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Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle

The magnificent five star Ashford Castle is set in 350 acres, on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib. With 82 guest rooms, a wealth of activities and thoughtful touches, enjoy acclaimed Irish hospitality on a grand scale. The Castle dates back to 1228 when it was originally founded by the Anglo-Norman De Burgo family, later becoming the family home of the famous Guinness family whose name is now synonymous with the Emerald Isle.

Rooms : 82 Bedrooms.  Type : Couples, Families, Outdoor Active, Golf

 

OVERVIEW

The magnificent five star Ashford Castle is set in 350 acres, on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib. With 82 guest rooms, a wealth of activities and thoughtful touches, enjoy acclaimed Irish hospitality on a grand scale. The Castle dates back to 1228 when it was originally founded by the Anglo-Norman De Burgo family, later becoming the family home of the famous Guinness family whose name is now synonymous with the Emerald Isle.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Discover and immerse yourself in unique, authentic and intimate experiences of the West of Ireland.

  • You will be welcomed into the homes and workshops of three treasured artisan partners. Engage all of your senses with the sounds of the workshop, the beautiful landscapes, the smell of Irish rain and the taste of the finest Irish food.
  • Enjoy a collection of Irish experiences under four themes; Irish food, indigenous craft, music and story, and the real Connemara. Here are some samples of the experiences you can try.

Irish Crafts and Design:

Visit a local ceramicist’s studio and peruse her collection of stoneware and porcelain inspired by the Connemara landscape. Known for experimenting with smoke-firing techniques and making her own glazes, join our ceramicist at her potter’s wheel and get a hands-on feel for throwing Irish pottery.

A Taste of the West of Ireland:

You will be welcomed to the forager’s home on the breath taking Aughris Beg peninsula. Take a walk on the beautiful seashore overlooking the Atlantic and learn how to forage for tasty seafood. Return to the kitchen and prepare your seashore bounty over a glass of wine.

Music and Storytelling

Meet with Ireland’s foremost living seanachaí (storyteller) and gain an insight into Ireland’s oldest oral art-form. Travel the bi-roads and discover the ancient sacred places of faery trees and forts where magical stories abound.

Discover Connemarra

Join the crew of a traditional Galway hooker sailing boat for a magical sailing experience in the sheltered bays of south Connemara. Hoist the sail of this beautiful piece of maritime history and discover intimate island bays and beaches

 

ACCOMMODATION

Corrib Lake View Room

Experience elegant traditional style at its finest, some featuring wonderful gilt and cream painter tester beds and unique furnishings to provide guests a stylish sanctuary in which to relax. Decorated with a variety of colour palettes to suit all tastes and preferences, they are an ideal choice.

Family Room

Spacious Deluxe Queen Rooms consist of two Queen size beds with a comfortable relaxation area. Overlooking the magnificent Lough Corrib or Cong River, the rooms are perfect for couples or families (suitable for two adults and two children under the age of 12 years)

State Rooms

Each Stateroom is located in the oldest part of the castle, dating back to the 13th and 17th centuries. Rooms contain feature beds and original fireplaces with exquisite antique furniture. The Staterooms also boast large bathrooms.

Suites

Ashford Suites offer a spacious feel and opulent elegance with comfortable king size beds as well as a large private dining space. With views of the River Cong or Lough Corrib, the Suites, have recently been refurbished to the highest luxury standard.

DINING

George V Dining Room

Dine like Royalty in this special room built to commemorate the visit from The Prince of Wales in 1905. Enjoy exceptional dishes and fine wines in this elegant and graceful setting.

The Castle Wine Cellars

The Wine Cellars at Ashford Castle offer private wine tastings and wonderful wine dinners in the secret passageways of the castle, which were unearthed during recent renovations.

Private Dining

Ashford Castle offers a number of spaces to suit your preferences and requirements, from intimate dining to grand banqueting.

The Prince of Wales Bar

This bar offers refined traditional style with an original warm fireplace offering the finest of hospitality to enjoy a favourite tipple or pint of Guinness

The Connaught Room

Here you can enjoy the long established tradition of Afternoon Tea which has been wonderfully preserved at Ashford Castle since 1868 – you’ll notice the original silver tea set on display, which was presented to Lord and Lady Ardilaun to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 1896.

Cullens at the Cottage

This traditional thatched cottage, which used to be Cong Cinema, provides a relaxed dining experience with a casual dress code in which to enjoy international and local dishes. Enjoy the beautifully manicured garden and soak up the magnificent views of Ashford Castle in the distance.

 

ACTIVITIES

The expansive 350 acre Ashford Estate is one of the finest sporting estates in Ireland which lends itself perfectly to a range of activities, from country classic pastimes to modern activities. Try out the following activities at this vast playground.

