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
An Unforgettable, Truly Special Stay
Our stay at Ashford Castle was extremely special—one of those rare experiences where everything, from the setting to the activities to the people, feels exceptional. The castle itself is breathtaking, rich with history yet kept in immaculate condition. Walking the halls genuinely feels like stepping into another era, but with every modern comfort perfectly in place. Every detail—inside and out—has clearly been cared for with intention and pride. The nearby Cong is absolutely charming and well worth exploring. It’s small, picturesque, and adds so much character to the overall stay. You truly need at least two days here, if not more. There is an incredible amount to do on property. We did the trap shooting, which was phenomenal—the gentleman running it was extremely kind, patient, and made the experience both fun and memorable, regardless of skill level. One absolute must-do is the morning dog walk with the Irish Wolfhounds. It’s as magical as it sounds and one of those experiences you’ll talk about long after you leave. The live music in the evenings is also fantastic and adds such warmth and atmosphere to the castle. For golf lovers, the nine-hole course is the perfect size for a relaxed, walkable round during your stay—beautiful, manageable, and a great way to enjoy the grounds. A helpful note for future guests: you don’t necessarily need to pre-book the boat tour far in advance. On our visit, they were happily accepting walk-ons the day of and had plenty of availability. From top to bottom, everything about Ashford Castle is spectacular—the history, the activities, the setting, and the people who bring it all to life. It’s a place that feels genuinely special, not just luxurious. An absolute must-stay.
VincentDM99
Still One of Our Favorite Places in the World
Ashford Castle remains one of our very favorite places anywhere, and this return visit only deepened how we feel about it. From the moment you arrive, the service is simply incredible. Warm, anticipatory, and genuinely personal in a way that very few properties in the world manage to pull off. It’s the kind of place where you feel looked after at every turn without ever feeling hovered over. The rooms are beautiful. The decor is rich and characterful and thoughtfully done, the sort of space you actually want to spend time in rather than just sleep. But some of our favorite moments happen outside the walls entirely. We love spending time on the grounds, and one of the great pleasures of a stay here is simply setting off on a long walk across the estate with no particular agenda. The landscape is stunning and endlessly explorable. A special highlight this time was the Irish wolfhounds, a new addition since our last visit. We loved getting to spend time with them, and they quickly became one of the most memorable parts of the trip for the whole family. We also had a wonderful meal at Cullen’s at the Cottage, the restaurant out by the golf course. Set in a charming thatched cottage, it was a lovely change of pace from dining in the castle itself and every bit as delicious. If you’re deciding whether Ashford Castle lives up to the reputation, it does, and then some. Between the service, the beautiful rooms, the grounds, the wolfhounds, and the food, it’s a place we keep coming back to and can’t wait to return to again.
Karin C - Irvine, California
Ashford Castle - So Nice and Fun
Spent three magical nights at Ashford Castle and hope to return. We did the dog walk, hawk walk, horse back ride; all were so much fund. The grounds are amazing and Cong Village is a short, nice walk, and we ate in the village a couple of times. Lovely trip.
Connector604094
Amazing trip I'll remember for a lifetime
The best experience I've ever had! I couldn't imagine a better place to spend my honeymoon. There were many amazing activities to do (falconry, clay pigeon shooting, a boat trip to an island, horseback riding, walking Irish wolfhound dogs) in a large and beautiful property. The castle itself was amazing and the experience felt like I was royalty. The rooms are large, clean, and gorgeous with great views of the estate, everyone there was so kind and helpful, the castle is beautiful, the food is great and well-priced and offers a wonderful taste of Irish cuisine. This was my best vacation ever and I know I'll remember this forever.
Jen D
OUGHTERARD SENIOR GOLF LADIES
The Oughterard senior ladies travelled to Ashford Castle via Corrib Cruises for the 3rd successive year and once again we were treated like Royalty. Adrian and his team welcomed us on arrival and ensured our Golf experience was wonderful Mrs Ts again did a superb job, and our lunch in Cullens was delicious A special word of thanks to all concerned. To the Managing Director Mr Nial Rochford a special word of thanks to your wonderful Team. Margaret Donnellan on behalf of our group
Margaret D
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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
