Ashford Castle
County of Mayo, Ireland
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About the Hotel
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.
Location
Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle Estate, Leaf Island,
County of Mayo, Ireland
F31 CA48
Nearest Airport: GWY
Features and Amenities
- Dining
- Private Dining
- Wine Cellar
- Bar
- Afternoon Tea
- Wine Bar
- Lounge
- Seasonal Restaurant
- Restaurants
- On-Site Amenities
- Heliport
- Fitness Center
- Garden
- Theater
- Movie Theater
- 3 9-Hole Golf Courses
- Chauffeur Service
- Equestrian Center
- Complimentary WiFi
- In-Room Amenities
- Turndown Service
- In-Room Safes
- Satellite Television
- Flat-Screen Televisions
- Work Desks
- Bathrobes & Slippers
- Complimentary WiFi
- Deep Soaking Tubs
- Activities
- Bicycling
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Sailing
- Tennis
- Wine Tasting
- Canoeing
- Clay Bird Shooting
- Billiards
- Archery
- Boating
- Zip-Lining
- Business
- Meeting Rooms
- Business Center
- Conference Facilities
- Business Services
- Catering Services
- Family
- Children's Programs
- Teen Activities
- Arts & Crafts
- Interests
- Active & Adventure
- Chateaus & Castles
- Culture & Arts
- Golf
- Honeymoons & Romance
- Hotels
- Signature Perks
Reviews for Ashford Castle
The Most Exceptional Luxury Hospitality
We had an amazing 4-night stay at Ashford Castle. I can say without hesitation, it was the most extraordinary hospitality we have ever experienced. We've stayed at 5-star resorts before with amazing service. But Ashford Castle provides more than "service;" it provides an authentic warm and kind hospitality that is efficient and superb. My husband and I both agreed that we have not been that happy and relaxed in over 25 years. Ashford Castle creates the warmest, most wonderful atmosphere. What a dream! The entire service staff is exceptional. Immediately upon check in we knew the experience would be special. We had a few questions that were handled in a shockingly efficient manner. The concierge made a call to confirm for us that the local Catholic mass was at 11 am the next morning. Our hometown American football team made the playoffs, and we inquired if we could watch the game at the castle. The concierge jumped into action. He switched some dinner reservations for us to clear the game time. About one minute after we got to our room, he called to let us know that the game would be played for us in the Billiards room the next evening. It couldn't have been nicer. They lit a fire, served us drinks and we enjoyed the game live on a large screen (despite losing). The entire staff went above and beyond. They were all so attentive and gracious. They gave us drinks and deserts multiple times for my husband's 50th birthday. They helped with anything I mentioned. The included breakfast is absolutely divine. It includes foods cultivated from local sources (some right on the property like the honey), fresh fruits, juices, smoothies, baked goods, yogurts and granolas, ham, salmon, plus a diverse menu of full meals. House champagne, coffees, teas, juices and cappuccinos are included. The included breakfast kept us full until dinner. There are complimentary drinks in the lobby of mulled wine, waters and sodas, as well as complimentary water and chocolates in your room. The movie theater also offers complimentary snacks. While there, we enjoyed the beautiful spa, clay shooting, walking with the wolfhounds, the falconry walk, dinner in the George V Dining Room, dinner in the Drawing Room, dinner in the Dungeon and a Corrib Cruise. The grounds and building are pristine. It is like a fairytale. We can't stop thinking about how wonderful it was. We are already planning a trip back. Next time we will bring our four teenage children.
