The Lap of Luxury

This weekend, as we were to spend sometime at our holiday home on Saturday measuring up and making decisions on works to be done etc., we decided to make a night and day of it and checked into Harvey's Point on Friday night as a lovely treat. http://www.harveyspoint.com/home.asp It is only 10 miles/17 km from the house so an ideal spot for us until the house is ready for use.

The hotel is right on the banks of Lough Eske (shown in the photos above) and a stay there really is a night in the lap of luxury. The service, the comfort, the food and the wine, the location - everthing is A1. Okay, it is expensive but it really is a treat to enjoy just once in a while. The bedrooms there are the biggest I have ever seen - and because we have stayed on a number of occasions, we get a free upgrade to a Deluxe Bedroom. The 'ordinary' Executive bedroom is excellent too but sure with a free upgrade, why not go for Deluxe?

We enjoyed an excellent meal and I had possibly the best starter I have ever eaten. "Duck Liver and Foie Gras ParfaitStewed Onion, with Maderia, Pickled Pear and Brittany Brioche Bread". It really was absolute heaven. There is a set menu and yes, it is quite expensive at €65 per person but as a special treat and to enjoy the very best of ingredients and cooking, worth every penny. Or cent should I say now? The restaurant is also open to non-residents and definately worth budgeting for during a stay in the area.

After our meal we had our coffees (with a Remy XO for me and an armagnac for him - I did say we were treating ourselves!) on the paved area overlooking the lake. It was just perfect and so peaceful , until that is some of the folks from a wedding being held on the premises came outside and made noise which disturbed the resident geese. This set them off on a very noisy 'barking' spree! But, 'though they were noisy, they were very funny to watch as they waddled about looking cross and giving out like disgruntled old folk (the geese I mean, not the wedding guests!).

There was a Celtic Night of music in the cocktail lounge but we passed on this as we had to get up early to go over to our cottage and from previous experience, we know a night in the bar can run very late.