To the manor born
Upon arrival you are immediately immersed into the tranquil world which is Farnham Estate. Just driving into the grounds along the 2km private road, through the golf course and mature woodlands you can’t fail to be impressed by the serenity of the surroundings. The hotel itself is set in extensive gardens, a total of 1,300 acres of woods, lakes and walking trails.
The magnificent Great House, built in the 16th century stands proudly at the top of the hill with the modern wing at its side.
Parking for the hotel is located a short walk from the hotel. However, if you are feeling lazy you can use the hotel’s shuttle bus which runs every few minutes. Alternatively you can drive to the reception area and a member of staff will kindly park your car for you.
In the modern wing of the hotel there are 146 bedrooms, with each room decorated in a contemporary design. Our twin room overlooked the gardens and the infinity pool, tempting despite the sub-zero temperatures. With a chaise longue and a comfy chair we had the perfect spot to sit and relax while watching the snow falling outside.
Our room had everything you need for a comfortable stay, including widescreen TV, wireless broadband, tea and coffee facilities plus a good- sized bathroom with a separate shower and bath. Luxurious toiletries and fluffy white dressing gowns and slippers gave that extra touch.
The 400-year-old great house is where the majority of the hotel’s suites are located. They are all unique in size and style with a merited reputation of being among the finest in Ireland.
We arrived at the hotel at 3.30pm and were ravenous so we went to see what they had on offer in the way of a light but late lunch. There was only bar food available at this time in the Botanical bar but there was a wide choice, all reasonably priced. I had a delicious open roast beef sandwich with plenty of hot horseradish sauce, my friend ordered the golfer’s sandwich, a triple-decker focaccia sandwich with absolutely everything in it — make sure you are hungry before ordering this one.
On the first night we dined in the cosy Wine Goose Cellar restaurant. It is situated in one of the many underground tunnels which once served as the kitchen and staff quarters. Seating was very informal and many people were just in there to sample the fine wines and cocktails. Food is served each evening from 6pm — 10pm.
On the Saturday evening we chose to eat in the Botanical restaurant where either a set menu or a la carte was available. We selected the set menu which was good value for €40 a head; although we both ordered the fillet steak which had a premium of €10, well worth it though as it was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious.
The hotel prides itself on using locally produced ingredients. It was extremely busy, but the staff were efficient and ensured that the service did not falter, still making time to make recommendations, especially when it came to choosing dessert.
There is also the Potting Shed, which is a private dining room which caters for small parties with up to 10-12 guests. Dining in the Potting Shed you get to watch the chefs up close and personal cooking your supper. Breakfast was a self- service buffet with everything you could possibly want.
On the ground floor of Farnham House are three beautiful drawing rooms — the music room, the games room and the boudoir, where guests can relax and unwind. Large open fires and comfy sofas made it the ideal place to snuggle up with a good book and a drink and watch the world go by outside.
The Farnham Estate Health Spa won the Irish Tatler Best Hotels Spa Award last year, spans more than 40,000sq feet with 19 treatment rooms, a fully equipped gym, thermal suites, relaxation rooms and a large swimming pool, which opens outdoors to the infinity pool. The added bonus is that it is child-free. No one under the age of 16 is permitted in this area, which makes it an ideal haven for those wanting to escape and enjoy peaceful surroundings.
I had a wonderful neck, back and shoulder massage by Marcin, one of the few male masseuses at Farnham. My only complaint was that it only lasted 25 minutes; I could easily have laid there all day.
We really enjoyed the swimming pool and we were brave enough to swim outside, despite the cold weather (we visited in February). We only had to give in and go back inside when the snow began to fall and started to settle on our swimming caps.
As well as the extensive treatments that are on offer, there is also the water mint thermal suite where you could quite easily laze around for a couple of hours. Steam rooms, saunas, ice fountains, salt inhalation rooms, and reflexology foot basins are but a few of the areas and features where you can unwind before heading into the relaxation room for a snooze.
Farnham Estate is set in expansive woodlands, with over 7km of walking trails. There are five nature walks ranging from a quick 45-minute ramble to a two-and-a-half-hour loop walk which takes you through the woods and lakelands on the estate. The views are wonderful and array of wildlife. The woodlands are a birdwatchers’ paradise; make sure you bring your binoculars.
Mountain bikes can also be hired; although there are only four so early booking is essential. Be prepared to get very muddy if you are taking them down the trails. We were there on a very wet and cold weekend and parts of the route was extremely boggy, but I suppose that adds to the fun of it.
— With a ranking of 48 in the top 100 courses in Ireland, this is a must for any golfing fanatic.
The 18-hole course was designed by Jeff Howes, and is spread over 500 acres of countryside and dense woodland. Priced at €30 for hotel residents.
Coarse fishing is on offer to residents and is complementary when using your own equipment.
With its excellent position in Ireland’s “Lake District” Cavan is a great place to visit.
Just over an hour from both Dublin and Belfast, and three-and-a- half hours from Cork, Cavan is very accessible for visitors from all over the country.
The overnight treat package includes dinner, breakfast and a treatment of your choice from €240 per person sharing.
Or the weekender package including two nights’ accommodation, breakfast both mornings and two 50-minute treatments of your choice, from €340 per person sharing.
Log onto www.farnhamestate.ie for more information and to book or call 049-4377700.
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