Waterford Castle
County Waterford

Situated on its own private island, Waterford Castle is one of the most isolated and beautiful hotels in Ireland. The property has a long history – Maurice FitzGerald, cousin of Strongbow, the English Earl of Pembroke, landed in Waterford during the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1160, and was captured and held prisoner on the island, until he was later rescued by his son-in-law. The island then became home to the FitzGerald’s, with the main building of a Norman Keep dominating the land, although Waterford Castle as we see it today has been built between 1849 and 1895. The castle was sold and converted into a hotel and a country club in 1987. The famous 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Des Smyth and opened in 1992.

Accommodation consists of 19 elegant bedrooms, each decorated and furnished in a unique style; five suites, each with a living room, grand bedroom and bespoke en-suite bathrooms, and a set of self-catering cottages. Activities available to guests include golf, tennis, archery and clay target shooting, as well as enjoying walking tours on this beautiful island.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson