Ballyvolane House
Amid gardens and parkland, with bluebell woods and trout lakes, this Georgian country house, remodelled in the 19th century, is not a hotel but a family home, say third-generation owners Justin and Jenny Green. More
Good Hotel Guide Review
Amid gardens and parkland, with bluebell woods and trout lakes, this Georgian country house, remodelled in the 19th century, is not a hotel but a family home, say third-generation owners Justin and Jenny Green. It is filled with possessions accumulated over nearly 70 years – antiques, portraits, landscapes, stuffed pheasants, lamps, figurines, vintage sofas. Log fires blaze; spaniels fawn. Bedrooms are full of character. Some have views to the Galtee mountains, or a huge bathroom with a trophy stag’s head over a freestanding bath. All have a coffee machine, home-made cordials, cookies and chocolate. A convivial dinner might include home-reared meat, salmon from their beats on the River Blackwater, fruit and vegetables from the walled garden, and foraged ingredients. Or perhaps nettle soup; gravadlax; roast saddleback pork, baked apple, Longueville House cider sauce; lemon posset; artisan cheeses. Children love to pet the donkeys, feed the hens and collect eggs for breakfast, or hop aboard for a trailer ride around the estate. A laburnum walk leads to bell tents and a ‘pig ark’ if you want to ‘glamp’ under the stars.
Hotel details
Address
Castlelyons
Fermoy
Co. Cork
P61 FP70
Ireland
Telephone
00 353 25 36349
Bedrooms
6. Plus ‘glamping’ tents May–Sept.
Open
all year, but closed Mon, Tues, Wed in winter except for group bookings, Christmas/New Year (self-catering only).
Facilities
hall, drawing room, garden hall (honesty bar), dining room, wedding facilities, barn (table tennis), 80-acre grounds (15-acre garden, croquet, tennis, trout lakes).
Background music
none.
Children
all ages welcomed, free cots, extra bed €30, high tea for under-13s €15.
Dogs
allowed (no charge) but kept on lead during shooting season July–Jan.
Credit cards
MC, Visa.
Prices
B&B doubles from €250. Set dinner €67.50.
Other reviews
Good Hotel Guide articles about
Ballyvolane House
- USA Today: 20 of the most beautiful hotels in Ireland
- The Lady: Top 10 romantic hotels for Valentine’s Day
- Huffington Post USA: Seven of the most beautiful hotels in Ireland
- The Independent: 10 of the best hotels for fishing in the UK and Ireland