HIKE AND HERITAGE AT CAHERNANE HOUSE HOTEL, KILLARNEY

HIKE AND HERITAGE AT CAHERNANE HOUSE HOTEL,

 KILLARNEY, CO. KERRY (IRELAND)

Window view from Cahernane House

With the hope of better weather on the horizon and longer summer evenings ahead it’s time to get those walking shoes on and explore the great outdoors!  Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry (Ireland) is the perfect destination to explore the best attractions that Co. Kerry has to offer. With its stunning surroundings, elegant and cosy drawing rooms and homely interiors, this country house hotel is a real life, Irish ‘Downton Abbey’.

The Hike and Heritage package (from €255 per person sharing) includes a 2 night / 3-day experience at Cahernane House Hotel . The package incorporates the rich and interesting history of the stunning 19^th century, Cahernane House as well as giving guests the opportunity to explore the great outdoors including the nearby Killarney National Park and lakes.

This historical package will appeal to the culturally curious and includes breakfast each morning and two evening meals along with a drinks reception on arrival, a history tour of the house and complimentary use of bicycles. A two course meal on your first evening will be served in the Cellar Bar which is located deep in the heart of the Manor House. Before dinner, guests will be given a welcome drink and brought on an historic tour of Cahernane House.

The next day you will be given a packed lunch for your walk of Killarney National Park and walking maps of the area will be provided with advice given on the best route for your fitness level. Cream tea will be served at 4pm in the Drawing Room by the fire place or in the gardens (weather permitting) before guests return to their room to freshen up before dinner. Dinner on the second evening will be served in the multi-award winning 2 AA Rosette Herbert Restaurant.  Cahernane House Hotel is the perfect location to let history come alive and explore the best of Ireland’s landscape.

On the final day guests can make use of the complimentary bicycles provided by the hotel and cycle to Torc Waterfall or Ross Castle before they depart. Ross Castle sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake and was built by O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century. Legend has it that O’Donoghue still exists in a deep sleep under the waters of Lough Leane. On the first morning of May every seven years he rises from the lake on his magnificent white horse and circles the lake before going back to rest. The story goes that anyone who catches a glimpse of him is guaranteed good luck for the rest of their lives.

Cahernane House itself is reminiscent of times gone by and the charm in which it was built upon in the 1800’s has never been lost despite the changeover of owner’s numerous times throughout its history. There are six main rooms on the ground floor of the property: the Atrium, the Pembroke Suite, the Herbert Restaurant, Drawing Room, Library and Reception. Each of these rooms contain historical artefacts and original antiques including items such as the Herbert Family Crest which is depicted above the front door of the hotel.

The house was originally built in 1877 by Henry Herbert and his wife Catherine. Many of the original pieces from the house remain in Cahernane House Hotel today, including the wooden staircase, the Killarney Davenport table in the foyer and the pillar caps in the lobby, which feature the first letters of each of Henry’s first four children’s names. His fifth child, Gwendolyn, was born the same year the house was built (August 1877) and the story goes that Gwendolyn’s ghost still roams the house on occasion!

Located just outside the centre of the thriving town of Killarney, the 48-bedroom Cahernane House Hotel is still far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kerry’s major urban centre to offer a secluded and tranquil getaway. Situated on 6.4 acres of verdant grounds and on the edge of the Killarney National Park, the property offers a peaceful retreat from a busy world. Its neighbours include the magnificent Muckross Abbey, a 15^th century monastery and Muckross House which is the sister property of Cahernane House and was once the residence of Henry Herbert’s brother.

Set on the edge of Killarney National Park and lakes, the historic country house enjoys a tranquil location yet is just a twenty-minute walk into Killarney town itself. Built in 1877 the property has been extensively renovated by the owners, PREM Group who have spent over €7.8 million on an ambitious renewal programme. There are 12 bedrooms in the original Manor House, 28 in the Garden Wing and the former Coach House, once home to the horses and carriages of the Herbert family who built the house is now the setting for 8 new luxurious bedrooms.

PREM Group, also operate 38 properties throughout Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the UK. The group is also renovating and extending some of its other properties including The Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare and Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

For more details or to book the Hike and Heritage package now see www.cahernane.com or call Cahernane House Hotel on +353 (064) 6631895.