Gregans Castle Hotel

Not a castle at all, but an ivy-covered, stone manor house, this hotel is filled with light and offers lovely views of the Burren and Galway Bay. Owned and managed by the Hayden family, Gregans demonstrates decades of attention to detail. The drawing room and expansive hallways are filled with heirlooms, and the walls are decorated with Raymond Piper's mural paintings of the Burren. Guest rooms are spacious and elegantly decorated in muted colors with antique touches and comfortable orthopedic beds -- some have four-poster or canopied beds. All have expansive views of the countryside. On a sunny day, you can play croquet on the lawn or feed the hotel's donkeys and ponies. The kitchen is led by a talented chef who turns fresh local produce into extraordinary meals -- it's well worth the cost for dinner here. Afterward, you can linger over drinks around the fire in the cozy lounge -- it's hard to believe this peaceful retreat is an hour's drive from Shannon Airport.

Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; drawing room; library

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.