Weekend break: Lapping up the luxury of lakeside living in Ard na Sidhe, Co Kerry

Joe Dermody finds there is much to enjoy in rolling hills of Co Kerry, especially without the aid of his sat nav.

One of the bedrooms at the luxurious Ard na Sidhe Country House at Caragh Lake, Killorglin, Co Kerry.

Dare to stray from the well worn routes, turn off the sat nav and take your car across one of the glorified undulating sheep tracks through the Kerry mountains.

At the time, the jury was out; but now I’m so glad that I went astray driving back from a great day trip to Dingle, taking at least one wrong turn en route to our hosts in Ard na Sidhe Country House, the stunning heritage home on 32 acres of landscaped gardens hidden in the depths of Caragh Lake, not far from Killorglin. But more about the house later.