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
Very disappointing massage
My visit to the Ashford Castle spa was disappointing. The spa facility was every bit as luxurious as expected. The castle and spa staff were lovely. The massage itself was among the worst I've had. The therapist spent a lot of time very delicately spreading oil on my body. I asked for firmer pressure but it was still very light. The snack was only okay. I get excellent massages a couple of times a month for far less. This experience was not worth the cost.
Mike F
Spa Service
Had the most expensive spa service and was very disappointed. The facility is beautiful and the staff were lovely; however the service was basically was oil and lotion being gently massaged on your back, legs and arms. I was expecting a little more for the price. If you are looking for an actual spa service this is not the place.
Sandra O
The single most Magical Experience we’ve had at a hotel!
To be honest I’m not even sure a destination like Ashford Castle needs another gleaming review or any additional accolades. This place is near perfection. We have had the privilege of staying at many exceptional luxury hotels but Ashford may indeed stand atop this list. The property itself is like walking back into time with the conveniences of today. The castle is simply gorgeous. Walking around from room to room and getting yourself lost is part of its magic. It’s really like you step back into an era of the past. Each room has a uniqueness, decorated in rich opulence. You exit the main foyer, walk beneath a crystal chandelier, pass a roaring fireplace, and within minutes feel a deep calm and gratitude for the privilege of staying within its walls. We were in room 220. At first glance the room was next to the luggage storage and had a view of the parking lot but it absolutely did not detract from the sense of warmth and satisfaction we felt once inside. The bed was incredibly comfortable and the bathroom was spacious with a soaking tub and shower. The bathing products were luxurious and the towels soft and appeared new. The room grew on us as the days went on and we felt so at home by the end of our 3 night stay we were so sad to leave. The grounds are sublime. We often found ourselves just wandering outside taking photos of the castle and meandering our way through the paths, past fountains and gardens, admiring the small waves lapping against the shore of the lake. The grounds are enchanting and beg to be explored. The activities are plentiful. We booked a private hawk walk, 3 hour fishing tour, golf, massages and tennis. Everything was exceptional. The hawk walk is a signature activity and rightly so. It’s such a tremendous and educational experience. You meet and learn about the hunting birds. Your guide will teach you much of the hunting history and lots of wonderful information about the birds themselves. You will then walk these tiny paths throughout the property while your bird flies from tree to tree attempting to hunt flying back often to your gloved hand to retrieve a treat. It’s such an exhilarating experience. The fishing tour with their guide Frank is amazing. He will take you out on a boat he handmade and go fishing in many spots on the 44,000 acre lake. He is fun, knowledgeable and charismatic. He will assure you have a wonderful time. The golf course is a lot of fun. It’s 9 holes and you play it twice for 18. Adrian will assist in getting you set up and he is such a great person. Always happy to assist and seemingly always smiling. The course is in good shape and allows for a bit of challenge combined with forgiveness every amateur golfer requires. We did hit the spa up for one day. The massages were amazing. We had both Yvonne and Sarah. We did deep tissue massages and both had a nice combination of strength and finesse to assure your body was being treated for any alignments but at the same time with a technique that allowed you to really relax. Now let me tell you how our experience was with the Castles Dining. It was glorious!!!! Each morning they gave us breakfast and Patrick was there to greet us and was so unbelievably warm and cordial. The food was devine. All options you could think of were available and they seem to always remember what you like. We also ate at the Dungeon, Cullen’s and George V. The Dungeon was fun. It was like dining in an underground pub. Cullen’s had some really amazing choices and the room was cozy. Felt like you were in a fishing lodge. George V is their fine dining restaurant where you get all dressed up and the food and staff absolutely deliver. All options were tremendous. I could keep writing on how amazing everything at the property was but none of it would be remotely possible without the Castles staff. WOW! When you stay at a luxurious 5 star property you come to expect great service but Ashford takes this to a new level. Every single member goes above and beyond to help assure your stay is not only memorable but one of the best in your lifetime. There were so many instances where my wife and I were left speechless at their over the top hospitality and graciousness. Everyone seems to utterly love working at this property and it not only shows to us as guests but it oozes out of them with sheer pleasure. It is a resounding success of this properties ownership and management. I could go on and on about the staff but rest assured from this weary traveler it’s as good as it simply gets. When we were driving off the property we both felt sad and happy at the same time. Sad we were leaving but happy we had just discovered a gem like Ashford. There is absolutely no doubt we will be back. In fact we would come all the way back to Ireland just to have the opportunity of staying here again and once again being in the presence of these wonderful people.
cmangum - Gaithersburg, Maryland
Living the dream
What is there to say, it's the place that of fairytales. We had a wonderful time in Ashford Castle. It ticks all the boxes, from the moment you arrive at the front gate until you depart from the front gate. Staff, food & the energy of Ashford Castle is tops.
jerryg493 - Dublin, Ireland
All 11 people in my family had a wonderful time!!
We had a wonderful time. We stayed for 3 nights and we stayed in more expensive rooms the first night and the 2nd and 3rd night rooms were a little cheaper. We had to do this because we had booked 2 nights and added a 3rd night a month after we booked the other nights and the cheaper rooms were not available. Anyways, the first night rooms were definitely nicer, however the cheaper rooms were still beautiful. The breakfast spread was wonderful. All the meals we had were wonderful. For our activities we did horseback riding, the boat ride around the island and falconry. I would say falconry was my favorite, and actually the rest of our groups absolute favorite thing (the was 11 of us). We also rented bikes and rode them to Cong. We enjoyed walking all over the Ashford property. I would recommend staying at least 2 nights. Even though we did 3 nights we still did not get to do everything. The service was wonderful.
Lori A - Castle Rock, Colorado
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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
