THE FACTS ABOUT GLIN CASTLE

Ireland

Glin Castle has been in the Fitzgerald family for 700 years, but, with three daughters and no sons, Desmond, who inherited the castle and the title from his father in the late 1940s, is the last Knight of Glin. 13 years ago the Fitzgeralds decamped to a wing of the castle and opened the main part as a 15-bedroom hotel. Guests are welcomed into the grand, marble-pillared entrance hall where the walls are lined with a dizzying collection of gilt-framed mirrors, family portraits, swords and fantastical masks. From here, doors lead to a series of distinguished-yet-comfortable reception rooms, including the library, which has hidden doors leading to discreet sculleries and a smoking room. The bedrooms are reached by a spectacular 'flying' staircase, each have their own interesting feature, be it a four-poster bed, a bow-shaped window or a pretty love seat. All meals are served in an intimate, wood-panelled dining room. Hearty breakfasts include fresh croissants, pancakes and generous slices of smoked salmon. The dinner menu includes fresh lobster, locally reared beef, chicken and lamb and vegetables from the castle's walled garden. The rest of the grounds include formal gardens with sweeping lawns, huge Monterey pines, bay and yew trees and a lost Victorian garden with its own Gothic hermitage. Incarnations of Glin Castle have existed on the banks of the River Shannon since the 13th century, but the current castle was built as a Georgian mansion in 1780s and 'Gothicised' by John Francis, 25th Knight of Glin. CONTACT 00 353 68 34173; www.glincastle.com. Open 1 March to 30 November. COST Doubles from 280 euros