Quite possibly one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets, The Station House Hotel, in the pretty village of Kilmessan, was once a passenger train station. The original buildings are incorporated in the hotel, formerly the family home of the Slattery family. Chris and Thelma Slattery opened their home to guests in 1983 and by starting small, finessed their reputation as a foodie destination championing local produce. The Slattery seniors have retired (in theory) and now their daughters, Suzanne and Denise, manage the property.

Working with Millimetre Design, they completed an inspiring refurbishment last year. The décor is a mix of gorgeous fabrics (Christopher Farr, William Morris, Brunswig & Fils) Irish linens, exotic ikats and suzanis as well as Thelma’s trove of antiques. The art is also impressive, curated by Carrie Neely of Art Loves and local artist Deirdre Hoffman. For those who love the idea of a cabin (but not in the woods) the Signal Suite, once the control box for the train tracks, has been converted into a bijou duplex.

Decorated in soft greens and pinks, it combines Van Gogh Cherry Blossom wallpaper, fabrics from Pierre Frey and cosy throws from Tipperary-based John Hanly & Co. It’s a fresh take on country chic. Lots of little extras – homemade shortbread and jams, Voya products, Oscar Wilde Water – add to its allure.

Book a new two-night package (€450) which includes a private tour of Dunsany Nature Reserve with naturalist and filmmaker Randall Plunkett, who rewilded his family’s demesne in 2014. The reserve is the first Irish project to be recognised by the European Rewilding Network. Station House Hotel, one of its neighbours, is donating funds to plant a minimum of seven trees per outing to the Reserve to tie in with its sustainability mission. General winter stays are from €180 bed and breakfast; www.stationhousehotel.ie.

Photography by Ruth Maria Murphy