爱尔兰阿什福德城堡的生活一天
by玛丽·高斯特洛(Mary Gostelow)/
如果您想要一个典型的乡村爱尔兰度假胜地,前往阿什福德城堡(Ashford Castle),在梅奥县康郡附近的都柏林(Dublin)向西开车三个小时。Red Carnation Hotels’ owners, the Tollman family, bought the massive estate in 2013 (it is rumoured they have since spent $100 million on overall enhancements, including $3 million on accommodation for some of the 465-strong team, who are augmented by outsourced gardeners).
At Ashford’s imposing medieval stone gateway, credentials are checked by a senior gent in a full-length, grass-green winter coat. You then proceed slowly along a twisting single-track road, with, as far as the eye can see, the same green, just-mowed grass on either side. At the bottom of seven entry steps, for my arrival, awaited GM Niall Rochford, boss of this 83-room treasure, which claims heritage back to 1228, and since then, a myriad of owners has included the Guinness family.
我沿着扭曲的走廊被护送约40码 - 经过一个庭院,戴着头盔的“我的”亮绿自行车,等待着 - 肯尼迪套房(Ted K. Ted K.大约40年前)。哇。我浏览了三个相邻的13英尺高的大教堂窗户,他们的共享奶油窗帘的木板是精美的流苏装饰戏剧道具,到达了Corrib Lough Corrib和Connemara的雪山。我有一个原木工作的火力;电毛巾轨;和19Th- 中央核桃床,其四个扭曲的木杆,上面是凉爽的木头基鲁宾,挥舞着手臂。
城堡里根套房的床。照片:红康乃馨酒店收藏。
Time to explore. I started cycling some of the 350 acres of wooded grounds – Ashford offers trips with former 2008 Olympian, David O’Loughlin. The paths, many surfaced with tarmac, are thoughtfully well-maintained. At one point comes an enormous squawk in a tree high above: A falcon has landed. The falcon school is right nearby. I pass two, brand-new tennis courts, and a dog clean-up station (the hotel has a pair of gigantic Irish wolfhounds on daily call). I passed St. Mary’s Church – the hotel restricts itself to two or three weddings a year.
Castle enhancements include a residents-only billiard room with smokers’ terrace; and a plush, all-red, 32-seat screening room, with daily free showings of John Wayne’s 1951 film called “The Quiet Man” (shot here), as well as two other movies, with popcorn included. One of the first-floor reception rooms is now a showcase for 1,200 pieces of Roebling-marked silver, the formal dining set of the engineer of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, bought by the Tollmans at auction.
该酒店有八个用餐场所。今晚,库伦斯(Cullens)以前职员的名字命名,该赛季开幕。曾经是电影院,现在是一个像小屋般的舒适空间,所有白色的渔船都挂在渔船上。我们喝了Tollman Wine,Bouchard Finlayson 2014 Walker Bay。
鸟瞰城堡的景色。照片:过渡。
A few hours later, I breakfast in the signature restaurant, the George V Dining Room. I look up at 12 multi-level, early 20Th-century chandeliers, and down at plush, multi-coloured Victorian carpeting. As well as international health offerings, there are such local dishes as kippers, and farl (potato flatbread) with truffle sour cream and oil.
This is a place for destressing and privacy – recently, 10 adult girlfriends flew in from Texas for four nights, and stayed without going off campus. General activities include golf, falconry, archery, sheepdog working, clay pigeon shooting, small cruises, walking those wolfhounds, tree climbing, ziplining, history tours, riding, fishing, boating, cycling, kayaking, tennis, paddle-boarding, off-road driving, biking, and visiting resident artist Rick Lewis. And, as would be expected, there is a good gym, LifeFitness; and a superb spa, a haven of palest greys and big white orchids. The softest music and skilled technicians while away the hour-long facial (unusually, therapist Laura carefully explains why, for my skin, she chose Elemis rather than Natura Bissé or Voya).
The Castle's wine cave. Photo: Red Carnation Hotels Collection.
但是现在对于阿什福德城堡的奶油奶油而言。一位30位当地酒店经营者Eoin Warner与Ashford Castle合作,并独家为Ashford Castle合作,已经建立了四天的爱尔兰经验。首先,今天,我们前往戈尔韦郡Slieve Aughty Mountains山麓的一个遥远农场。一位前牛棚有很多想法 - 从出售13头牛奶中获得的钱 - 变成了Kylemore Farmhouse奶酪。第四代乳业农民的女儿特雷莎·罗氏(Teresa Roche)从新西兰的护理中回来,在瑞士学习了阿尔卑斯奶酪制作,四年后,她每年都会出现1,000个奶酪轮。我们参观了生产,成熟棚;然后制作并吃掉了raclette,随后是Teresa的妈妈的爱尔兰炖菜,羊肉和蔬菜碎,以及煮土豆。
Forty-five minutes later, we visited another shed-in-a-field, the workshop of veteran Uillean (Irish bagpipe) player Eugene Lambe. About 40 years ago, he could not find a maker, so he started making his own. Now, with pipe-playing really back in Millennials’ sights, he is inundated with work: Waitlist for pipes with elbow bellows is over a year (and the cost is $6,500, though Eugene can make a simple whistle for $450, with a 3D-printed mouthpiece). Such experiences, as I said, are exclusive to Ashford Castle.
玛丽Gostelow的游记是www.girlahead.com