JOE kicks back at Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa

Looking for a place to relax, unwind, and really treat yourself? The Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa is your only man.

‘Location, Location, Location’ is the mantra of the dearly loved real estate agent but in the world of hotels it is even more important. And surely there is no better location in the entire world than Inchydoney in west Cork.

Just past Clonakilty you approach the ‘island’ via a narrow road and you don’t even get a glimpse of what is to come until you arrive outside Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa. The four-star hotel is located right in the middle of two fantastic, wide, golden beaches, with wonderful views of the Celtic Sea and the strand from every room of the hotel.

Images taken there don’t do justice to just what vistas the place has on offer, hands down the best in Ireland and it might be a cliché lads, but you will definitely want to do the ‘long walk on the beach’ thing with whoever you bring with you.

The location also cuts you off from the rest of the world, which really helps you to kick back and relaxation is what Inchydoney is all about.

Their spa, run by the delightful Heidi, is one of the very best in the country, offering a range of treatments for every pocket and preference. According to Heidi, us Irish lads suffer from a bit of dry skin (it’s not our fault, it’s the weather) so a good facial is ideal to get your face back into tip top condition.

They also make use of their excellent location with a lot of seaweed and seawater treatments and as the recipient of both a seawater massage and an ‘Urban Cleanse’ facial I can assure you that not only have you nothing to be afraid of, but you feel literally like a new man afterwards.

You will definitely want to do the ‘long walk on the beach’ thing with whoever you bring with you

Away from the very calming world of the spa, there’s no shortage of activities to do at Inchydoney. Right in front of you on the beach a very popular surf school takes beginners out onto the very calm waters to learn the tricks of the trade. There’s also walks, biking trails, golf and the whole world of west Cork only a short drive away.

We set off to Baltimore to go whale watching with the brilliant Nic Slocum. Nic takes small groups out around the small little islands in the hope of seeing all manner of wildlife. We didn’t see any whales but we did see some porpoise and seals and to be honest, between the beautiful scenery and Nic’s charming commentary on what we were seeing, it didn’t really matter.

The trip also includes a short stop on Cape Clear Island, a wonderful spot with just over 100 inhabitants and some of the worst roads I’ve ever seen in Ireland. Even though you are only a few miles away from the mainland, it is a different, and very pleasant, world. We’ll definitely be back for a longer stint.

Once back at base the other great thing Inchydoney offers, apart from the views, the relaxation, and the long list of stuff to do, is the food. The Dunes bar serves some of the best bar food I’ve ever seen, with the crab claws a real treat.

Monkfish... Nomnomnom

In the more formal, but still relaxed, Gulfstream Restaurant the food goes up another notch or two. Stuffed with great local produce, from Clonakilty pudding to fantastic seafood like monkfish and mussels, if you like your food fresh from the sea, it really is top class here.

The breakfast is also one of the best I’ve had in any hotel, and they serve until 11am so you don’t have to get up too early, a very important factor.

The hotel is so large that you always feel like you can find a space to relax. There’s a large resident's lounge, a brilliant fully-equipped snooker room, a swimming pool, a reading room and countless other little outdoor and indoor areas to get away from it all. Put it this way, I was told that during my stay, the Cork football panel were in the hotel yet I never saw any of the 30-man panel once. The place is simply perfect for a weekend away or planning All-Ireland success.

The place is so easy to to hide the away that during my stay, the Cork football panel were in the hotel yet I never saw any of the 30-man panel once. The place is simply perfect for a weekend away or planning All-Ireland success.

As I said at the start, the location gives Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa a huge head start but they have made the absolute most of that advantage. Everything, from the welcome to the food, from the spa facilities to the things to do, is up to standard of that remarkable view.

I can think of no higher praise.

Find out more about Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa here