Castlemartyr resort: Luxury does begin at home
Why head off after a week’s work only to return home bleary eyed on a Sunday night after an exhausting journey? It doesn’t add up.
To capitalise on our limited time, we jumped at a local staycation offer. With just two small suitcases in the boot, we found ourselves pulling into our destination — a five-star oasis on 220 lush acres — 20 minutes after leaving home.
It was all the time we needed to shed the skin of our suburban, routine-bound life and step into an altogether more genteel world.
As our car slowly rolled over the long crunchy driveway, we were surprised by the number of local walkers and runners we passed as they exercised on a fine evening. Situated in the heart of Castlemartyr village, the history-soaked resort — with an 800-year-old castle and 17th century manor house — seems to be stitched into the geography of the community.
This relaxed attitude set the tone for our stay. We felt free to breeze in and around the hotel and its grounds, making it our home from home. Staff were friendly and helpful at all times but no one stood on ceremony: Irish five-star service at its fuss-free best.
There was a collective intake of breath when the porter opened our bedroom door. We were housed in a presidential-style suite — a large sitting room with leather sofa, writing table and flat-screen TV, flanked on either side by double bedrooms with marble-clad en-suites. The beds were top quality and, once we got the air conditioning sorted, we slept soundly, the electric blackout windows keeping the early morning hidden until we awoke after a blessed eight hours. The views of the garden from our balcony, which stretched the length of the suite, were impressive.
Breakfast was a feast of choices — all fruit juices were freshly squeezed, French pastries were piled high — and there were enough cold meats and Irish cheeses to feed a rugby team.
The children opted for warm waffles with maple syrup and manfully wolfed the lot down. We were happy to graze from the buffet table for starters before ordering porridge and cream, a large pot of Earl Grey tea and toasted wholemeal bread — dense, heavy and very moreish — to finish things off.
For dinner we kept things simple: soup, fish and dessert. Our fish, a generous portion of pan fried sea bass, was cooked to perfection and melted in the mouth. Vegetable portions were more nouvelle cuisine than country kitchen, so I ordered more — they arrived promptly without extra charge. The children stuck with the familiar, ordering chips and burgers, and left their plates clean.
When it rained, the swimming pool was the perfect place for the children to let off steam — the older two were happy to splash about but our six-year-old needed to be held throughout as the water was too deep for him to stand.
We also discovered a playroom in the original building with a smattering of toys and DVDs but, more importantly, it was spacious, allowing the boys to run around and make noise.
I took the opportunity to get a facial in the in-house spa. It was one of the best I’ve ever had. My experienced therapist took a forensic approach, analysing my skin type before deciding which ESPA treatment to use. The experience was completed with a pressure-perfect head and neck massage.
Outside the gardens, a mix of formal and free-flow design, were a joy to roam and perfect for a contemplative morning walk. For serious fitness bunnies, the hotel also houses a state of the art gym. It also offers archery, laser clay pigeon shooting, bicycles, and an impressive Ron Kirby-designed, 18-hole golf course.
In the heart of east Cork, the hotel is the perfect base for a weekend retreat. The farmer’s market in Midleton on Saturdays is always worth a visit for its range of fresh produce, including organic vegetables and eggs, farmhouse cheeses and hot food.
Further inland there’s Ballymaloe House, which thanks to Myrtle Allen enjoys a global reputation for cuisine, while gourmands on a budget can nip into the café next door. Across the yard you’ll find the Grainstore, a venue for top acts — Charlie McGettigan plays there on Sep 28. Further east is the Ballymaloe Cookery school and also in the region are the Shanagarry Design Centre and Stephen Pearse Pottery.
A family Halloween break is available from €220 per night (based on a two-night package), with castle ruins on site, breakfasts, dinner one evening and a spooky treat for kids. See www.castlemartyrresort.ie; Castlemartyr Resort, Castlemartyr, Co Cork; 021-4219000 for more deals.
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