The Madness of Monaghan: a weekend of adventure
A far cry from the desolate county of black hills and cold fields, Monaghan is fast becoming the adventure capital of Ireland. Boasting an impressively long list of activities, including kayaking, falconry and clay pigeon shooting, it’s not hard to see why.
In the days leading up to my weekend away, I boastfully told of my impending stay at the Castle Leslie Estate. From fellow travellers to chatty taxi drivers, all agreed I would be staying in the lap of luxury.
A short drive from Monaghan town, the Castle and grounds are like something out of a fairy tale. With over 1,000 acres, and accommodation ranging from hotel and castle bedrooms to self-catering cottages and apartments, there genuinely is something for everyone.
Upon arrival, the staff were friendly, chatty and warm — not once did I feel talked down to as is sometimes the case in such high-end accommodations. Being more of a hostel/backpacking kind of gal, this put me at ease and set the tone for the duration of my stay.
The first night, I stayed in a bedroom in The Lodge. Foolish as it sounds, I did actually gasp when entering the room. The bed was huge, the television was widescreen, the bath looked like it had come from a Victorian novel… and the balcony (yes, balcony!) overlooked the stables and a quaint old clock tower. It was perfect.
Immediately, I dropped my belongings and plunged into the downy softness of cotton and silk and more pillows than I could count. After a suitably comfortable sojourn, I migrated to the crystal clear waters of a steaming hot bath. An hour later, wrapped in one of the hotel bathrobes, I felt completely rejuvenated — the whole day’s travel had been worth it, just for that.
On my second night, I stayed in one of the self-catering apartments in The Old Stable Mews. A completely different experience from the hotel, the self-catering option is perfect for a stay with family or a group of friends. The apartment is fully furnished and even offers a real fireplace to make you feel at home.
&my fastest lap was 1.01 at the rally driving this morning #doublewrecked #monaghanbant #lovedit #vroomvroombeepbeep pic.twitter.com/m5Vyf25Dh9
— Ceallach Ní Bhriain (Kelly O'Brien) (@Kellingtondawg) September 14, 2013
Preoccupied with the luxuries of my room, on the first night I lost track of time and missed dinner. The ever-helpful receptionists came to my rescue, however, and directed me to a nearby pizza place.
Ambledown Tea Rooms, locally known as either ‘Patrick’s’ or ‘Jeremy’s’ after the father and son owners, is truly a hidden gem. Inviting customers to bring their own wine, this quaint little restaurant is a hive of activity where locals and visitors come to converse.
I was seated with two girls who were full of chat and acted as if my being seated at their table was quite normal. After they left, I began talking to another group who offered me wine and beers and eventually moved over to my marginally bigger table. Popping out for a takeaway suddenly became three hours of food, drinks and fascinating conversation.
The following night, I ate at Snaffles Restaurant located in The Lodge, part of the Castle Leslie Estate. From the pristine surroundings to the attentive and welcoming staff, all the way down to the sheer quality of the six-course meal — this was absolute luxury.
Ninth place in the National Bog Snorkelling Championships with a time of 5 min 10 sec!! #wrecked #monaghanbant pic.twitter.com/kX6ftaCREb
— Ceallach Ní Bhriain (Kelly O'Brien) (@Kellingtondawg) September 14, 2013
Monaghan is a fantastic place to go if you’re looking for activities, be it a walking weekend or an adventure break.
On the Castle Leslie Estate alone, you can try your hand at fishing, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, kayaking and even falconry.
My time there was limited, unfortunately, but I did get to try some horse riding. In all honesty, I was never one for horses — they scared the bejaysus out of me. Surely, if they got half a chance, they’d kick me to death or, if I did somehow manage to get on top of one, it would run away with me into the night.
Instead, I met a beautiful little horse called Ebony who took me calmly through wood and glen with never so much as a whinny. My worries were completely unfounded and the worst thing that happened was a little muscle pain the next day.
In the surrounding area, one of the major highlights is Rally School Ireland in Scotstown. Though I’m not the most competent driver, having failed my test a few months back, I was putting my foot to the floor of my Ford Rally Ka in no time, booting it around the track like the female Stig.
Fresh from the heart-thumping adrenalin of rally driving, my next stop was the annual Bog Snorkelling Championships, held in Castleblaney each September.
Perhaps it’s a bit mad to jump into an Irish bog wearing nothing but leggings and a sports bra, but it was great fun and more exhausting than you’d think!
The championships are definitely one of Monaghan’s activity highlights and are well worth travelling up for, even if you’re not participating.
The Castle Leslie Estate offers a wide variety of accommodation.
For specific room rates and special offers, visit www.castleleslie.com or phone 047 88100. Rally School Ireland can be contacted via their website www.rallyschoolireland.ie.
Check out www.discoverireland.ie/adventure for details on adventure and walking breaks in Ireland.
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