Price Key |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | ££ | £££ | ££££ | £££££ |
| up to £125 | £125 - 200 | £200 - 250 | £250 - 300 | £300 and up |
| * Rankings based on the average cost of a holiday package during high season, per person, double occupancy, per night, including three meals and one spa treatment daily. | ||||
Built in 1897, the Slieve Donard (named for a nearby 3,000-foot-high mountain) is located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains in Newcastle, one of Northern Ireland's most famous scenic destinations. The hotel's turreted Victorian facade overlooks the shores of Newcastle Bay, where majestic eastward views are accessible from a four-mile (6.5 kilometers) beach. The property occupies six acres of publicly held grounds adjacent to Tollymore Forest Park. Inside, renovated and restored facilities include an oak-paneled drawing room with a crackling central fireplace.
The newest addition to the property is a 35,000-square-foot spa (opened in August 2006) constructed with natural elements such as stone, Mourne granite, and sea-washed pebbles. ESPA, the renowned spa consulting company, created this two-story facility in accordance with holistic and restorative principles. Among the spa's rejuvenating features are a lounge with beach views serving spa cuisine; a fully equipped, technologically advanced gymnasium; and male and female thermal suites housing an amethyst steam room and a rock sauna. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy world-class fairways next door at the Royal County Down Golf Course. Authentic Irish country pubs and picturesque woodlands await those who explore the surrounding area.