Glin Castle, Glin, Ireland

The Fitzgerald family, hereditary Knights of Glin, have lived here for 700 years, though the present castle – a castellated house, really - was only built in the 18th-century. It is not especially beautiful and the exterior walls are covered in grey pebbledash. Inside, however, this luxury hotel is glorious. The furniture, paintings and ornaments are originals belonging to the family, part of a remarkable 18th and early 19th-century collection. It feels like a National Trust property without the ‘No entry’ signs: grand, yes, but intimate too. It is very Irish. You half expect Bertie Wooster to come shooting down the flying staircase.

The facilities

Family portraits peer down from the walls of the restaurant, watching you use the family silver and crystal. The bay window looks out over the lawn and the River Shannon. The menu is small – local fish and game, and vegetables from the delightful walled garden.

There is no official bar, but there are three lovely rooms – drawing room, library and smoking room – where you can enjoy cocktails amongst the period ornaments, on plump sofas that soften to your every curve. The plaster ceilings are rare.

The formal gardens, including a number of follies, and parkland are enjoyable to walk around. The river Shannon is beyond the front lawn and half a mile away is the village of Glin, with an excellent pub. Tralee and the Dingle Peninsula are an hour away. You can take a ferry across the Shannon from Tarbert (10 minutes) to County Clare and spend the day walking the cliffs of Moher. Shannon Airport is only an hour away.

The rooms

All the rooms are individually decorated (the Bow Room and the Sundial Room are wonderful). My room was stylish and comfortable; old fashioned without being fussy. There were fresh cut flowers from the garden and the walls are busy with watercolours and illustrations. There was a deep armchair by the window.