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Ballynahinch Castle, Connemara

Ballynahinch Castle

Connemara, Ireland

Nestled into the heart of Connemara, surrounded by rivers and woodland, Ballynahinch Castle is one of Ireland’s finest luxury hotels.

The lobby has a backdrop of rich, wooden features interspersed with items from the property’s historic past. Rooms feature large windows with views of the on-site salmon river as well as the Twelve Bens mountain range, and are decorated impeccably with small details reminiscent of traditional Ireland. Ballynahinch Castle features a formal dining restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river, as well as a traditional Irish pub decorated with photographs from the life of the former owner, the cricket-legend Maharaja.

An ideal base for those looking to explore Connemara, Ballynahinch also offers salmon fishing and extensive walking trails over their expansive estate of woodland.

OUR OPINION:

Ballynahinch Castle is a stunning deluxe property nestled into the heart of the wild Irish landscape. We feel it is the ideal property for a countryside retreat.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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Rooms

Half the rooms at Ballynahinch are located in the original castle building, while the rest are in the more modern riverside wings. The hotel’s theme of luxury country chic is carried throughout the guest rooms, all of which are inviting and thoughtfully decorated. The luxury rooms have spectacular views of either the mountains or the river.

Location

Surrounded by the mountains and rivers of its own extensive estate, Ballynahinch feels completely remote while still only being just over an hour’s drive from Galway. There are walking trails, a salmon fishery, and private fishing and clay shooting facilities on site.

Food and drink

Dinner is served in the Owenmore Restaurant, which combines a library and sitting area (complete with a roaring fireplace), with a fine-dining experience. The enormous windows in the Owenmore offer guests fantastic views out over the river, reminding diners of their secluded and romantic surroundings. Ballynahinch also has a classic Irish pub on site for a more casual atmosphere and upscale pub grub. It offers traditional afternoon tea throughout the year, but in the warmer months guests have the opportunity to have their tea on the patio.

Tour ideas in Connemara

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Ballynahinch Castle as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.

    • Seafood & farm experience day
      Sheep in Ireland

      Seafood & farm experience day

      Seafood & farm experience day

      Explore Connemara's dramatic landscapes on a full-day tour that takes in the gloriously moody Killary harbor as well as visits to lobster, oyster and mussel farms and a traditional mountain sheep farm to learn about local life.

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    Connemara and nearby places