Gregans Castle Hotel

This ‘epitome of Irish country house hospitality’ overlooks Galway Bay, in the dramatic Burren landscape, said to have been the inspiration for Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Owned and managed by Simon Haden and Frederieke McMurray, the 18th-century manor house exudes ‘style and comfort’, with thoughtful touches that include ‘candles lit in public spaces as dusk falls’. Bedrooms are ‘ample and comfortable’, decorated in a neutral palette enlivened by splashes of green, blue and turquoise. Rooms overlook the garden, the bay or the mountains; some have a private garden. All have a selection of books, original artwork and Bamford toiletries, plus bathtub and shower. Chef Robbie McCauley’s cooking is thought ‘first rate’; one reviewer called dinner ‘outstanding – culminating in the best grouse I have eaten’. Other dishes might include East Clare venison or wild Irish halibut. The extensive wine list includes ‘very acceptable wine by the glass’. Breakfast brings a good choice of hot and cold options, with almost everything sourced from local suppliers. (Richard Parish)