Castlewood House is a luxury inn in Dingle, Ireland with well-appointed guest rooms and comfortable common spaces. The delicious breakfasts are a wonderful morning treat. Afternoon treats greet guests when returning “home” after some time exploring the area or simply walking into town for lunch or shopping. The owners have created an oasis for travelers that make this a perfect place to stay on the southwestern coast of Ireland.
Castlewood House: Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland / castlewooddingle.com
DISCLAIMER: My husband and I have stayed in many hotels, inns, and other properties in our travels, but a few stand out above the rest — this is one of them. Although I am highlighting this property that we enjoyed, we have not accepted free trips, endorsements, or gratuities from it. All the opinions, along with the photographs (unless otherwise noted), featured in this article are my own. I simply share this property profile because it was unique in its location and hospitality, so I think others may consider staying there as well. Happy travels!
Why Castlewood House?
- Castlewood House is in the perfect location in Dingle. It has a view of the bay, and it’s a short walk to town. So after savoring the bountiful breakfast, you can walk off some of the calories as you approach this quaint Irish town to wander around, shop, and maybe even stop for a pint before returning to ponder where to eat that evening. And, don’t worry, Helen or Brian Heaton (the owners) will help you with dinner suggestions and reservations. Dingle is one of our favorite places in Ireland, and the owners certainly helped to make our stay special.
- Castlewood House offers a quiet, relaxing place where you’re comfortable just sitting in the drawing room sipping tea or coffee while nibbling on their delicious just-baked goodies.
- Helen and Brian are very welcoming hosts. Little touches like the hot beverages and “to go” cups by the front door as we set out on a day’s excursion emphasize that point. Their motto is that no request is too big, and no detail is too small.
- Castlewood House has fabulous breakfasts! They’re hard to describe, but the breakfast buffet when I visited offered quite a few cold and warm options including cereal and muesli, smoked salmon, and freshly baked bread. Plus there were made-to-order breakfast treats coming from the kitchen. Helen and Brian pride themselves on their food and the local artisan producers in the area.
- Castlewood House is a great starting point for some very scenic excursions. First, the panoramic view from the docks and shoreline of Dingle is of storybook quality. Believe it or not, this scenic feast only gets better as you drive out of Dingle along the rugged coast. And a side note: as the view goes from fantastic to incredible, the road goes from narrow to “stop, pull in your mirrors, and let the oncoming guy figure out how to get by.”
- The Slea Head drive is amazing. You can stop along the way to visit the sheep moseying around the unique small dome stone dwellings, clochán or beehive huts, built with no mortar. They are relics of generations past, and the sheep now use them as shelter. We stopped, walked over to the beehive huts, and talked with the owner to learn a bit more about them.
Overview
After culinary training and working in the catering world, Helen and Brian created Castlewood House from the ground up. They designed and built it in 2014 after planning every space for their future guests. When the builders turned the house over to them, they decorated it with a mix of old and new pieces, and as Helen states, putting it all together was just like designing “one huge doll’s house!”
Credit: Castlewood House
Castlewood House has 12 room configurations (from classic to deluxe rooms and a junior suite). We opted for the junior suite to enjoy the bay view and enjoyed it immensely. Castlewood House guests often include young couples, small family groups, and a lot of repeat guests who stay for a few nights to enjoy the area.
Hospitality Spotlight: Featured Recipe
One way I like to make travel memories last from a trip abroad is to acquire a recipe for something I can make back home. Thus, the recipe becomes a delicious souvenir! Here’s one of Helen’s recipes. It’s for a rich, chocolate torte that she serves in the late afternoon at Castlewood House. (When I make it, I’m transported back to the cozy drawing room there, sipping tea and nibbling some of the freshly baked goods that are put out on the side table to reinvigorate us after a day out and about.) I like to make it for special gatherings of my friends and family. Tortes are by nature much shorter than cakes, and this one packs a powerful chocolate punch. I hope you enjoy it, too!
Helen’s Irish Whiskey Chocolate Torte
Equipment
- 1 8" springform pan
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup dark chocolate (70% cocoa)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup plain flour
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tbsp Irish whiskey
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- whipped cream
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, allowing to sizzle and get really hot.
- Remove from the heat and add the chocolate; whisk until smooth.
- In a bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour, and salt together. Add all the eggs and the Irish whiskey. Whisk until smooth.
- Stir the brown sugar into the cooled chocolate mixture and then stir it into the bowl with the batter.
- Pour the batter into a very well greased 8” round, 2” deep tin. (Lolly uses an 8” springform pan.)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes; then remove and allow it to cool on wire rack.
- Unmold the torte onto a cake stand and serve in slices with whipped cream.
Things To Do in the Area
- Enjoy the charm of Dingle for strolling, shopping, and eating. There are quite a few excellent restaurants! The ones we really liked are Out of the Blue Seafood and The Chart House.
- Take a boat ride to enjoy the view from the water. You’ll see cows and sheep grazing on the steep hillsides.
- Drive around the area and be awed by the scenery (on Slea Head drive, for example).
- Visit Great Blasket Island (by ferry) and transport yourself back to 19th-century Ireland as you explore on your own or take a guided tour.
- Stroll along the Inch Beach as you entered Dingle, searching for shells, and enjoying the view. We enjoyed a short trip there.
How to Get There
We rented a car and visited Dingle on our trip that originated in Dublin. From Dublin, we drove south to enjoy the southern coastline that included Cobh, Kinsale, and Kenmare (our home base to explore the Ring of Kerry). However, you can get train service from Dublin to Tralee and then take a bus to Dingle. Brian and Helen can help you with the logistics as you plan your trip.
