Donegal, Ireland
Lough Eske Castle
Restored sandstone castle
Restored sandstone castle
The 1860s Tudor revival castle trades baronial formality for light-filled rooms and an easygoing country-house rhythm.
“the Lough Eske Castle Hotel feels more airy and contemporary than you’d expect from a 150-year-old castle.”
What it’s good at
Notable
A garden spa on the Victorian conservatory footprint, with thermal suites and hydrotherapy.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
this 19th-century sandstone edifice, set mere minutes from the town of Donegal, on the shores of Lough Eske, is nothing short of spectacular.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Woodland walking trails trace the shore of Lough Eske, and Donegal Town is a ten-minute drive away.
The rooms
Donegal Suites have four-poster beds, deep roll-top baths, and upholstery woven from local Magee 1866 tweed.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Swan-neck water jets feed the heated hydrotherapy pool, set inside glass walls that look out onto the gardens.
The spa
Ground Wellbeing rituals fill the treatment rooms, and an outdoor hot tub sits on the terrace beneath the castle tower.
The Gallery Bar
Leather armchairs surround the curved timber bar, where guests gather for afternoon tea and drinks beside the fire.
the interiors lavish without being intimidating. Friendly Irish staff are on hand to provide swift assistance.
Cedars Restaurant
Open bookshelves divide the dining room, where Donegal seafood and meats arrive at white-clothed tables overlooking the woods.
At the table
More than two hundred historic photographs line the deep green walls of the Father Browne Bar, beside a log-burning stove.
How it began
A ballroom candle sparked a 1939 fire that gutted the interior, leaving the castle roofless for six decades.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.