  • Falconry
  • Clay Shooting and Archery
  • Fishing
  • Zip-lining and Tree Climbing
  • Cycling and Kayaking
  • Golf
  • Horse riding
  • Lake Cruising
  • Stand Up Paddle Boarding
  • Tennis
  • Traditional Boat Trips
  • Off Road Driving

 

 

FAMILY

Ashford Castle, one of the most magical destinations in the world, is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your family. Casting its spell on both young and old, you’ll be welcomed for an enchanting castle adventure.

Family friendly facilities, rooms, activites and dining options ensure everyone feels truly at home and has the time of their lives. Plenty of surprises and hidden adventures are waiting to be discovered – find the secret folly tower, built by Benjamin Lee Guinness, dubbed ‘Rapunzel’s Castle’; complete all the activities to earn the ‘Wolfhounds’ Badge; and ask about the secret map to the fairy paths.

Room Features for Children under 12 include;

  • LEGO menu with butler service
  • Personalised storybook for bedtime – your children discover they are the leading character
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Personalised homemade cookies
  • Xbox and/or PlayStation on request
  • Childrens’ selection of DVDs
  • Fully qualified and vetted babysitting service on request
  • "A Once in a Lifetime Stay!""

    Joanna Heathcote Educational Trip

  • "A Country Estate with staff who make you feel like family."

    Joanna Heathcote Educational Trip

 

ACCOMMODATION COLLECTION


Broughton Hall

 

 

 

Sleeps: 32 Bedrooms: 16 Bathrooms: 13

Type: Celebration, Family, Seclusion, Mindfulness, Fitness, Corporate

Features & Activities: Spa, Billiards room, Tennis Court, Rural, Country Sports, Mountain Biking, Landrover Experience, Foraging, Fire Pit

Location: Yorkshire, England. 35 minutes from Leeds Airport

Those looking for: Time to reconnect, motivate teams or re-energise.


Corrour Lodge

Sleeps: 28 Bedrooms: 7 Double ensuite with a kid’s bunkroom sleeps 14 Bathrooms: 9

Type: Family/multigenerational, Groups, Corporate, Seclusion

Features & Activities: Remote, Rural, Wild Swimming, Sauna Cabins, Hiking, Country Sports, Mountain Biking, Pony Trekking, Boating and Games Room

Location: Approximately 90 minutes from Inverness Airport

Those looking for: Time to reconnect, re-energise, embrace wilderness, motivate teams, celebrate


Cliff House Hotel

Rooms : 39 rooms and suites and two villas

Type :  family, couples, multigenerational, fishing, walking, hiking, golf, outdoor, city break, culinary, wellness, activity, off the beaten track

View entire accommodation collection

ASHFORD CASTLE, GALWAY

  • "Incredible service ! The BEST tour guides, tour options and always available to help smooth over any "snafus" that we ran across during our vacation. 5-star, A+ rating from us."

    Clients of Jessica Thompson, Fairway Travel, Virtuoso

  • "....their time in the U.K. was PERFECT – loved everything you guys did for them, and sang praises for everyone! Thank you!! "

    Connie Hanes, Herff Travel

  • "Everyone, from the Tour Guides to our excellent driver, were amazing. All aspects of the trip were beyond expectations. Even changing our day schedule for outside reasons (like the airline sending my bag to a city 120miles away) they were always happy to help and move the schedule around so we could keep enjoying our trip. Everyone made us feel at home and like family."

    Client of Leah Molinari, Molinari Travel, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dream Escape was the trip of a lifetime. Excellent choice of hotels, tour guide was awesome, the planned tours were wonderful and very informative."

    Client of Trisha Rathke, VIP Travel Designs, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dreamscape designed an itinerary that combined an exploration of Scottish history and culture and a visit to some of the filming locations for the hit TV show Outlander. The tour guides provided were personable and knowledgeable and responsive to our interests. Our driver who was with us for the entire trip was professional and pleasant and again, flexible and sensitive to our interests. The hotels were magnificent and the pacing of the trip, spending at least two nights in each hotel was perfect. The itinerary was everything we wanted!"

    Client of Susan Morley, Journeys around the World, Cadence

  • "Sally Strange was wonderful so knowledgable, friendly and fun. 100% would use her services again. We feel like we have a friend for life! We LOVED our tours, where we ate lunch, and spending the days with Sally......Thanks (once again!) for looking after our clients so well. We so appreciate you. "

    Lauren Ainsley, Black Tomato

  • "Rosie...thank you for giving us such a world-class experience in Scotland. Everyone had such a wonderful time and your presence was a large part of that. Your warmth and generosity in taking care of us on our little excursion is so beyond appreciated and I can’t wait to work with you again soon."

