If you’re dreaming of serene swims, a room with a view, or some shoreside spa time, look no further than these lovely lakeside retreats
Main Image; Carrig Country House, Co Kerry
Aughry Yard, Co Leitrim
“We want our guests to experience the simplicity of nature along the banks of Lough Bofin, and to stay in the comfort of a contemporary cottage surrounded by walled gardens. It’s a unique setting where guests can explore the beautiful county of Leitrim,” explains owner Una Hardiman. €180 per night (excluding cleaning and Airbnb fees); www.airbnb.ie.
Currarevagh House, Co Galway
On the shores of Lough Corrib at Oughterard, this elegant Victorian estate is a European Special Area of Conservation wildlife and environmental sanctuary with 180 acres to explore, including a private island. Fabulous food is central to Currarevagh’s appeal – picnics and afternoon tea are legendary. A two-night stay, with dinner each evening costs €660; www.currarevagh.com.
Carrig Country House, Co Kerry
On the shores of Caragh Lake, Carrig is a great base to explore the Reeks district and enjoy some hiking, biking, SUP, golf, horse riding or sailing. In the evening, enjoy the comforts of this country house, where dinner is served in its Lakeside Restaurant. A two-night stay with breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea on arrival costs €580 for two people; www.carrighouse.com.
The Cuan, Strangford, Co Down
The Cuan is on the shores of Strangford Lough, in the tranquil village of Strangford. The hotel has nine nifty bedrooms and a self-catering property, as well as a bistro and bar open for lunch and dinner. Overnight stays cost from £49.50 per person; www.thecuan.com.
Lusty Beg Island Resort and Spa, Co Fermanagh
A five-minute ferry journey transports guests to a 75-acre island where accommodation – lodges, cabins and chalets – are all set in a lakeside wood. Lusty Beg has its own restaurant, the Island Spa and offers lots of water and land-based activities, as well as nature trails. From £267; www.lustybegisland.com.
Liss Ard Estate, Co Cork
Outside Skibbereen in West Cork, Liss Ard Estate is an opportunity to immerse yourself in land, sea and sky. Its 40-acre private lake hosts nighttime kayaking, while the lakeside spa offers acupuncture and sound healing. Stays cost from €230 bed and breakfast, based on two people sharing; www.lissardestate.ie.
Ballyvolane House, Co Cork
Of the lakes found at his beautiful hotel, owner Justine Green, explains, “The lakes were originally dug in the 19th-century but silted up over time. My late mother Merrie was a fanatical salmon angler and she had the lakes restored and extended in the 1990s and she stocked them with rainbow and brown trout. They are a wonderful repository for supporting biodiversity. We have erected some nesting platforms for moorhens and ducks and have some resident herons and all sorts of dragonflies, fish, eels and woodpeckers. My kids and some of our plucky guests do enjoy a dip in the lakes in the summer months. When King Charles stayed at Ballyvolane in 2018, the Garda sub-aqua unit carried out an underwater security sweep of the lakes and found a skeleton of a cow! Not Bertha though”. The rate for an overnight stay is from €280 per room; www.ballyvolanehouse.ie.
Wineport Lodge, Co Westmeath
This boutique property, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is known for its impeccable welcome, personal touch as well as its (34) rooms, each one overlooking the lake. Even the entry level rooms have a private terrace, while others have their own balconies. The Dining Room restaurant showcases local ingredients, (Glasson mushrooms, Lissadell mussels, Duncannon smoked salmon) while other dining options include glasshouses on the lake edge, and the relaxing Grapevine Lounge – perfect for afternoon tea or a sundowner. In addition, every inch of Cedarwood Spa makes use of its lakeside setting – from the infinity pool to the four outdoor seaweed baths lined up on an open balcony and its nautical-themed treatment cabins. There’s also a floating pontoon, home to two hot tubs, perched right on the water’s surface, where a soak includes a glass of prosecco (with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine available). A resident yoga teacher holds sunrise classes, brunch sessions and private workshops, and guests can rent Whaly boats and stand up paddle boards; www.wineport.ie.
Fairmont Carton House, Co Kildare
The lake was designed and created after Queen Victoria wrote to her cousin Lady Emily noting she dreamt she was in a boat on a lake at Carton House. Therefore, for the Queen’s next visit Lady Emily created a lake in front of Carton House! It’s a picturesque addition to the scenery – what makes it more special is the vista of the Victorian Boat House and the backdrop of Carton House – and its resident swans. A further reason to visit is that Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey and his wife Majken Bech-Bailey will be curating a series of dining events every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the month of August in The Morrison Room. A tasting menu is €150 per person, with a drinks pairing available for €80 – bookings will go live on July 20. Overnight experiences are from €550 for dinner for two people with an overnight stay in a Garden Wing Room, and from €750 for dinner for two with an overnight stay in a Manor House suite; www.cartonhouse.com.
Lake Lodge, Lough Eske Castle, Co Donegal
The sound of lapping waves and birds in the trees of the surrounding Bluestack Mountains is the backdrop to a stay in the Lake Lodge at Lough Eske Castle, built circa 1861. It sleeps two to four guests. Original windows, fleur de lys tiles, a wood-burning fire and tweed upholstery are all part of the allure. Guests can self-cater in the oak kitchen or enjoy breakfast at the hotel – a twelve-minute walk, or an even shorter cycle. Complimentary use of the hotel gym, swimming pool and Cara Organic Beauty spa is an added advantage. Otherwise, stay in the main hotel, where there is a tempting Thermal Escape, starting at €469 per person sharing. This includes dinner, bed and breakfast as well as relaxation in the hotel’s new hot tubs overlooking the gardens and spa. Dinner in Cedars restaurant is unmissable; www.lougheskecastlehotel.com.
Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel, Co Fermanagh
Fermanagh is Northern Ireland’s Lake District, home to 154 unique islands, including the famous Devenish Island which was founded in the 6th century by Saint Molaise. Many of Fermanagh’s finest hotels are nestled along the shoreline, one of which is Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel, where guests can stay at the main hotel or in a collection of 20 two-bedroom (pet-friendly) Lakeside or Woodland Lodges and studios (pictured). The latter provide a sense of space, warmth and comfort and are perfectly placed to visit nearby sights including the Marble Arch Caves and Geo Park, Ireland’s “Stairway to Heaven”, Cuilcagh Boardwalk and the National Trust property, Florence Court. After a day exploring, enjoy some pampering at the Killyhevlin’s Kalm Spa with a selection of Elemis treatments or get active with a match on its Padel Tennis Court. A week in one of the Lakeside Lodges costs from £1,550 per stay during July and August; www.killyhevlin.com.