Lani C
​Memorable from Start to Finish - A Flawless 5 Star Weekend
​Our Bank Holiday weekend at Ashford Castle was defined by flawless five star service from the moment we arrived until the second we departed. We were greeted by a most courteous team who took care of our luggage promptly and, to our delight, managed to have one of our rooms ready early. While we waited for our second room, the staff kept us consistently updated, and the lovely welcome drink upon checking in was a thoughtful touch. ​The accommodations were equally impressive. We stayed in a Corrib Lake view room, and the views were simply wonderful. The room itself was very spacious with plenty of storage, and the standard of housekeeping throughout our stay was exceptional. A really nice touch was the turndown service each evening. Between activities, we also spent some time in the Prince of Wales Bar. We thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed, historic setting for afternoon drinks. While we didn’t eat there the food ordered by other guests looked very nice. ​The dining experiences were a particular highlight of our visit. We enjoyed a spectacular evening in the George V Dining Room, where the service was of the highest standard and every course was truly enjoyable. This excellence continued into breakfast the next morning, which featured a vast range of cooked to order dishes alongside a wonderful selection of fresh pastries and fruit. The entire waitstaff in the dining room deserves praise for their professionalism and warmth providing the highest 5 star treatment. ​Beyond the dining, the concierge and reception team was a pleasure to deal with, providing efficient assistance and excellent local suggestions. Following their recommendation, we took the Corrib Cruise located right next to the castle as the weather was on our side. It is a fantastic one hour trip that offers amazing sights of Lough Corrib and included an excellent commentary. We also highly recommend visiting the cinema on-site; it’s a beautiful, plush room that shows a great variety of family favorites and all time classics. ​We spent our final night in The Dungeon restaurant, where the atmosphere was matched by an amazing team who were incredibly knowledgeable about the food and wine suggestions. With the beautiful grounds to explore and the weather on our side for the entire weekend, it was a fantastic weekend. There are endless activities to enjoy here, and the staff ensures every moment feels special. It was truly a world class experience, and already cannot wait to return.
FergalJ - Dublin, Ireland
Love it here!
This is a wonderful castle with gorgeous bedrooms, drawing room, restaurants and areas just to sit and ponder. The grounds are beautiful and it is just an altogether truly relaxing place. Staff are the right balance of friendliness and courteousness whilst delivering a top class experience. Just one little thing - absolutely loved the staff, ambience and style of the drawing room, however, some of the dishes lacked that five star standard. It would not stop me from returning and trying perhaps a different item on the menu. Love it here at Ashford Castle.
elainemac3 - Dublin
Great Experience
Great entrance to the hotel with valet parking upon arriving in ashford castle. We stayed two nights and it was a Brilliant experience ,from the room to the service was excellent and all the staff were lovely. We enjoyed cocktails in the cocktail bar and the on-site cinema. The drawing room club sandwich was really nice. The breakfast was a great experience. The grounds are impressive. We hope to be back Lynsey &Tina
Experience721078
The good, the bad and the ugly...
We have just returned home from a bucket list night in Ashford Castle for our birthdays (my husband and I share our birthday). Ashford has been on my list for some time so we were really looking forward to it. Unfortunately it didn't live up to expectation, not because of any one terrible thing but a few unfortunate misses that really shouldn't be misses in the top hotel in Ireland! The good: service was soft, unassuming, genuine and the perfect level of attentiveness. The food was INCREDIBLE, and I do not use that word lightly! We had club sandwiches, dinner in the Dungeon and breakfast this morning and all were amazing. We booked spa treatments last minute last night as it was the only way to use the pool actually in the hotel, the treatments were amazing! The bad: I emailed the hotel when I booked to let them know it was our birthday on the night we were staying. It was not mentioned once on check in or by any member of staff aside from at dinner which I found to be highly unusual, as generally 5 star hotels make note of things like this, this kind of service is what sets them apart. There was a card in our room, again surprising, generally hotels will make an extra effort on special occasions, we didn't feel like this was the case here. The wait staff in the dungeon brought two cakes with candles after dinner, AFTER I had ordered dessert so a dessert ended up going to waste, lovely thought but it seemed a bit mad to wait until I had ordered a dessert that sat uneaten. The pool situation really let's the hotel down, it should be made crystal clear on booking that the spa pool cannot be used unless you are having a spa treatment, the only pool available is in the sister hotel and a shuttle is needed to it. Disappointing as we had planned an afternoon swim but travelling to another hotel to use the pool and shuttle there and back was less than appealing in the cold weather. We asked at the spa and concierge and there are no exceptions to this. We did book treatments to be able to use the pool but it was an expensive swim! I appreciate that Ashford Castle is not about the pool but it would influence whether I booked somewhere or not. The ugly: NO tea or coffee facilities in the room! Not even a basic kettle! 1 star hotels have tea and coffee facilities! This was a major major let down. When we were escorted to our room the porter showed us around the room and pointed out the electric blinds button, plot twist, when we went to use it that evening there were NO electric blinds in the room, there were folding blinds that would not close properly as the catches were broken in both! Very poor that these remained unfixed! The bathroom floor was also badly stained, again not issues I would pick up in a 3 star but I really expected much more from Ashford Castle, particularly when the prices are not 3 star!
stephaniewG5149AR
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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
