THE LAST OF THE SUMMER GETAWAYS.
The end is in sight for what has been a wonderful season of fine weather and good vibes. But it’s not over yet and, from relaxation to family fun, we have some suggestions for last-minute staycations
There’s only a couple of weeks left until the children go back to school and the summer is over for yet another year. But there’s still time to squeeze in a little staycation – with or without the little ones. Whether it’s glamping under the stars or a lively city break that takes your fancy, get booking now and you can finish off the season with a flourish.
The weather ensured that this is a summer we will remember for decades to come, and there are more memories still to be made.
Here are some YOU magazine reviews of a range of the country’s top offerings:
Spa/food
The sound of the sea lapping on the rocks below greets me when I check into my room at the Cliff House Hotel, pictured left. Seagulls engage in a welcoming fly-past as gannets swoop to the cliff from which the hotel gets its name.
This five-star gem in the Waterford village of Ardmore is renowned all over the world, not just for its spectacular scenery but also for its fabulous food and excellent spa, the Well By The Sea. And it’s to the Well that I go, encased in a fluffy robe and ready to have my cares washed away by the customised Out To Sea treatment.
First though, there’s time for a relaxing dip in the indoor pool, surrounded by cosy spots where you can relax and put your feet up. If you prefer the outdoor life, try a dip in the rock pool, full when the tide is in, then warm up in the jacuzzi overlooking the fantastic scenery of Ardmore Bay.
The wet spa harnesses all that is beautiful about the area, from the earthy smell of peat and wild garlic, to the salty air and seaweed from the shores which features in treatments available in the two outdoor stone baths on the relaxation terrace.
The spa has a sauna, steam room and four treatment rooms, including a couple’s treatment room, a light, peaceful space where couples can relax together in the hands of expert therapists.
I’m lucky enough to be brought to the treatment room that overlooks the bay and while my feet are bathed in a warm bath of apple blossom and sage, stunning views of the hypnotising horizon only adds to the experience. Liz, my therapist for the day, indulges me in a hot stone massage with signature heated oils of rose, lavender and oakmoss, followed by a hydrating facial that includes lymphatic drainage on the face, neck and shoulders. Then she massages my scalp before adding a nourishing clay mask. The signature range of products used at The Well At Cliff have been specially formulated for the spa using carefully selected ingredients from the local area, many known for their nourishing properties. All the artisanal products are carefully crafted using natural ingredients and they contain no parabens, mineral oils or artificial colourings.
Peat, carrageen moss, oat oil, beeswax, sea salt and Atlantic seaweed from the seas around the country, along with essential oils, wild marjoram and rosemary and other hand-crushed herbs from the gardens play their part in the lotions and potions used in the treatments.
And it is safe to say, this is one of the most relaxing and refreshing treatments I’ve ever experienced. The wonderful aromas lull me to sleep as the waves break outside and Kathy removes the tension from my muscles.
After a chill out in the relaxation room with some juice, it’s time to go back to my room and prepare for dinner at the fabulous Michelin-starred House restaurant, presided over by chef Martjin Kajuter. As much of the food as possible is sourced from the local area, be it from land or sea.
And the tasting menu prepared by Martjin is absolutely exquisite, presented on plates which resemble the sea and land from the surrounding countryside. It’s a delight and a rare gastronomic experience, especially for a vegetarian used to having to deal with stir fries or pasta bake.
The food is exquisite to look at and to taste so dinner here should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Traditional Irish fayre is also served in the Bar Restaurant and is delicious, although not quite as dramatic as the Michelinstarred version. Even so, it’s ideal for lunch or even the second day of your stay.
Adjacent to the hotel there are plenty of places to walk to enjoy the scenery and the smell the wild garlic that will end up on a dinner plate at some point. Take the cliff walk and visit the remains of
St Declan’s Monastery or take a stroll along the beach or even a dip in the sea.
Active wellness is also encouraged at The Well by the Sea, with maps of local walks and jogging routes near the hotel provided, including private yoga and meditation and more. You could also choose a sea activity such as kayaking, paddle boarding, coasteering, rock climbing and abseiling.
And the great news is you can also bring a little bit of The Well at Cliff home with you as the spa now offers an array of divine handcrafted products to take home. You can now enjoy them also in The Well in the Garden at Cliff at Lyons or snap some up from Dublin’s Cliff Townhouse on St. Stephen’s Green or online.
Granted, it’s not the same without Kathy’s expert touch but now that I have my Rose and Oakmoss Body Oil at home, I can relive that magical Waterford weekend until the next time I make it there in person. Rates: From €249 B&B for a deluxe sea room.
Contact: For reservations call 024 87800 or see cliffhousehotel.ie.
Camping
If you, like me, think the idea of camping sounds like utter hell, there are some upmarket alternatives. I haven’t been camping since I was a child and am happy to admit that it’s because I’m a bit of a diva. Having to walk to cold, damp showers and toilets, and not having proper lighting, cooking appliances or running water is not what I would call a holiday.
