TRAVEL REVIEW: Lough Eske Castle, Donegal

by Orla Mullan

Before heading off to spend a night in Lough Eske Castle in Donegal, I did a little bit of light research online.

Having never been to the hotel and spa, which is part of the Solis group, I was eager to find out a little bit about the venue.

Words such as ‘marvellous’, ‘splendid’, 'grand’ and ‘sleek’ all jumped out at me as I scrolled down the screen.

During my 'research' I also noticed that Sarah Jessica Parker (of Sex and the City fame) and her husband Matthew Broderick dined in the five star hotel's restaurant a few years ago.

After finding this out I was excited about our stay.

After all, if it's good enough for SJP then it's good enough for me!

As we set off on our journey to Donegal, my husband and I didn't let the rain dampen our spirits.

As we pulled in off the main road and made our way along the long, winding driveway to the castle, sunshine beat down on the lake which could be seen through the gaps in the trees which lined each side of the road.

I couldn't help but notice numerous forest trails which were signposted for walkers as we approached the hotel car park.

After parking up, we grabbed our luggage and made our way to the hotel entrance via the courtyard.

As we marvelled at the grandness of the castle itself, it was only when we approached the front of the building that we were able to take it all in.

We were seriously impressed as we gazed up at the castle set in picturesque grounds and were really keen to get a look inside.

As we approached the steps to the entrance, two concierge approached us and offered to take our bags. They led us swiftly to the hotel reception where we were greeted by a very friendly member of staff.

The check-in process was quick and after giving us our key cards, the staff member told us a little bit about the castle and explained where we would find the restaurant, bar and spa, among other amenities.

A few moments later and the concierge was back to take our bags and guide us to our room on the first floor.

Our first impressions of the hotel and lobby were very positive but when we saw our room, we were even more impressed.

The classic decor, the four poster bed, the luxurious bathroom complete with Irish handmade toiletries - everything about the room oozed luxury.

A cupcake and minature fruit bowl, along with a handwritten note from management made us feel very welcome.

After taking in the room, we decided to explore the castle and its grounds.

As we made our way down the grand staircase, the smell of the log fire and the comfy looking chairs in the snug areas was really enticing however we decided to head outdoors.

Following a quick walk around the castle (I wasn't exactly wearing appropriate footwear for a long trek), we decided to head back to our rooms to retrieve our swimwear.

A swim in the pool followed by a spell in the steam room was the perfect way to relax after a hectic week at work.

The spa, which is also housed in the Victorian glass house, boasts seven treatment rooms and an endless list of treatments for her and for him.  I was very tempted to avail of one of said treatments however dinner was booked for 7pm and I didn't have much time.

We were well ready for eating by the time we reached the Cedars restaurant.

We were led to our table by a very helpful member of staff who quickly took our drinks order.

After studying the menu and the wide array of dishes, I decided to go for minestrone soup for starter and a sirloin steak for my main course.

My husband decided to go for the fillet for his main. He decided against a starter (I think he wanted to save room for dessert).

While waiting for the starters to come out, our server brought out a selection of bread and some goats cheese, compliments of the kitchen. These were really nice appetisers and very well presented.

After polishing those off, out came the soup. It's obvious that the chefs at Cedars take great pride in the presentation of their food.  As the bowl containing pasta was set in front of me, the server brought out a jug and poured the soup into the dish. Top marks for presentation and taste.

As we were waiting for our main course, we caught a glimpse of the steaks which were being placed in front of the diners beside us. They looked quite big and I began to worry about whether or not I should have skipped the starter, after all, how was I going to fit all this in?

My husband really enjoys a steak, as do I, but I think he's more difficult to impress than me.

Thankfully we had nothing to worry about though as the steak was cooked to perfection.  The taste was 'unreal' as he put it and the sides and sauce were the perfect accompaniment.

With dinner finished and our plates taken away, our server asked if we would like to view the sweet menu. The temptation of the lemon cake was too much for me and I caved in. My husband decided to go for the rather exotic sounding chocolate sphere - fruit and ice cream encased in a chocolate sphere which melted as soon as our server poured hot chocolate sauce over it. Sadly, I wasn't able to finish mine as I had too much to eat beforehand but my husband managed to eat all his (I knew I should have skipped the starter).

Following the meal, we made our way to the busy hotel bar where there was live music. We found two seats by the bar and sat back, taking in the warm and friendly atmosphere.

A few whiskeys (not me) and strawberry daiquiris later and we decided to retire for bed.

The following morning, we made our way back to Cedars restaurant, this time for breakfast.

With a wide selection of food available there was too much to choose from.

In the end, we both decided on a good old fry.  As we approached the buffet stand, a chef asked us how we would like our eggs cooked.  By the time we had filled our plates, he had our eggs ready.

Again, the food was delicious - the perfect way to set us up for the day.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end and before we knew it, it was time to check out of our room.

We truly enjoyed our traditional castle experience and would highly recommend it.

One thing's for sure, we will certainly be making plans to return in the future and we really can't wait.

Lough Eske currently offers a number of packages for both midweek and during the weekend making it the perfect escape this spring.

For more information and prices, visit www.solishotels.com