Mount Juliet

The Earl of Carrick's original manor house, built two centuries ago, remains the jewel in Mount Juliet's crown. All 32 bedrooms, including two Presidential Suites, are individually designed and named after landmarks on the estate itself, each one retaining period features and furnishings that give the place genuine character rather than cookie-cutter luxury.

The AA awarded Mount Juliet Hotel of the Year, and it's easy to see why: original architectural details have been carefully restored, and the Michelin-starred Lady Helen restaurant, overseen by head chef John Kelly, serves an internationally influenced menu built around estate-grown produce from the kitchen garden, herb garden and farm. Three AA Rosettes back up the star, and the dining room itself feels like stepping into a piece of Irish history. Lady Helen McCalmont, the previous owner, was known for running the gardens and kitchens with a kindly but firm hand, and the restaurant that bears her name honours that legacy with cooking that's both refined and rooted in the estate's own land.

For golfers who want to be closer to the first tee, the modern 93-room Hunters Yard Hotel sits right beside the course and clubhouse. You're a short walk from the Clubhouse bar, the 140-seat Hound Restaurant and the Saddle Bar, with the spa and leisure centre just beyond. The Hound is the more relaxed dining option here, informal and family-friendly with big views over the Nicklaus course, while the Saddle Bar nods to the estate's equestrian heritage and makes a natural spot for a pre-dinner drink or post-round debrief.

If you're planning multiple rounds or want to maximise time on the course, Hunters Yard is the more convenient base. If you want old-world luxury and Michelin-star evenings, pick the Manor House. If you want maximum golf convenience, Hunters Yard is the easy win.

The spa uses the exclusive E-SPA product range and offers a full menu of health and beauty treatments, including a Dead Sea Discovery Flotation Room. It's backed by a leisure club with a 15-metre pool, sauna, steam room and gym, so there's plenty for non-golfers or anyone looking to unwind between rounds. The Major's Bar, overlooking the River Nore and the estate's pastures, is the quieter option for a pre-dinner drink, with walls lined with memorabilia from Mount Juliet's racing days and the Ballylinch Wall of Fame. By choosing Mount Juliet for a golf break, visitors will guarantee being treated properly for the duration of their stay. The facilities are unrivalled, and the setting is genuinely magnificent.

Beyond golf, the estate offers serious equestrian facilities: two all-weather arenas, FEI-approved show jumps, a 30-acre cross-country course and trails across the full 500 acres. There's private fishing on 2.5 miles of the River Nore, a short stroll from the manor house, plus archery and falconry experiences with expert handlers from Hawkeye Falconry. It's one of the few Irish golf resorts where you can genuinely build a full itinerary around non-golf activities without leaving the grounds.