From the Dream Escape Podcast Series: King of the Castle

I am quite sure that at some point most of us have dreamt of staying in a castle. One steeped in history, with fairy tale turrets surrounded by acres of rolling countryside and a magnificent lake. Well, now you can. Part of its exclusive Private Residence Collection, Crom Castle sits in beautiful, protected parkland in an impossibly romantic setting overlooking Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, in the heart of Northern Ireland. Reached within two hours' drive of Belfast city airport, Dublin or Belfast International airports, the estate has been the historic seat of the Earls of Erne for over 350 years. Today, Dream Escape travel designers arrange unforgettable experiences here, where guests can fully immerse themselves in the magic of this extraordinary private home by staying in the house itself. What’s more, this unique and extremely exclusive offering is heightened further by that fact that your host is none other than the 7th Lord Erne himself, John Crichton.

We are John and Harriet. We are the Earl and Countess of Erne, and we look after our guests as if they were our friends... The atmosphere at Crom is special – you can really feel it's a home, rather than a museum

ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY

Crom Castle sits within a parkland of some 1,900 acres and is surrounded by the glistening waters of Lough Erne, which forms one of the longest inland waterways in Europe. Dotted with a multitude of historic and mysterious islands, the lake is wonderfully serene, making Crom one of the most enchanting castles in Europe.

“The original Crichton Family came over from Scotland in the early 17th century. A family member married Bishop Spottisford's daughter in 1655, and they acquired the lands of Crom. So, we've been here for quite some time,” explains The Earl of Erne.

“As I got older, I took over what was called the West Wing, and then on my father's sad death I inherited the rest of the castle. I call the main part of the castle where the state rooms are located the Downton Abbey bit,” he smiles.

Crom Castle itself exudes grandeur and now you have an exclusive opportunity to discover, explore and experience its significant and fascinating history first-hand. With its imposing towers and battlements, Crom Castle was built circa 1840 and was designed by the famous architect Edward Blore, who was also responsible for parts of Buckingham Palace. Over the years, it has played host to aristocrats, diplomats, dignitaries and members of the Royal Family, but despite its remarkable history, today the castle is an extremely comfortable and welcoming destination, and most importantly, a private residence and home.

Crom Castle's Dining Room

“You've got to remember that the house is older than many people put together, so we need to respect it. We are custodians and live tenants, and we want to keep it as a house,” explains Lord Erne.

“The atmosphere at Crom is special – you can really feel it's a home, rather than a museum.”

Crom Castle's Grand Hall and Staircase

HEARTFELT HOSPITALITY

Whether you are a couple, a small group of friends or a larger party, Dream Escape organises a completely unique and unforgettable stay. The magnificent and impeccably decorated Crom Castle accommodates up to 30 people exclusively, with accommodation ranging from large state bedrooms to generous doubles, twins and single rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, making it a perfect base for extended families or groups to explore the historic estate and stunning surrounding area, and experience the unique hospitality of Lord Erne himself.

“Guests are welcomed by our lovely butler, as well as myself and my wife, and the first thing I say is – this is your home for the duration of your stay, and we're going to give you an experience, and that's the word to remember – experience. A lot of people who may come to Crom have probably stayed in very nice hotels, but we are not a hotel. We offer five-star service, but it’s a country home,” he explains.

“When you let someone into your house it can be quite nerve-racking for both parties. It's like when two doggies meet you think, ‘gosh, are we going to get on?’ The most important thing is that we put our guests at rest, but we don't change our character at all. We are John and Harriet. We are the Earl and Countess of Erne, and we look after our guests as if they were our friends.”

Crom Castle's South facing facade

Alternatively, if you’d like to step into the Earl’s shoes and make Crom yours for the duration of your stay, exclusive use of the entire Castle, fully staffed, with a bespoke itinerary is one of the fantastic opportunities on offer.

“That is the other string to our bow – renting the castle without us,” explains Lord Erne.“We disappear, and the guests themselves become the Earl and Countess for the week!”

I always say – to have a good weekend, you need a comfortable house, a good host and hostess, plenty of hot water, plenty to drink, and very good food. For us, it’s just like having friends to stay

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES

As one would expect, The Earl of Erne has a team of exceptional chefs who are ready to create delicious, locally sourced cuisine for guests, ranging from magnificent gala dinners to sumptuous summer picnics.

“We give guests good, wholesome local produce. We've devised very good menus to make sure that they're eating deliciously, but it's not too over the top. It’s not caviar and seafood every night, it’s home cooking,” says Lord Erne.

