Page 363 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Eating & Sleeping

married Dylan Thomas. With 140 modern
Galway City 1 rooms and a large, enclosed pool, the hotel’s
view of the Cascades from the entrance steps
4 Heron’s Rest B&B €€ is breathtaking, and there are 20 hectares of
(%091-539 574; www.theheronsrest.com; wooded gardens.
16a Longwalk; s/d from €80/140; W) Ideally
located in a lovely row of houses on the banks of
the Corrib, the thoughtful hosts here give you Doolin 7
deck chairs so you can sit outside and enjoy the Inn €€
scene. Other touches include holiday-friendly 4 Cullinan’s Guesthouse
breakfast times (8am to 11am), decanters of (%065-707 4183; www.cullinansdoolin.com; d
port (enough for a glass or two) and more. from €100; pW) Owned by well-known fiddle-
Rooms are small and cute, with double-glazed playing James Cullinan, the eight rooms at this
windows and water views. smart place on the River Aille are very good- IRELAND 26 MuSICAL LANDSCAPES
looking, with power showers and comfortable
fittings. A couple of rooms are slightly smaller
Ennis 2 than the others, but are right on the water.
There’s a lovely back terrace for enjoying the
5 Zest Cafe € views.
(www.zestfood.ie; Market Pl; meals €5-10;
h8am-6pm Mon-Sat, 10.30am-4.30pm Sun)
Zest combines a deli, bakery, shop and cafe. Inishmór 8
Excellent prepared foods from the region are B&B €€
offered along with salads, soups and much 4 Man of Aran Cottage
more. It’s ideal for a coffee or lunch. (%099-61301; www.manofarancottage.com;
Kilmurvey; s/d from €55/80; hMar-Oct) Built
4 Old Ground Hotel Hotel €€ for the 1930s film of the same name, this
(%065-682 8127; www.flynnhotels.com; thatched B&B doesn’t trade on past glories –
O’Connell St; s/d from €120/150; piW) A its authentic stone-and-wood interiors define
seasoned, charming and congenial space of charming. The owners are avid organic
polished floorboards, cornice-work, antiques gardeners (the tomatoes are famous) and their
and open fires, the lobby is always a scene: bounty can become your meal (mains €22).
old friends sinking into sofas, deals cut at
the tables, and ladies from the neighbouring
church’s altar society exchanging gossip over Inisheer 9
tea. Parts of this smart and rambling landmark
date back to the 1800s. The 83 rooms vary 4 Fisherman’s Cottage &
greatly in size and decor – don’t hesitate to South Aran House B&B €€
inspect a few. On balmy days, retire to tables (%099-75073; www.southaran.com; Castle
on the lawn. Village; s/d €49/80; hApr-Oct; W) Slow-food
enthusiasts run this sprightly B&B and cafe
that’s a mere five-minute walk from the pier;
Ennistymon 4 look for the lavender growing in profusion at
the entrance. Meals (dinner mains €12 to €20)
4 Falls Hotel Hotel €€ celebrate local seafood and organic produce.
(%065-707 1004; www.fallshotel.ie; off N67; Nonguests can enjoy cakes by day and dinner at
r from €95; pWs) Built on the ruins of an night, but will need to book. Rooms are simple
O’Brien castle, this handsome and sprawling yet stylish. Kayaking and fishing are among the
Georgian house was once Ennistymon House, activities on offer.
the family home of Caitlín MacNamara, who

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