Ballyvolane House

There’s ‘an atmosphere of warm hospitality’ and ‘a genuine sense of welcome’ at Justin and Jenny Green’s historic, family-friendly country house in the North Cork countryside, say Guide inspectors in 2016. ‘Magnificently furnished with antiques and fine art, the house nevertheless remains a family home (with children’s music on the grand piano, for instance).’ Treats abound in the characterful bedrooms: magazines, home-made cordial and chocolates, fancy coffee. ‘Our spacious room had a large bed, ornate bedside tables, a marble fireplace with an eclectic selection of (mostly Irish) books; the bathroom, with a deep bath approached by mounting steps, was pure class.’ The house-party atmosphere, perhaps steeped in glasses of the ‘wonderfully fragrant’ house gin, Bertha’s Revenge, encourages guests to dine communally. ‘We summoned up the courage to eat with strangers, and shared a fascinating, totally unpredicted evening of humour and common enthusiasms. The food, meanwhile – crab brûlée; beautifully rare sirloin steaks; lemon meringue pie – was immaculately, informally served.’ In the morning, breakfast is ‘splendid’.