Your Family Will Love Staying at Ashford Castle In Ireland
- Updated: 03/05/2024
- Janice
Have you ever planned an entire vacation around visiting one place—like eating at an award-winning restaurant or staying at an iconic hotel?
When I first learned about Ashford Castle, which sits on the shores overlooking the beautiful Lough Corrib in Ireland, I figured I could only dream about dabbling in the Downton Abbey lifestyle and could not afford to go.
Especially given nightly rates for a room at the Ashford for a family of four like mine run well past four figures during the high summer season.
So, naturally, I was thrilled to learn that in the spring shoulder season—which conveniently falls around the time of our kids’ US spring school break—the Ashford’s rates run 25 to 50% less.
Realizing my dream was within reach, I decided to splurge. And I booked a room.
Table Of Contents
After all, how often can you turn what seems like an impossible travel dream into reality? Learn what we did and what we loved most during our Ashford Castle two-night stay in the sections that follow.
About Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle is steeped in history and boasts stunning medieval and Victorian architecture that will inspire and wow your family as much as it did ours.
Originally built in the 13th century, the castle, which has expanded over the centuries, has changed ownership countless times and has even been owned by the Guinness family.
Most recently—Ashford Castle has been beautifully restored, renovated, and reimagined into a luxury five-star 83-room hotel owned and operated by the Red Carnation Hotel group.
The castle, near the village of Cong and in County Galway, sits on a beautiful 350-acre estate that you and your family can explore as a complimentary perk of your stay, and day visitors can access it if they have an on-site activity booked.
See where to find the castle in the quick Google Earth clip below.
When we visited a few years ago, Ashford offered historian-led tours of the castle grounds and interior. We did this tour with our kids and loved learning about hidden tunnels and compartments in furniture as well as about the castle’s rich past reaching back into Norman times—to now.
I no longer see guided history tours listed as an activity option on the Ashford website. If you are interested, you may need to ask the hotel if it is still bookable.
Our 2-Day Ashford Castle Stay At-a-Glance
Day One
Arrival & Check-in
Walk along the river to Cong and explore the grounds
Enjoy a guided history tour of Ashford Castle
Dinner at the Dungeon
Day Two
Walk the Irish Wolfhounds
Breakfast in the George V Dining Room
Guided one-hour Hawk Walk
Guided bike ride with a stop at Mrs. Tea’s Boutique & Bakery
Rest and dress for dinner
Dinner in the George V Dining Room
Day 1: Arrival, Walk the River & Dinner at the Dungeon
After spending three days in Dublin, we picked up our rental car from the airport and drove it west for nearly three hours to cross the bridge and pull through the stone tower gates of Ashford Castle.
From the moment we drove up, we were impressed. The castle was massive, immaculately preserved, and looked like part of a fairytale.
Since we arrived a few hours before check-in, we had time for a game of chess, and a late lunch, before gaining access to our beautifully appointed room and dropping our bags to head out again.
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Taking advantage of the dry weather, we followed the nearly one-mile path from the castle for about 15 minutes to reach the next-door village of Cong, where we explored ruins and grabbed coffees and souvenirs at the Hungry Monk Cafe.
On our way back, we climbed the Guinness Tower on the Ashford grounds for the view, returning just in time for our historian-led tour of the castle.
On the tour, we learned about tunnels, hidden compartments in furniture, and a complete history of the castle—from its Norman founding in the 13th century to the present day, which turned out to be an excellent overview of Irish history that kept both of our kids engaged.
For dinner, we ate at the Dungeon, Ashford’s more relaxed restaurant.
Ask the Ashford if its castle history tour is still available or bookable upon demand, as it is no longer listed on its website as an official activity.
Day 2: Walk the Wolfhounds, Falconry, Biking & Fancy Dining
Once again, graced with good weather—which would luckily stick with us for our whole Ireland trip—we woke to sunny skies and gorgeous views. We rose early to join Ashford’s resident Irish Wolfhounds for their morning walk.
Five days a week, the dogs, led by an Ashford staffer, join groups of guests who wake early to walk a path that skirts the shores of Lough Corrib and winds its way through picturebook mossy Irish forest.
The dogs walk this path in a private and restricted area that is still part of the hotel’s 350-acre grounds. Joining for a dog walk is a great way to explore this beautiful section of the property and its views of the castle.
After our morning walk, we headed to the Ashford’s George V Dining Room to enjoy a bountiful and gourmet Irish breakfast included with the cost of our room. The meal, which was buffet style and a la carte, was outstanding, and the atmosphere was sublime.
While waiting for our One-Hour Hawk Walk, booked with the Ashford’s Ireland School of Falconry, which included hawk handling lessons, the kids spent time loving life—lounging and petting the wolfhounds.
If not for the intriguing appeal of learning to handle a dangerous bird of prey, it would have been difficult to pry them away.
However, with excellent direction from our instructor, we all—including my nine-year-old—loved learning how to hold and handle the well-trained hawks. The birds ate out of our gloved hands (Warning: the hawk’s food can include mouse carcasses) and returned to them, following commands from our instructor.
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We all found it to be an incredible experience to learn about and work so closely with such a beautiful and powerful bird of prey.
Given it was the slower shoulder season, I booked our Hawk Walk only a few weeks before with no issue. However, in the busier summer months, I was told guests must book months in advance. Hawk Walk time slots in summer were already filling up in March.