    Alex Martinetti

  • "Thank you so very much for the amazing trip to Scotland that you planned for us!! It was truly a once in a lifetime fabulous family trip!! Not only were the accommodations perfect, the activities were above expectations, given the people involved with so much knowledge and compassion for what they do....Many, many heartfelt thanks for making this trip so very special for our family. "

    Clients of Kristen Meckem, Kristen Meckem Travel, An Affiliate of Brownell

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    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "We cannot thank you enough for all you did for us during our stay in Scotland! We loved every minute of it....and we loved you teaching us the history of each town and visit. "

    The Pogue Family - Clients of Amy Spence, Strong Travel

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    Pat Bowden, Red Letter Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell

  • "Michael does such an outstanding job with making sure every itinerary he works on with me is well thought out. He is attentive to detail and always allows for the clients interest to be reflected in their tours. He makes sure that the perfect tour operator and chauffeur is paired with each client. I wanted you to know what a pleasure it is working with Michael and knowing my clients will always be well cared for when traveling with Dream Escape! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Without a doubt, what made all of it so special and unforgettable was having the true pleasure of having Sally Strange as our guide. She was truly incredible..so full of life, energy, amazing historical knowledge anywhere we visited was extraordinary. Her sense of humor and fun personality made her extra special. Sally was a winner in every way."

    Clients of Betsy Talbot, Travel by Talbot (Brownell)

  • "Your team excelled on all levels! The execution of the itinerary was flawless!!! Well done. The clients LOVED Sally and this was just the second note from them about how exceptional she was. "

    Cathy Major, Cerulean World Travel

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    Krista Boyles, Unique Romance Travel

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    Marieta Carrrero, Boost Journeys

  • "I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone at Dream Escape who helped in making the Gialamas' visit to London special. I know Dream Escape has many people behind the scenes that work on making an itinerary such as this flow seamlessly and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Activities & Tours - All the events and guides were outstanding.- Guides - Simply the best. All of them. All outstanding! "

    Black Tomato Clients

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    Gretchen Ashworth Stewart, Client

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    Nancy Ebel, Virtuoso Travel Advisor

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    Shannon Marie Long - Reed and Mackay

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    Josh Whitaker - Owner, Rudi Steele Travel

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    Rob Arrow, Al Tayyar Group

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    William A Heim, Client

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    Jean Newman-Glock, Signature Travel Network

  • "You were the heart and soul of the trip….I truly admired your sunny personality, sense of humor, organization and professionalism.  You also demonstrated  that a guide’s work is never done as you were constantly researching….. Did you ever rest??? "

    Sharon Delano, Frosch

  • "We want to thank you and the team from Dream Escape.  All six of us in our group had a wonderful time, and we all agreed we owed that in large measure to the work of Dream Escape. From the onset of working with you, you demonstrated a tremendous knowledge about all the activities we wished to pursue —from playing golf to dining at excellent restaurants to seeing historical sites and the Tattoo and Fringe Festival.  And, then you executed "

    Thomas Cohen, Client

  • "THANK YOU a zillion times over for choosing/assigning Rosie to be with this family.  She MADE the trip for them – there’s no other way to put it! "

    Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

  • "Our holiday in Scotland now tops their lists of best trips…… To their growing list of amazing and memorable first-time experiences, our sons may add fishing for trout and salmon on the River Tay; steering a motor boat on Loch Ness; and taking private guided tours on Culloden Moor Of the eight full days we were in Scotland, Alex and Mattie thought each and every day was the best"

    Michael Guadarrama & Trammi Nguyen, clients of Peter Carideo. CRC Travel

  • "All six of us were deeply moved by the whole experience. Bravo Dream Escape "

    Max Levy, Direct client

  • "Thank you Karen and all of the staff and guides affiliated with Dream Escape…..the Flemings are having an awesome tour of Scotland. You all have made me look like a star! "

    Joni Gerace, The Travel Society, LLC

  • "Thanks for all your help and we can chalk this one up as a big success!   Our anniversary celebration was all we could have hoped for "

    Clients of Courtney Regan, Affiliate of Brownell Travel

  • "Rosie was MORE than outstanding – she went out of her way to help us in every regard...She was so knowledgeable – we all loved her"

    Jill A. Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

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    Cindy Evans, Travel Consultant

  • "I hope I have another opportunity to work with Dream Escape in the near future. The company is so professional, yet approachable and easy to work with. It has been a pleasure!"

    Carole McFarland, Universal Travel

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    Donald M. Davis, President, Luxury Travel, Inc.

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    Peter Carideo, CRC Travel

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    Ann Lipschitz, Worldview Travel

  • "Your level of service is just outstanding"

    Debra Fini, VWTI

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    Financial Times, How to Spend it

  • "It was, without doubt, one of the most spectacular weekends I have ever had"

    Country Life

  • "David Tobin’s an ace at getting inside private castles and estates and he’s well connected.... "

    Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

  • "The level of service they provide is outstanding. They truly care about every aspect of the trip to ensure you have a fantastic stay. Rosie is a hidden gem of a tour guide. Just fabulous."

    Yvonne Malka, Signature Travel Network, April 2018