A PERFECT 10... in the beautiful south
IF a place really can be measured by its people, then Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork is up there with the very best around. Located on 800 glorious acres between Midleton and Youghal, the natural beauty of the surrounding forest and man-made lakes, combined with the opulence of the five-star fare on offer, was not only complemented but greatly enhanced by the friendliness and helpful nature of the staff there. They could not have been more accommodating, and on a relaxing spa weekend that’s exactly what you’re after.
The weekend (we were there to mark the hotel’s tenth anniversary in its current guise) began the way it would continue, with a lovely welcome basket complete with bubbles waiting in our room, with the star of the show as part of the package – the resort’s little mascot, Marty the Bear.
He would be omnipresent for the rest of our stay, enjoying his own little adventures as we toured the grounds and golf course and all that the place has to offer.
A splash in the 20m swimming pool helped us shake off the cobwebs of the drive down from Dublin that took a little over 2hours 15minutes (crucially we hit the road on Friday afternoon and avoided the majority of the traffic). And after a couple of gin and tonics to get us in the mood, we settled in for a meal in one of the hotel’s two quality restaurants, Franchini’s.
Very reasonably priced, with a good selection of wines and very friendly staff, the food was delicious. We went for the pizza and the carbonara for our mains (in keeping with our surroundings) and were not disappointed – real Italian fare at its best.
Stuffed to the gills, we settled in to the Knights’ Bar, the only bar in the main part of the hotel, with its stunning high ceilings and frescoes and a wide range of gins as well as a cocktail bar, after which we retired to the adjoining Living Room area where we relaxed and prepared for the following morning when we would be treated to the highlight of the weekend.
Roy Daly, the fourth generation of his family to work on the estate, brought us on a sightseeing tour around the grounds and we were blown away by the depth of history in the place. The grounds were designed by the legendary architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and the place has welcomed some seriously salubrious company from Strongbow himself to a rampaging Oliver Cromwell – the latter having cannonballed the castle that sits as the centre on the estate way back when.
Taken over by the Boyle family in the 18th century, it was the birthplace of the famous physicist Robert Boyle (the man who came up with Boyle’s Law of thermodynamics), but in more modern times it has played host to guests such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z all the way up to Bill Clinton (who famously gatecrashed a tures couple reception). Planning wedding of a on there; permission shocked the there but walls has are happy also pic- in been wedding granted and conference for a brand-new centre, interestingly that space! enough, so watch
Afternoon tea greeted us in the spectacular master bedroom in the main estate building after our tour (complete with silk walls), before we headed on to the core of our weekend stay – The Spa at Castlemartyr. It did not disappoint.
AFTER 90 minutes or so in the hands of the lovely Jacqueline, we settled in to the spa’s Water Lounge area, a simply gorgeous getaway from it all.
Sauna and steam room were as you’d expect, but an infinity pool jacuzzi that looked out on to the grounds from the first floor (the women’s Water Lounge area is separate on the opposite side of the spa and looks out on to the forests, but is equally spectacular).
All of which had us in the mood for time dinner, for a although quick drink there in was the neighbouring golf club to watch the Ireland v Fiji rugby match. Hotel guests are welcome in the golf club bar, named The Pod (there is no TV in the bar in the main hotel, so if you’re looking to watch a big game, or just sample a different food experience, it’s the place to go). It was off to the Bell Tower restaurant after that – the hotel’s main dining offering – and after some pre-dinner drinks complete with oyster reception we settled in for a delicious meal.
The menu’s offerings ranged from venison to monkfish to beef for the main (the beef was a popular choice and a very rewarding one) and with full stomachs and happy hearts we retreated to the Living Room once more.
We relaxed into the wee hours of Sunday morning before retreating to our room – a massive bed and interactive television system, complete with automated curtains – and a wonderful shower and bathroom area, this really was a weekend to write home about.
We’ll certainly be back, if only just to visit our new pal Marty. For a relaxing weekend getaway