Slieve Donard Resort and Spa
On Thursday morning we got to drop two excited little girls off to their nanas, Stealing 24 hours away for just us was so exciting and the best Christmas presents our mums could give us. Escaping from the daily juggling, jumping off the hamster wheel and taking a very short break to catch our breaths with a coffee for the road and first half hour drive in silence just to catch our breaths and wind down.
When we arrived at The Slieve Donard resort the Grand Building itself took our breaths away, sat right at the foot of the Mourne Mountains and right beside the beach it was breathtaking from the moment we entered and felt like complete luxury with the traditional grand style, a real treat and very different from the day to day... Perfect! Even the smell of the aromatherapy oils arriving immediately made me relax (ok I relaxed from the hot coffee in the car).
The Christmas Decorations were magical with twinkling fairy lights and beautifully decorated trees everywhere you look, I'm sure that any time of the year is stunning here but this was extra pretty.
We started off our day with a trip to the spa, Colin and I went on our separate ways and we were treated to a Winter Spa Experience which included a little bit of everything from massage, facial, hot stone and scalp massage using Espa products. It was total bliss, I could have lay on for a lot longer!
We spent the afternoon going for lunch in our robes, having a swim, relaxing and chatting in the jaccuzzi and not being in any rush for anything. The spa is situated over two floors and there's two seperate spa areas, a main unisex area with swimming pool, jacuzzi that hosts stunning views of the Mourne Mountains, sauna, steam room and then seperate areas for males and seperate for females with all the same facilities and also a relaxation room.
At 3pm we headed back up to the room to lie and watch TV and get ready for dinner at our leisure with a glass of prosecco that our lovely friend Olivia that I met through this blog delivered, how thoughtful and totally took our breaths away. Leisure is definitely the most appropriate word as I struggled to drag myself off the most comfortable of beds... Supposedly they are known for their 'cloud beds' and I totally get why.
After getting ready, dressed for dinner and drinks we headed to Percy Frenchs, one of three restaurants at the resort. The atmosphere was very relaxed, more like an old Irish pub feel and I maybe was a little over dressed but hey, we get out about 3 times a year so when I get out I grab that excuse to dress up... Even if it only is for 45 minutes.
Yip, after the most beautiful spa, relax in the room and lovely meal I was totally struggling to stay awake, nothing was more attractive than getting back up to that cloud bed, watching Grand Design and totally utilising that full nights sleep, a little teasing from Colin for not wanting to go to the bar and he was fully on board.
9pm we were in bed with a cuppa tea and totally chilled, a 10 hour sleep followed after (every parents dream, right!).
Breakfast was served in the hotels main Resturant, The Oak resturant which was totally stunning and when we go back we will definitely try here for dinner. I had a fresh smoothie with overnight oats, berry compot and natural yogurt followed by an Ulster fry (all produce from Northern Ireland) and fresh coffee.
We were set up perfect for the road home which felt a little too soon, we could have easily stayed another night however I'm unsure that the nanas would have as easily kept our wee monkeys.
We will definitely be back to the Slieve Donard.
Prices for an overnight stay at the Resort start at £55 per person sharing.
Anna xx
We were invited as guests to the Slieve Donard for the purpose of this review however all opinions, love of the spa and the want to take the bed home is entirely my own.