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Sunday Business Post-Magazine Sunday, 19 January 2014 Page: 34,35
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Dog day afternoons If you're looking for a luxury holiday but can't bear to leave Fido at home, this country house is a pet paradise, writes Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Most
of us pet owners - those of us who don't have children at least — feel more than a little guilty handing over the keys and a tin of dog food to the neighbours as Fido watches us drive off for the weekend.
waste, and our dog was welcomed with a chew toy and a bowl with his name on it, before we headed off for a tramp through the parkland.
Local people are welcome to walk the grounds, but such is the variety of walking trails and the space available that you can feel you have the place to yourself But if you're looking for a couple and it's the perfect place for long of days out of the daily grind in walks off the lead. It's also located the company of your four-legged near the beach, so if you (or friend, there are options. your dog) tire of the lake (kayaks The luxury country house Liss are available and are free to use), Ard has been under the radar for there's plenty of scope for sandcastle the past couple of years since its building just down the road. refurbishment by Swiss owners, The parkland also includes the Stern family. Located just outside a swamp area, heavily-forested Liss Ard house outside Skibbereen, Liss Ard was walking trails, grassland, a maze, Skibbereen in Co Cork famous in the 1970s for playing a children's playground, tennis host to Lou Reed and Patti Smith, courts and even trails suitable for music or simply having a drink among others. cycling. Bikes can be borrowed at from the honesty bar by the fire, Throughout its 200 acre gardens reception, while the hotel also provides for the rest of the day. The latter there's more than a tendency wax jackets, tennis rackets, is a wonderful addition and really towards the alternative: the Sky torches and even hurleys. adds to the welcoming feel of the Garden, a gigantic art installation If after all that activity you are hotel. masquerading as a garden feature; looking for some R&R, a local Unlike a lot of so-called 'country acres of carefully planted but jungle-liketherapist provides really excellent house' hotels that can be gardens and walls made massage and other treatments chintzy and stuffy, much of the accommodation from quartz at the front of the in the dedicated treatment rooms is fresh and modern. house overlooking the lake. downstairs. Otherwise you can just While the main house is Georgian For a dog owner, going to Liss chill out in the drawing rooms, and retains beautiful ceiling cornicing, Ard solo would be a complete playing board games, listening to fireplaces and some furniture,
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Sunday Business Post-Magazine Sunday, 19 January 2014 Page: 34,35
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much of the rest of the decor is modern and extremely high quality. Individual pieces of well-chosen art grace every wall, and the furniture is comfortable and cosy. We stayed in a garden mews room in the converted stables to the side of the main house. These are the only rooms available if you are staying with a pet, and each has a very comfortable double bed, TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, and en suite bathrooms with an enormous bath and a power shower. Voya toiletries and feather du¬
ly wealthy and discerning best strictive for anyone staying more vets add luxury and, despite not than two nights. However, the vegetables friend's country pile for the weekend, being part of the main house where did change as they were where staff are friendly and some of the rooms are incredible, bought fresh at the wonderful unobtrusive. the sacrifice is worth it. Skibbereen farmers' market - another In a country full of soulless The food, as you would expect pleasant activity should you Celtic Tiger hotels and stuffy country in West Cork, is wonderful. The be looking to leave the grounds. houses, it walks a fine line between breakfast buffet includes Ummera And, although we're not dessert classical and modern luxury, smoked salmon, Gubbeen cheeses people, the salted caramel hazelnut and does it well. and Glenilen Farm yogurts, while chocolate tart looked too good to And as for the dog, we are still the cooked breakfast includes turn down - and was. I'd happily trying to bring him back to reality Rosscarbery meats. eat it every day for the rest of after two days of non-stop pampering The wine list is small but well chosen and the dinner menu is imaginative, my life. and walkies. Liss Ard is a pet's Staying at Liss Ard is not like paradise. but won't scare anyone off. It also changes with the seasons, staying at a hotel; it's more like borrowing your exceptional¬ lissardestate. com so could be somewhat re¬
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