Enter Camp Glamp. On the site, you have your own bedroom with proper beds and luxurious linens; a living/kitchen area with running water, delph, cutlery and a microwave; a communal area with couches, a heater and a fire pit; a gas-fired barbecue; a hot tub and – joy of all joys – a separate tent with toilet and a hot water shower. Now this I could get on board with.
We arrive at Camp Glamp as a group of two adults and three children. The set-up means we can split ourselves between three tents for sleeping arrangements, while a fourth tent contains the living area, a fifth has the bathroom. This means everyone had their own sense of space, while still all being close enough to enjoy time together.
The owner Clara McAuliffe is a real breath of fresh air and can’t help enough. When we arrive, she and her groundsman Pavel have the logs under our hot tub blazing to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for our arrival.
Knowing we have children with us, she also helpfully includes a trampoline, a badminton set and an archery target. Off-site, we take a day trip to Powerscourt waterfall, just a 15-minute drive away, and a second to Lough Bray, about 25 minutes away. We also bring board games and cards and play long into the night around the camp fire, while toasting marshmallows to make s’mores.
After an evening dip in the hot tub watching the sun set, we huddle together looking up at the stars. Lying in our tents at night – albeit in an incredibly comfortable bed with fresh, crisp linen – is a particularly memorable experience. The noises of the nearby animals echo around us while we snuggle away from the elements. Pure bliss.
Rates: Prices are from €50 per person sharing and will depend on the size of suite required.
Contact: Visit campglamp.ie, email info@ campglamp.ie or call 087 694 9133.
City break
Kilkenny is always a bustling hub perfect for all kinds of breaks, from romantic to family holidays, hens to birthdays. With a myriad bars, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, cultural highlights and shops, there’s something for everyone. The Hotel Kilkenny is situated about a 10-minute walk from Kilkenny Castle, meaning it’s just far enough away to ensure you can relax but close enough that you can simply walk to all amenities.
The hotel itself is a hive of activity, with weddings most weekends, ensuring the bar and restaurant are lively and fun.
The leisure centre and swimming pool are second to none, with the latter featuring a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room to clear the head should the festivities have caught up with you.
But let’s face it, if you have children with you, the most important element on offer is the kids’ club. During the summer, it’s available to children aged 4-12, from 9.30am to 12.30pm and again from 5pm to 10pm – and it even includes dinner so you can enjoy your own food in peace.
Activities include arts & crafts, talent shows, cookery, a teddy bear’s picnic, a Wii challenge, obstacle courses and swim fun. My little guests absolutely adore Siobhan, who organises the entertainment during our stay, and it gives the adults some time to ourselves to wind down and enjoy the hotel.
The hotel’s Taste restaurant is a culinary delight – my personal highlight is the duck stir-fry, which is
absolutely delicious. The little ones enjoy getting a three-course children’s menu as it makes them feel very important to order starters.
If you need relaxation, there’s also an on-site spa and hairdresser so you can book in for some pampering.
Rates: A two-night family stay offer is available for two adults sharing and two children under-12 from €320 midweek or €440 at weekends. A three-night family stay offer is available from €480 mid-week or €540 at weekends.
Contact: For further information and summer fun packages, see hotelkilkenny.ie or call 056 776 2000.
Spa/cosmetic
Monart Spa – Ireland’s only five-star destination spa – is one of my favourite places in the country to relax and unwind. It has a number of accolades to its name and it’s easy to see why. It is a haven of utter tranquillity.
Simply being able to stroll around the hotel and grounds in your bathrobe is one of life’s little pleasures and means you can take the relaxation you’ve earned in the spa back to your room and beyond. All stress just melts away.
On arrival, we change and head straight to the thermal suite. As befitting a destination spa, this is a very large area, with a range of heating and cooling rituals to ensure total relaxation and rejuvenation. The outdoor log cabin sauna is particularly appealing, with fabulous views across the spectacular walks surrounding the hotel.
We spend almost 2.5 hours in the thermal area, between saunas, steam rooms and the swimming pool, before heading out for a scenic walk around the grounds.
But while relaxation is the name of the game at Monart, it also offers a number of hard-working treatments, which can help with skincare problems such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
The Pevonia Youth Renew Hydra Glow is one such treatment. This is an ultra-hydrating facial that smooths skin and results in a youthful radiance, thanks to the main ingredient of L+ lactic acid, renowned for improving skin texture.
One thing I will warn you about is that almost every element of the facial is cold – freezing in some parts. It’s not uncomfortable, just a bit of a shock. Thankfully, as my visit was on a hot July day, this was most welcome.
The lactic acid removes dead skin cells and encourages skin to renew itself by stimulating collagen production, while also moisturising and regulating the pH balance. My skin has been utterly glowing ever since.
My treatment was followed by a fabulous meal in the Restaurant at Monart and, of course, a wellearned cocktail in the Garden Lounge Bar, one of my favourite bars in the country.
Rates: A midweek break for two nights’ B&B plus one dinner costs €219 per person sharing. The Pevonia Youth Renew Hydra Glow costs €95.
Contact: Visit monart.ie, call 053 923 8999.