of the hotel’s 97 rooms and suites are in a fine addition to the rear of the hotel, enjoying views of quiet gardens. Rooms are large but cozy, done in oatmeal hues and dark wood with huge beds, thick carpets, and coffee-table books illustrating the fast-disappearing culture of the Gaeltacht; one can enjoy reading these while drinking organic Brazilian coffee. The wonderfully atmospheric Gallery Bar, with its soaring ceilings, and the comfortable reading rooms are reason enough for a visit."
"Many castles have been spoiled by bland hotel makeovers, so it is a relief to find that the luxury brand Solís has done a stylish upgrade of this magnificent building, which dates from the 15th century and is surrounded by 43 woodland acres. The atmosphere is informal (you park your car, but a doorman will help with luggage) and the interiors lavish without being intimidating. Friendly Irish staff are on hand to provide swift assistance. Most of the hotel’s 97 rooms and suites are in a fine addition to the rear of the hotel, enjoying views of quiet gardens. Rooms are large but cozy, done in oatmeal hues and dark wood with huge beds, thick carpets, and coffee-table books illustrating the fast-disappearing culture of the Gaeltacht; one can enjoy reading these while drinking organic Brazilian coffee. It is lovely to find that the Donegal owner, Harcourt, has done a stylish upgrade of this magnificent building." - CNT Editors, Nicholas DeRenzo
"While some castle hotels can feel a bit dusty—with all those heavy curtains and canopy beds—the Lough Eske Castle Hotel feels more airy and contemporary than you’d expect from a 150-year-old castle. Located near Donegal Town in the northern part of Ireland , it’s the only five-star hotel in Donegal County. And while the Elizabethan manor house was once at the center of a farm, today it’s fronted by a formal rose garden and surrounded by 43 acres of forest on the banks of Lough Eske, a 900-acre lake. The hotel has a glass greenhouse-style spa, an indoor pool with views of the grounds, and a restaurant, Cedars Grill, which serves fresh-from-the-sea oysters and filets of Irish beef. But best of all is the lovely, generous staff: Concierges in particular quickly arrive at a first-name basis with guests as they arrange outings and grant even somewhat-annoying requests. And since all guests do here is spa, stroll, and feast, the only real challenge is deciphering the staff’s thick Northern Irish accents."
"There are castles, and then there are castles; this 19th-century sandstone edifice, set mere minutes from the town of Donegal, on the shores of Lough Eske, is nothing short of spectacular. Nor have its present-day proprietors neglected anything when it comes to the nuts and bolts of modern luxury hospitality. The style happily combines historical elements and contemporary gestures; the rooms and suites are spacious and luxurious, while the public spaces, including an impressive spa built on the footprint of the castle’s Victorian-era conservatory, are a particular highlight. 43 acres of woodland surround the castle, and beyond lie the Donegal countryside and the Blue Stack Mountains." - Tablet Hotels
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