Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle has been on the shores of Lough Corrib since 1228, which gives it nearly eight centuries of history to draw on. The present castle is largely a Victorian expansion by the Guinness family, who owned it for over a century and filled it with the kind of furnishings that a brewing fortune could command. A comprehensive restoration by Red Carnation Hotels in 2015 brought it to its current standard. The activities list — falconry, clay shooting, fishing, archery, zip-lining across the lake — suggests a country house party that has been running since the Middle Ages and shows no signs of stopping. 83 rooms, the George V restaurant, and a lakeside setting in County Mayo that feels as remote and wild as any in Western Ireland.