So last week I did a blog on my Top 5 Luxury Festive Getaways and I was lucky to take my own festive break, last weekend, which I love to do every year ahead of Christmas. It’s so nice to just take yourself away from the hustle and bustle and take time to chill and relax and soak up the Christmas atmosphere in the run up to it all.
Butler’s Pantry, Greystones, Festive Mince Pies…Delicious
This year we opted to stay in Ireland and had a fabulous 2 day break in one of my top 5 Luxury Festive Getaway picks. The wonderful five star Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort, somewhere I had never been before. Going somewhere new always creates another element of surprise and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. We set off on our journey early on Sunday morning to make the most of the day and arrived at the hotel early to a lovely Christmassy atmosphere and great buzz about the hotel.
Hot Towels We Received Upon Check-In .. Nice Touch After The Journey
Santa’s Grotto from above, wonderful festive charm
Winter Walk
wrapped up snug and cosy
It was such a beautiful crisp sunny day, so we wrapped up warm and set off on a winter walk to explore what was on offer. The walking trail is approximately 2.5km, each way, and is located on the grounds of the resort, that takes you from the hotel to the Golf House. We encountered some fabulous scenery and views along the way, as well as seeing some lovely swans in the river bedside the hotel. The walk is an absolute must and is pretty easy walking so you can stroll at your leisure.
Some of the fabulous sights along the walking trail
Stunning Sights and Wildlife
Enjoyed A Stroll With my Loved One
We stopped off for drink in the Golf House and got chatting to a really friendly barman, who offered us lots of tips and ‘must do’s and see’s’, one of which was to visit a nearby town called Greystones, which until now I have never heard of before. What a fabulous recommendation it was and shows the valuable information you can get simply from talking to the locals.
Greystones Greats
The Happy Pear, Greystones – Lively, Colourful Natural Food Market with Organic Products and a Café
Off we headed to Greystones, located about 5km from the hotel, originally a small fishing village, Greystones has apparently grown significantly over the past number of years and retains lots of its charm and character. It is served by the Dart from Dublin making it a perfect getaway from the city.
The Happy Pear – Organic Fresh Fruit
Café Gray, Serving Locally Produced Artisan Foods
Mrs Robinson Bar – A Glorious Den of Atmosphere
The Hungry Monk, Where we Enjoyed A Delicious Evening Meal
We sampled our way through many of the coffee shops, superb restaurants and quirky pubs which all offered something unique to enjoy. I did a spot of shopping and window browsing in the wealth of unique specialist shops the town has to offer, from clothing and jewellery to floral and sweet shops.
Such A Great Find
Festive Fashion
OOTD .. Shopping Trip
(Keep and eye for a separate OOTD Blog post in the next week)
We also wanted to use the break away to do some festive shopping so we went to Kildare Village for the day, which is about a 50 mins drive from the hotel. I love it here and have been quite a few times before but never for Christmas Shopping. It always has such a lovely atmosphere and it was particularly nice with all the decorations and lights creating a wonderful festive charm.
With over 80 fashion and lifestyle boutiques to choose from we shopped til we dropped and took advantage of the great offers and additional discounts with it being black Friday Weekend. I highly recommend a visit.
Keep an eye out as I will be doing a separate post on some of my purchases.
One of my Purchases…Kurt Geiger
We enjoyed a delicious lunch in Le Pain Quotidian and they have some other great options to choose from.
Le Pain Quotidien, one of the options for lunch at Kildare Village
Lunch To Die For
Hotel Highlights
Resort Grounds – Countryside Escape
The hotel was so relaxing, homely and welcoming. The reception area has lots of comfy seating to chill by the fire or take a quite space to zone out and unwind. Our King room was very spacious and nicely decorated oh and conveniently located right beside the gym, putting me under pressure to avail of it, which I did.
Breakfast was a highlight with lots to choose from, including lots of healthy options, which very often you don’t get. I particularly loved the omelette station, where you can get a freshly cooked omelette to your liking.
My Freshly Cooked Omelette
Honey for my Pancakes
The hotel location is a real plus, nestled in 400 acres of countryside where you can embrace the great outdoors, enjoy the country air and take in the fantastic scenery, whilst at the same time it is so convenient to some great nearby towns and Dublin city of course. It is particularly suited for families and offers a wide range of family activities to include a kid’s playground, a kids club and other family friendly fun to keep everyone entertained.
DVD Selection for a cosy quite night in your room
Embracing the Great Outdoors
Overall we had such a lovey relaxing and fun break way, the peacefulness of the hotel, the natural surroundings and the festive atmosphere made it a great way to really switch off and start the festivities. Getting to Kildare village for a day of retail therapy and discovering Greystones, and enjoying all it had to offer, really made our trip. Now all I have to do is look forward to Christmas and maybe a little break in the New Year.
Looking Forward To My Return Trip Already
Handy Links to all my Finds, Discoveries and Experience’s Below:
