‘Utter comfort – a fire lit after breakfast in the drawing room, drinks from the bar when needed.’ An endorsement from a regular visitor, following another stay at this family-run hotel.

A ‘splendidly labyrinthine’ Victorian pile overlooking a lake, this castle in name only is Ireland’s brilliant riposte to the corporate blandness of many modern hotels.

In a pretty town between the wild and wonderful Ring of Beara and the spectacular Ring of Kerry, this ‘attractively priced’ hotel exudes ‘a genuine sense of hospitality’, thanks to the ‘warm, helpful, friendly’ staff – and to hosts Una and Dermot Brennan.