And so the day begins with a traditional full Irish breakfast served in the Castle’s Victorian Conservatory or State Dining Room, before the day’s plans start to unfold. Guests will enjoy a fascinating guided tour of the house, formal gardens and beautiful grounds with Lord Erne himself. Elsewhere on the estate there is much to explore; visit the Tudorstyle boathouse and the mysterious Crichton Tower on Gad Island, discover the evocative ruins of The Old Castle where Jacobite battles once raged, and admire the famous ancient yew trees, thought to be the oldest in Northern Ireland. Wild deer, pine marten, red squirrels, rare species of butterfly and more also inhabit on the estate.

Crom Castle's Victorian Conservatory

“There’s a good day to be had at Crom exploring the ruins, going out on the lake on our wonderful traditional Lough Erne cot boat and discovering the magic and the atmosphere of this haven, which is a wildlife conservation area and now one of the most important ones in the British Isles,” says Lord Erne.

“We can also go off and do these lovely excursions, which are really special because we can get to the front of the queue…”

Crom Castle's Library

Guests will also enjoy an assortment of exclusive experiences in the local area, such as a private visit to Castle Coole, one of the finest neoclassical houses in Ireland, followed by a trip to Fermanagh’s capital, Enniskillen. Here you can visit one of the oldest pubs in Ireland and enjoy a proper pint of Guinness, followed by a delicious lunch.

Crom Castle's Boat House

Another local gem is Florence Court House, a beautiful Georgian mansion with stunning gardens and magnificent interiors. Private cooking classes are available, but if it’s action that you’re after, try fishing for brown trout with an expert ghillie or exhilarating deep sea fishing on the Donegal coast.

Crom Castle's Yellow Drawing Room

Other outdoor pursuits include boating and golf at the nearby five-star Lough Erne Resort, or perhaps a spa day. You can also visit the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark (awarded UNESCO status in 2015), arrange pivate tours of the world famous Belleek pottery, and take a trip to the nearby Colebrooke Estate for some clay pigeon shooting.

“We really want to give our guests a different part of their trip to Ireland, off the beaten track,” says Lord Erne. There is, of course, also the option to simply relax and soak up the special atmosphere back at Crom Castle; read a book or a newspaper in the library, with staff on hand to look after you. Play a game of tennis, or try your skills at falconry or archery on the lawn.

Renting the castle without us... we disappear, and the guests themselves become the Earl and Countess for the week

No stay would be complete without spending some quality time with Lord Erne himself and hear the history of his family; what it was like growing up in the castle as a boy, to now being at the helm.

You can even enjoy a hosted gala dinner with the Earl, who in the past has been known to occasionally tinkle the ivories of the castle’s grand piano for guests.

“No one probably expects to find the Earl of Erne suddenly playing the piano, or opening up and being relaxed, but I think it's quite fun that our guests can go away and say, ‘my goodness me, that wasn't what we thought - we thought it'd be stuffy!” he laughs.

“I always say – to have a good weekend, you need a comfortable house, a good host and hostess, plenty of hot water, plenty to drink, and very good food. For us, it’s just like having friends to stay.”

At a glance...

A fairy tale stay at Crom Castle with Dream Escape: Here are just some of the unforgettable experiences that can be arranged while staying at Crom Castle:

⬩ Hosted gala dinner with Earl Erne

⬩ Clay pigeon shooting at the nearby Colebrooke Estate

⬩ Fishing for brown trout with an expert ghillie

⬩ Sailing on Lough Erne

⬩ An exhilarating deep-sea fishing trip on the Donegal coast

⬩ A private tour of Castle Coole, one of the greatest neoclassical country houses in Ireland

⬩ Gin tasting at a local distillery

⬩ Pike fishing on Lough Erne

⬩ Falconry and archery on the lawn

Find out more

Holly Mackie, Owner and Director "John is the perfect host and if you are lucky he will recount some fabulous stories about himself and hisfamily. He will have everyone enthralled, and I've been so lucky to havegrown up with him as a family friend in Ireland."

Listen to this and more from our podcast series: ‘Chatting with Holly’ Holly and the team pride themselves on the personal relationships and connections that they have with a variety of exceptional private properties and experiences in the UK and Ireland. These podcasts will give you an inside glimpse to some of these wonderful connections, many of whom are personal friends, as they talk candidly to Holly about their special properties and experiences. ⬩

⬥ holly@dreamescape.co.uk

→ dreamescape.co.uk