Farnham Estate, a perfect place to indulge the senses
A Radisson hotel, just four kilometres outside of Cavan town, it’s situated right in the middle of a 1,300-acre idyllic country estate and woodland and everything about the place oozes relaxation.
Farnham promotes nature, nurture, eating well and wellbeing; it had everything I was looking for in a weekend getaway and provided the perfect opportunity to recharge and be pampered.
Granted the journey to Cavan was a bit of a trek from Cork — four-hours, including a coffee stop — but at least I had my friend Marian for company. From Dublin and Belfast airports it’s less than a 90-minute drive.
Our staycation began as soon as we turned into Farnham Estate; leaving the main road behind, we were met by a beautiful tree-lined roadway that meandered all the way to the hotel car park where a courtesy minibus awaited and a porter tended to our luggage.
We were driven to Farnham reception, in an original, 400-year-old Irish country house, surrounded by green meadows, the woodland and 18-hole championship golf-course.
The house has been restored and is nestled alongside a contemporary Radisson Blu Hotel.
Inside is what you’d expect of a four-star hotel, it was clean, spacious and well-furnished with a pleasing décor inspired by the estate’s natural surrounds.
What sets Farnham apart though, is its customer service. Staff members were attentive, friendly and welcoming and not in an overbearing or patronising way. It was impressive.
Our suite wasn’t ready on arrival — the guests before us had obviously taken advantage of the very relaxed 3pm checkout — so Marian decided to have a bite to eat and bask in her surroundings, while I opted for some pampering — a two-hour head-to-toe treatment called Crann na Beatha or Tree of Life.
The signature treatment uses ÓGRA organic peat products to detoxify, purify and tone the skin.
Talk about indulgence.
It began with a welcome touch ritual to awaken and rebalance the energy points in my body. Then the treatment itself started with a full body exfoliation to promote lymph flow while and remove surface cells and encourage regeneration.
I’ve had body scrubs before and rarely see results — I always think the grains in the exfoliant are too fine — but I loved this scrub. I liked that I could feel it on my skin so I felt it was working; It is 100% natural and Irish.
The peat encourages blood flow which can help treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns, scars and stretch marks.
It’s also meant to improve inflammation, help treat cellulite and aid in weight loss — who doesn’t want to shifting cellulite?
Warmed basalt river rocks were pressed to my skin to release tension and afterwards I was snugly wrapped in what felt like a cocoon of foil.
This part was called the serail chamber — dry heat and steam activated the peat’s healing effects — it was actually really calming; being tucked into my foil bed, all safe and warm. My face was then cleansed and massaged and I was left alone to drift into a zen-like state.
When the foil was removed, a rainforest shower washed away the black peat.
I wasn’t expecting my skin to be any different, but it was. It was smooth all over and had a sheen — particularly on my legs — they were glowing.
Next, warm lavender oil was drizzled over my body and rubbed into my skin during a full body massage; it was the quintessential ending to the two-hour ritual and I felt great.
Crann na Beatha would make a lovely gift for someone special, particularly for an occasion like a birthday, Christmas, or Mother’s Day.
Afterwards I continued my relaxation buzz and lay on one of the comfy daybeds, sipping tea and feasting on fruit while flicking through a magazine in the relaxation room.
Downstairs, the spa has an indoor and outdoor pool overlooking the countryside, so afterwards Marian and I spent a couple of hours there and in the adjoining thermal suite, sauna and steam rooms. It was blissful. The only downside was that the Jacuzzi wasn’t working and neither were some of the hydrotherapy pool jets.
After a day of rest we considered a yoga class but decided with an eight-o’clock dinner reservation we’d be hard pressed to fit it in, so we went to our suite.
One of eight in the hotel, it was very comfortable, with two large single beds, a chaise lounge, all of the usual creature comforts — wireless broadband, a mini bar, tea/coffee provisions and a flat screen LCD television.
The room and en-suite bathroom boasted soothing views of the estate’s gardens.
We got ready for dinner and made our way to the Botanica restaurant, downstairs.
I was surprised to find that aside from the evening menu there was a separate vegetarian one — a rarity, I can assure you — and coeliacs were also well catered for.
The food was delicious. After a soup starter, Marian had lamb cutlets, served with mashed potato and roasted vegetables and I had a vegetable risotto — it was cooked to perfection.
We couldn’t resist dessert, so we split a crème brulee and took a cheese board and bubbles back to our suite where we watched TV from our incredibly comfortable beds.
The hotel was busy, and most people we spoke to had booked their stay through Groupon. Many of the guests comprised young couples, new parents with babies or groups of friends — we didn’t see any teenagers or young children but that’s not to say they aren’t welcome.
Cavan town is nearby and has many tourist attractions — Marble Arch caves, a Geopark, a railway museum and crystal showrooms — but if, like us, your time is limited then there’s hardly reason to venture outside the grounds.
There are seven-kilometres of beautiful, natural walking trails through woodland — from short 45 minute walks to 2½ hours — surrounding the hotel and two pristine lakes you can fish from.
If you’re feeling more active, there’s lawn bowls, a gymnasium, fitness classes, an 18-hole championship golf course, or bikes to hire at reception for €15 a day.
Alternatively you could just curl up beside the fire in one of the drawing rooms, watch the world go by, or lose yourself in a good book.
Cavan was never on my list of ‘places I’d like to holiday’, but after my recent staycation it’s definitely somewhere I’d like to revisit, especially when I’m next hankering for some me-time.
Farnham is the perfect place to indulge the senses; and that’s certainly something everybody needs to do from time to time.
Visit www.farnhamestate.com for further information and special offers or contact the Health Spa on 049-4377700 / info.farnham@radissonblu.com
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