Located about 45 minutes from Oughterard is the famous Ashford castle. Once the Estate of Lord Ardilaun and the Guinness family, Ashford opened as a luxury hotel in 1939. In 2013 Ashford Castle became part of the Red Carnation Collection, which began a loving restoration project and it now offers 82 bespoke bedrooms and a lakeside cottage. Dining options include formal in the George V, casual in the Dungeon and Cullen’s at the Cottage, or private dining in The Wine Cellars. There is a 32-seat cinema, a library, spa, billiards room, cigar terrace and beautiful public lounges with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout. The Ashford Estate offers an extensive range of activities including Orvis fly fishing and Ireland’s first school of falconry. Evocative of an elegant and bygone age, and yet perfectly adapted to the needs of this modern one, Ashford is the oldest castle hotel in Ireland.