Cliff House Hotel
County Waterford

Romantically perched on a cliff overlooking the sea in the small Irish fishing village of Ardmore, the Cliff House Hotel is perfect for those looking for sea views, gourmet food and an award-winning spa. This Relais and Chateaux property is located only 45 minutes drive from Cork airport on Ireland's South Coast making it easy to reach from either London or Dublin. The hotel's 39 rooms and suites have floor to ceiling windows looking out over the dramatic coastline meaning that rooms feel light and fresh; interiors are modern and deature exposed brick and contemporary furniture. Food is where the Cliff House Hotel really excels; the restaurant manages to draw the crowds from all over the world with its focus on local produce and as you would expect, the seafood is to die for. Should you tire of the views there is also a host of activities which will enable you to explore the local area. As well as sea kayaking, climbing, abseiling, hiking, snorkelling and surfing, the hotel can organise nature walks of the local area, horse riding, archery and yoga. Any golf enthusiasts can enjoy the floating golf hole directly in front of the hotel! For those who are less adventurous, the awesome floor to ceiling sea-facing spa is pretty hard to turn down. 

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