Lorum Old Rectory
Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
Good Hotel Guide Review
Bobbie Smith is the welcoming heart and soul of this B&B in a former 19th-century rectory, which she runs with her daughter. It’s a ‘hidden gem’, say readers, with ‘tasteful and fine decor and furniture’, ‘exemplary comfort and service’. A homey atmosphere is to be expected: Bobbie grew up here, and rooms are filled with personal possessions, antique clocks, paintings and ornaments. You can take tea in a drawing room with upright piano, deep sofas, a blazing peat or log fire; curl up with a book in the study. Bedrooms are furnished with solid antiques, perhaps a four-poster, a crammed bookcase, and are supplied with home-made biscuits. All overlook the Blackstairs mountains. The dining room’s deep-crimson walls are hung with hunting prints, silhouettes and orientalist portraits. At night, candlelight reflects in polished mahogany, as guests enjoy a ‘delicious’ convivial five-course dinner – starter, soup, sorbet, main course, dessert – cooked by the hostess, using local, seasonal and organic ingredients. In the morning, a hearty, ‘expertly cooked’ breakfast sets you up for a day’s walking, fishing, or horse riding courtesy of the local equestrian centre.
Hotel details
Address
Kilgreaney
Bagenalstown
Co. Carlow
R21 RD45
Ireland
Telephone
00 353 59 977 5282
Bedrooms
4.
Open
Feb–end Nov.
Facilities
drawing room, study, dining room, snug, free Wi-Fi, 1-acre garden (croquet) in 18-acre grounds, wedding facilities, unsuitable for disabled.
Background music
none.
Children
aged 16 and over welcomed.
Dogs
by arrangement, not on furniture or in dining room.
Credit cards
MC, Visa.
Prices
per room B&B single €120–€130, double €180–€190. Set dinner €50.
Other reviews
Good Hotel Guide articles about
Lorum Old Rectory
- USA Today: 20 of the most beautiful hotels in Ireland
- Huffington Post USA: Seven of the most beautiful hotels in Ireland
- MSN Travel: Top 10 most beautiful hotels in Ireland
Special offers
Guide Book Vouchers
Guide Book VouchersThis hotel accepts discount vouchers which entitle readers to a 25% discount off their normal B&B rate for a single night’s stay. Each printed copy of the Guide contains six vouchers worth in total about £150.
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