Lordin’ it by the lakes
A busy market town, complete with a wonderful local authority playground for small ‘uns and an outdoor gym for the mammies and daddies, it is surrounded by majestic forests, rolling hills and lakes.
The upgrade of our roads network means it’s now just over an hour’s leisurely drive from the capital and the perfect spot for a few days r ‘n’ r, if you are lucky enough to be heading to the Radisson Blu hotel at Farnham Estate.
The magnificent history of the estate includes occupancy by a bishop, its design by GPO architect Francis Johnston and some strange rules inflicted by Lord Farnham on his tenants in the 1820s.
Today’s Farnham Estate is an oasis of calm and luxury — a million miles from the hardship of the estate’s past tenants.
However, be warned — the carpark is a short trek from the hotel itself, but if you don’t fancy dragging your luggage up the drive, fear not — the hotel has laid on a constant shuttle mini-bus to ferry you the short jaunt back and forth.
These are split between the modern section of the hotel — comfy spacious rooms typical of the Radisson brand — and more individual ones in the original Farnham house.
Our Farnham suite comprised two large rooms — and a good-sized bathroom with separate, huge, shower and standalone bath.
The bedroom overlooked the entrance and onwards down to the forest and lake walks. Two widescreen TVs meant no arguments over Sky Sports v news channels and a chaise longue was well-located at the end of the bed for relaxing in the afternoon with a book, glass of wine or afternoon viewing.
Farnham boasts a magnificent golf course and also one of the largest and most elaborate spas in the country — with a magnificent infinity pool which extends outdoors if bathers are brave enough to pass through the sliding door and expose the top of their heads to the elements.
But on a warm summer’s day, the sun loungers and tables outside are for chatting amid the views over the hills and to the forests, rivalling any Alpine resort. A local man informed me that a swim in the outdoor pool during last winter’s snow storms was a treat to be savoured. I didn’t doubt him.
The adjoining spa is open to hotel residents. If you don’t wish to avail of the extensive treatments, you could easily spend a few hours sampling the water mint thermal suite, with an aroma steam room, salt inhalation room, snail showers, foot spas, traditional sauna, and ice fountain. Or maybe you are more energetic and want to spend a bit of time in the gym?
Either way, you can avail of complimentary teas and coffees in the spa’s own comfy fireside lounge or browse around the extensive spa shop.
It’s no wonder the spa has just picked up Tatler magazine’s ‘Best Hotel Spa’ for 2011.
I opted for the Farnham signature treatment — which started with a foot and leg scrub, following by a deep tissue massage. I am not a fan of facials so my therapist Leona kindly replaced that element with a scalp massage instead. The room was a little in need of TLC around the corners, with some chipped paint needing updating, and I could have been staring at something other than the mechanics of a massage bed while I was face down (some spas camouflage bed legs with flowers or even cushions) but those really were the only complaints I had during my 90 minutes of heaven. My partner was well impressed with his full body massage which lasted for an hour and we met back at the comfortable but busy relaxation room.
In fact, during our two-night stay, we were taken with how busy the hotel was and yet we were still struck by the sense of calm and quiet.
It wasn’t until we were checking out that the staff pointed out why — there are no children allowed in the spa area and, as a result, it’s not seen as a family hotel — but more of an oasis for stressed-out parents or romantic young couples.
It has also got quite a fan base among girlfriends who like to avail of the good value spa options on weekends away from the city. I’d imagine it’s a big hit with spa-loving hen parties, too.
There are plenty of options for food at Farnham Estate, starting with the Botanica bar in the lobby, with courtyard seating for fair weather days. You can also dine at the atmospheric cellar bar in the evenings, which was buzzing while we were there for post- dinner drinks. But we opted for the main Botanica Restaurant, overlooking the lawn. Local produce is the priority here and an extensive European menu including many fish dishes and a mouth-watering dessert menu. The self-service breakfast buffet was also very impressive, and while the staff were not too chatty, they were certainly efficient.
The estate currently has a huge variety of special offers, ranging from accommodation-only weekend and mid-week breaks, to stays including spa treatments — all at www.farnhamestate.ie Currently, there is a wonderful ‘3 nights for 2’ offer of €159 pps, including one dinner and unlimited use of the spa, gym and pool.
The estate is well worth exploring — with over 7km of walking trails, three lakes and with a walking guide book of maps and tips.
The pine forest close to the hotel is spectacular and worth a visit alone — ideal for amateur photographers, it’s like a set from Lord of the Rings or The Princess Bride.
Bring your walking shoes, as Cavan has plenty of walking trails and lakeside paths to avail of.
If you’re a fisherman, golfer or a nature-watcher, you might never leave the estate.
Traditional Irish music fans can usually find a session or two in one of the town’s many pubs during the summer.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