Once our walk wrapped up, we met our cycle guide for a 90-minute guided bike tour of the Ashford grounds and adjacent properties, including riding through Cong.
After getting fitted with rental bikes, we were on our way with our first stop at Mrs. Tea Boutique & Bakery on the Ashford grounds for a snack and takeaway tea.
Although you can rent bikes and explore the Ashford grounds independently, I thoroughly enjoyed following a guide.
Our guide led us down pretty pastoral paths surrounding the castle and to views overlooking Lough Corrib. Throughout the ride, he stopped to share the history and background of the places we saw.
Tired from back-to-back activities, we returned to our room to rest before showering and dressing up for a fancy multi-course celebratory dinner in the George V Dining Room.
Knowing we had this dinner booked, we brought nice clothes from home and took advantage of a gorgeous and clear evening to take photos and enjoy the beauty of our last night of a magical and memory-making castle stay.
What You Can Expect Staying at Ashford Castle
A luxurious castle stay. From the moment you arrive, you will feel as if you are transported back in time to a world of grandeur and elegance.
Genuinely friendly and helpful and down-to-earth staff. The Ashford Castle is a far more luxurious property than we are used to staying in. At no time did the hotel staff ever make our family feel anything but 110% welcome.
Fancy dining. Your bed and breakfast room rate includes a bountiful and royally laid-out gourmet Irish breakfast in the George V Dining Room that your family will love. Additionally, you can reserve a table for a formal multi-course evening meal in the same room.
The Ashford also offers afternoon tea (reservations are strongly encouraged for guests) and a la carte tea and baked goods from Mrs. Tea’s Boutique and Bakery. Additionally, guests can choose from one of several other on-site dining options—find them here.
More enticing indoor and outdoor activities than you could ever dream to fit in one visit. Expect no shortage of activities to keep your family entertained. Take a bike ride through the stunning countryside, follow the river on a walk to the village of Cong, or even try your hand at falconry like we did to learn how to handle these majestic birds of prey.
Other activities include horseback riding, movie-watching, and lake cruising (in the summer season). Or get up early and join the castle’s resident Irish wolfhounds for a walk—a highlight of our visit.
Most activities are a la carte and require an additional fee. Be sure to book them in advance—and ideally—immediately after you reserve your room. Popular activities with limited time slots, like the Hawk Walks in the busier summer season, should be booked several months in advance, as they fill quickly.
A luxurious though cozy room. The most affordable room at the Ashford that can accommodate families of three or four is the double queen with two beds. This room with one full bath is impeccably designed and decorated, though on the small side. However, for the two nights we stayed at the Ashford, given the wonderful experience this hotel offers, it was a minor inconvenience to overlook.
Where to Book a Stay at Ashford Castle
Book a room via Expedia or book directly through the hotel website.
Additionally, if you find the room rates too high for your travel budget or discover that the Ashford is unavailable for your dates, consider a stay at the more affordable and next-door Lodge at Ashford Castle.
The Lodge will give you the same access to the Ashford Castle grounds and to most activities. Plus, the Lodge offers a more spacious family room for less. Book a room here. Or learn more on the Lodge website.
Related Reading
If you are traveling to Ireland, check out my Ireland: The Best Books to Read Before a Trip” below to get an Ireland reading list.
In addition to fiction and non-fiction picks, the list includes my two preferred Ireland guidebooks—Frommer’s and Rick Steves.
If you are traveling to Ireland and want tips to keep your travel budget trim—check out this helpful article, which shares a detailed spending breakdown for a five-day Ireland visit.
Additional Trip Planning Resources
To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below.
Google Flights. My first research stop for affordable flights for every trip. Learn why here.
Google Hotels. Use its “Where to stay” button to discover the best neighborhoods to base your visit.
Booking.com. For hotel and rental bookings, I appreciate its flexible cancellation, candid user reviews, discounts, loyalty program, and easy-to-use interface.
Viator, Get Your Guide, & Airbnb Experiences. Quickly find and book highly-rated tours and activities on these sites.
Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps. Find more things to do in your destination on Google Travel, then record where you want to visit on a custom Google Maps list.
AllTrails. Love to hike? Me too. I religiously use AllTrails to discover hiking and biking trails and download its offline maps to manage my hikes.
Guide Along. 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible for US road trips and national parks. We loved the Glacier National Park tour.
Insure My Trip. I never travel internationally without trip insurance. Learn why here. My preferred place to shop and compare policies is InsureMyTrip.com.
Plus, check out the 15 travel apps I use on trips, my preferred guidebooks, and my free customizable travel itinerary template, downloadable in four file formats.
About the author: Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog, Gather and Go Travel. After attending the University of Michigan undergraduate business school and following a career in retail strategy and event management, she returned to focus on her first love—travel. Read her bio, learn how she became a blogger, and discover how to work with her. Sign up for her monthly Discovery Newsletter for travel recs and how-to’s. Or follow her on social media (@gatherandgotravel).
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Welcome to Gather and Go Travel, a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, a world traveler to 50+ countries, a travel writer/blogger, and a book lover. Learn more about me, read our story, and how to work with me. Get my latest updates, how-tos, and trip ideas in my monthly Discovery Newsletter.
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