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
Magical Ashford Castle
Our last destination on our two-week Scotland and Ireland journey was at Ashford Castle in Cong. What a pleasure it was to spend time at this truly remarkable resort. We were greeted at the front gate by name and asked to proceed across the bridge to the castle. It’s like driving into a fairytale! We had a lovely welcome from Chloe who treated us to a glass of bubbles, checked us in and gave us a wonderful tour of the first floor which has a room off the lobby with a toasty fireplace and a grand chandelier, the Prince of Wales bar, The George V Dining Room, and The Drawing Room. We were so excited to explore it all! Our luggage arrived quickly, and they were nice enough to bring two luggage racks. The room was spectacular! The hotel was nice enough to upgrade us, and the view was breathtaking. The beds were cozy and well-appointed with tapestry. We had a lovely dinner in The Dungeon restaurant then went for a nightcap in the Drawing Room. Lots of signature cocktails to choose from as we sat in the very luxurious room complete with a pianist. A fantastic way to end our day. Our next day started with a tasty breakfast and then off to our pre-scheduled Hawk Walk experience. We met Jacob at The Falconry and got our starter lesson on need-to-know info on working and walking with our designated hawk. We walked in to meet Swift! She is a beautiful bird…regal even. She’s very confident and very much her own bird. She sets her own pace, and we had to 'restart' after she decided she didn't care much for our original path. Once we did our reboot, it was very smooth. Her brother Stoker sits across the apiary looking over at his sister. He seems a bit of a grumpus but he’s one of the many hawks so I’m sure he does his job. We had a delightful time with Swift. Jacob was a wealth of knowledge, and we seemed to ask him endless questions about all the birds, habits, caring for them, behaviors, etc. Our hour of time with Swift seems to dash by much too quickly and before we knew it…we had to bring her back to rest up from our outing. We said our good-byes to Swift and then Jacob brought us over to meet Ashford’s now famous owl…Dingle! He was stoically squatting on the floor in a bit of lump…relaxing to himself. He didn’t budge when the three of us stopped by to say ‘hi’ to him. He must be used to the celebrity by now…. Dingle’s Christmas (find it at Mrs Tea's Boutique and Bakery) is a book now so people know him. I’ve never met a famous owl before and that will always be a nice memory for me. Dingle, I’m sure, was unphased…as I guess you’d expect from a celebrity. We did a walk around the property to get a better sense of the place. It was an absolutely gorgeous day…brilliant blue skies, beaming sun, and a bit of wind. A photographer’s dream. After lots of pictures, a walk through the cherry tree grove, we worked our way back to Mrs. Tea’s gift shop where there are wonderful treats to acquire for those times when the trip seems like a distant memory. We got back to the castle to change for the afternoon high tea service. The tea service…what a delight! Amazing small sandwiches and tasty desserts along with our tea in a magnificent room looking out over the lawn and water. It was relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable. Viktoria took care of our table, and it was nice to see a familiar face as she waited on us in The Dungeon. She took great care of us!! We closed our stay with dinner at Cullen’s at the Cottage. We had the Grilled Black Sole and it was well prepared and delicious! The service was top-notch, and we had a splendid time. It was the perfect way to cap our stay at this magical place. Our one regret was that we weren’t booked longer to see and do more things at this truly special place. We are eagerly looking forward to another trip to Ireland and spending more time here. If you are planning a trip to the area, please put them on your itinerary!
ebny63 - Houston, Texas
Exceptional.. Everything Exceptional
The hotel felt like walking into a storybook. The way they've set up the arrival from the front gate to the reveal will forever be a memory we'll remember. The service was impeccable our entire stay, the food never disappointed and the rooms were part of the fantasy of being in a castle. The hotel is expensive, but given the sense of uniqueness and fantasy around its vast estate I think it was worth it. I look forward to our return. Thank you Catherine for the touches that further highlighted our stay.
PRtoSD - San Diego, California
Everything was great we went got checked in viewed our room everything was set had food and had fun at the castle. The food was
It was good,everything was perfect! . The prices are high but worth it for the luxury experience. The room was clean too and the service was just five stars as expected . The view was great from the castle the air was refreshing and my family loved the swimming pool.
Global15679151053 - Kilkenny, Ireland
Exceptional
Our stay at Ashford far exceeded expectations, and our expectations were already high! The castle and grounds are beautiful, the food is excellent, and the staff is professional, friendly, and focused on making sure your stay is the best it can be. It's a wonderful place to get away from everything and relax. There are a lot of activities (I highly recommend the hawk walk) as well as plenty of places to just sit and enjoy the surroundings. We will definitely return to Ashford in the future.
Scott H
Best of class
Ashford Castle has the best service in Ireland. The staff is extraorinary and attentive. One may think this a pompus setting, far from it, due to the staff, thier attention to detail, the quality of the restoration this is quite possibly the best of class in the EU. The George 5 never put a lit candle in our bathroom at night! Bravo everyone! Paul and Jillian
Paul B
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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
