DESTINATION IRELAND
AUTUMN 22 40
Killeavy Castle Estate crowned with luxury award
A secluded rural retreat in Northern Ireland has been named winner of the Luxury Castle Hotel ( Europe ) Award at the prestigious World Luxury Awards 2021 .
Killeavy Castle Estate , nestled in the foothills of the Slieve Gullion mountain in County Armagh , was recognised for epitomising the ethos of luxury and fine service throughout its hotel and grounds .
The World Luxury Awards recognise establishments for worldclass service excellence and are presented on a country , regional , continent and global basis . Winners are selected by public vote and are judged on brand , location and overall guest satisfaction as received from online reviews , amongst other criteria .
new lambs and calves , shear sheep or extract honey from the estate ’ s bee hives .
As well as giving guests first-class accommodation , dining and outdoor experiences , sustainability is at the heart of Killeavy Castle Estate . From its inception the hotel was built with eco-credentials
The unique estate only opened in July 2019 , and has as its centrepiece the stunningly refurbished Killeavy Castle – a Grade A listed nineteenth-century gem that lay derelict for many years before being sympathetically restored to its former glory .
Alongside the castle and estate , there is 45-guestroom boutique style hotel , a luxury gate lodge , a high-end spa for those looking to relax and unwind , a walled garden and a restaurant , bar and café .
Located an hour away from Belfast and Dublin and ten minutes out of the city of Newry , the estate offers wide open spaces in a tranquil setting , with a wide range of nature experiences allowing guests to explore the mighty and mysterious Ring of Gullion mountains that surrounds the hotel .
A food lovers delight , guests can also delve into ‘ farm to fork ’ dining experiences and unique tasting menus at the hotel , with all the food served coming from the 350-acre estate ’ s working farm and walled garden , or sourced from local suppliers within a 30-mile radius .
Whether for relaxation or excitement , experiences such as forest bathing , estate walks , cycling , golf , distillery tours and guided walks to the top of mystical Slieve Gullion are available , providing a range of things to see and do on site to suit all ages , tastes and abilities .
Depending on the season , guests can also enjoy the sights and sounds of a working farm as an expert team of farm hands deliver front and centre , and all future developments will be in the light of responsible tourism .
When you stay at Killeavy you won ’ t encounter any single use plastic . There are no plastic water bottles in rooms , no takeaway coffee cups , no plastic straws and no one-use bathroom sundries . Even the hotel ’ s pens are made from recycled cardboard , while the cleaning products used on site are environmentally friendly and the reuse of bedding and towels is encouraged whenever possible .
With the aim of eventually becoming carbon neutral , the hotel has launched several new green initiatives , including the development of a further estate garden and a farm store . In partnership with the Forestry Service , the Woodland Trust and the local council , the hotel is also increasing the level of broadleaf woodland planted in the nearby Slieve Gullion Forest .