A little piece of heaven in Castletownbere…

Blogger: Stephanie Lynch

We recently went on a road trip to Castletownbere and we stayed in a beautiful bed & breakfast just outside the town. It was secluded in the countryside, surrounded by a mature garden with a view of the sea…. what more could you want? This gem is nestled in the Caha Mountains, overlooking Bantry Bay and surrounded by panoramic views of Bere Island. A little piece of heaven. It is almost like you are in another world… a world of peace and relaxation. Every place has a unique selling point but this gem had three things that stood out to us. The garden, the location and the lady herself Ellen.

This gem is surrounded by the most magical, enchanted garden. A garden full of exotic plants, mature trees and a magical layout. It is the perfect spot to walk around in the mornings with the sea view in the horizon. On a summers day it would be heaven to sit out and enjoy a good book in the peace and tranquility. 

QT Tip: Gardens open to the public on the Beara Penninsula. Dereen Garden, Lauragh.

So the Breakfast… you all know at this stage that WE LOVE OUR FOOD!! I honestly think breakfast food is the nicest. I fell in love with the amazing breakfast prepared by Ellen in this gem. Full of scones, fresh juices, freshly brewed tea and coffee. What stuck out for me was that although a full fry was offered, there was also many other tasty items on the menu. We loved this as sometimes in Ireland it really is all about the fry!! We got to try lots of things that we wouldn’t have tried at home. For example an omelet and our favourite was a fruit crepe. Trust us if you visit this gem… forget about the fry and order the fruit crepe! YUM!! 

It is true that in years to come, you dont remember a place but you remember the people. We will never forget Ellen. Her warmth, hospitality and homely cooking is something we will never forget. Even though it is summer… it is an Irish summer of RAIN this year. We ran in from the rain to the house and were greeted by the heat of the fire. Ellen had a fire waiting for us when we arrived back… now where else would you get that? A home away from home. We enjoyed our stay at Rodeen but we enjoyed our lovely chats with Ellen by the fire even more. A true, warm Irish welcome.