Ireland is a nation known for its natural beauty. Rich, lush greens grace craggy hills and low mountains that dot the countryside. One of the most beautiful regions of Ireland is the Beara Peninsula. Located on a finger of land jutting out to the Atlantic, the Beara is one of Ireland's least known and unspoiled regions. Due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream, the Beara's climate borders on subtropical, yet because of its narrow roads, tour buses avoid the area. As a result, a room at the Park Hotel Kenmare serves as a perfect base for exploring the beautiful countryside.
Built in 1897 as railway hotel, the Park Hotel Kenmare compliments its beautiful surroundings. Ivy climbs the stone walls trying to reach the dormered windows high above. Its steep roofs are dotted with slab-chimneys, and oddly enough, the palm trees that dot the grounds do not seem out of place.
Once you pass the tennis court and croquet lawn and step into the hotel, you realize that you are in a place of unique luxury. A fire glows below the grand staircase and the hallways are fashionably cluttered with antique bureaus, armoires, and paintings. As is expected with all Relais & Châteaux hotels, the rooms are luxurious. Each room is individually decorated and extremely comfortable, but rooms overlooking the Kenmare Estuary are the most romantic.
Downstairs, the hotel's restaurant serves world-class cuisine. For a special Christmas, the hotel offers a three-day Victorian holiday package, but be sure to make your reservations well in advance for rooms go quickly.
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