Redcastle Hotel in Inishowen, A Family Escape That Has Everything

When a hotel sitting on the shores of Lough Foyle invites your family for a stay, you don't think twice. Here's what happened when we packed the kids and headed to one of Donegal's most beautiful escapes.

Our recent stay at Redcastle Hotel on the shores of Lough Foyle in County Donegal was phenonemal, and from the moment we arrived as guests of the hotel, it was clear that this was going to be epic. This wasn't our first time staying at the hotel, we were fortunate enough to experience this before and we absolutely loved it.

Redcastle Hotel sits on the shore of the Inishowen Peninsula, cradled between the calm waters of Lough Foyle and the Donegal countryside, and the setting alone is enough to stop you in your tracks. The hotel's own golf course sweeps along the shoreline, and whether you play or not, walking those grounds with Lough Foyle beside you is worth the trip in itself.

The drive down from the main road is beautiful. You wind your way along the golf course, catching little glimpses of the hotel and the water through the trees and then the view just opens up. It almost feels as if you are in another world.

Before we checked into the hotel, the team had arranged for us to spend the day at Wild Ireland, the remarkable wildlife sanctuary tucked into the Donegal countryside not far from the hotel. If you have not been to Wild Ireland yet then move it to the very top of your bucket list immediately, because it is one of the most extraordinary experiences for all the family. This is a place where Ireland's ancient wildlife has been given a second chance, where bears, wolves, lynx, and other animals roam in vast, naturalistic enclosures set against a backdrop of native Irish woodlands.

Back at the hotel, the evening brought one of the highlights of the entire stay. The Edge Restaurant more than lives up to its name. Positioned to make the very most of those extraordinary Lough Foyle views, dining here as the light fades over the water and the far shore of Antrim in the distance is an experience that combines atmosphere and food in exactly the right proportions. The menu is ambitious and beautifully done, celebrating local and seasonal ingredients with the kind of care and skill that reminds you why Donegal and the wider northwest of Ireland has become such an exciting destination for food lovers.

The swimming pool at Redcastle was a total hit with our two and honestly, getting them out was the real challenge. They absolutely love the water.

The hotel has just launched something really special, four brand new riverside hot tubs and a sauna. They have created such an incredible experience. If you love Spa treatments, we highly recommend the Japanese Head Spa Treatment, it will not disappoint. They have a great selection of treatments available and you will not want to miss out on these.

But if you want to know what our two are still talking about, what they bring up unprompted at the dinner table and what formed the basis of their answer when asked about there stay, it is the Happy Camper experience. Redcastle has created something genuinely clever and genuinely fun. Imagine the excitement of camping, the tent, the adventure, the sense of something out of the ordinary, combined with the comfort and warmth of a beautiful hotel room. That is exactly what the Happy Camper delivers. Éabha & George were absolutely beside themselves with excitement at the idea of sleeping in a tent inside their hotel room, and the reality lived up entirely to the anticipation. They have already asked when we are going back. More than once.

The Inishowen Peninsula, on which Redcastle sits, is one of the most underrated corners of Ireland and there is a wealth of things to see and do within easy reach of the hotel that could easily fill several days of exploration.

Some of my favourite places to visit:

• Inishowen 100

• Wild Ireland

• The Wild Alpaca Way

• Shrove Lighthouse

• Five Finger Strand

• The Doagh Famine Village

• Culdaff Beach

• Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland

• Grainan of Aileach

• The Gap of Mamore

• Pollen Bay Ballyliffen

• Dunree Fort

• Kinnego Bay

• Buncrana

• Culdaff & Malin Village

• True North Boating to Inishtrahull Island (a must)

• Inich Island

Redcastle Hotel is, when all is said and done, the perfect base from which to explore one of Ireland's most beautiful and most underappreciated corners. It combines genuine luxury with real warmth, a spectacular natural setting with exceptional food, and family friendly experiences. Whether you are looking for a romantic escape, a family adventure, or simply a few days of complete and utter relaxation somewhere truly beautiful, Redcastle delivers on every count.

It is a corner of Donegal that deserves far more attention than it gets, and a hotel that deserves to be at the very top of your list.

Go. You will not regret it for a single moment.

Check out Redcastle Hotel & Spa and book your stay now,

www.redcastlehoteldonegal.com