Ballinalacken Castle - Doolin

Reckoned to be one of the most beautifully sited country houses in Europe, this grand Victorian mansion is out on the coast road a couple of miles from the village of Doolin. Thanks to its clifftop location, there are spectacular panoramic views of the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway Bay from most of its guest rooms. There's even a ruined medieval castle in the hotel grounds – one-time ancestral home of the O'Brien clan.

Ballinalacken is also renowned for its baronial dining room, where heavy drapes and antique painted landscapes set the tone. By contrast, the food strikes a more contemporary note and there are plenty of Irish components in dishes like dodine of chicken fillet and Meere's black pudding wrapped in cabbage, cannelloni of Doolin crab in light salmon mousse or roast loin of Burren lamb on baby ratatouille with redcurrant flavoured jus. Conclude with Irish cheeses or luxurious, well-crafted desserts like dark and white chocolate mousse cake with mint and chocolate ice cream.