Carrig Country House

The Carrig Country House is a charming inn situated at the edge of Caragh Lake, which is on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry.

Gerhard and I have been exploring the area around Caragh Lake since our first vacation together in Ireland in 2017. The lake is in a beautiful, forested valley surrounded by MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. This is the mountain range where Carrauntoohill–Ireland’s highest mountain–is located.

Our Stay at Carrig Country House

Since we both love the area so much, I decided to reserve two nights at Carrig Country House last September as a birthday present for Gerhard. The entire weekend was just delightful.

Upon our arrival, we were met by Mary Slattery, who owns the establishment in conjunction with her husband, Frank. Mary ushered us into a delightful sitting room, where we simply talked for a bit about who we were and what had brought us to Carrig House. (It was a completely different experience from the normal check-in process!)

Then Mary led us to our bedroom, which involved going up a flight of stairs, down a hallway, and then down another flight of stairs! The ‘trek’ was worth it, however, when we got to our room. It was on the ground floor and charmingly decorated in turn-of-the-century Irish country style.

The best thing about the room, however, was that its glass door opened onto a beautiful, private little garden overlooking Carragh Lake! (We shared it with just two other rooms located on either side of us.) On the September days that we visited, it was a bit too cold to enjoy the garden; in the summer, however, it would be delightful.

When it was time for dinner, we headed back to the front of the house, where Frank greeted us in the living room and sat us down on a comfy sofa right in front of a real fireplace.

Then he brought us a glass of wine and an ‘amuse bouche’ along with the menus.

When dinner was ready, he led us to our table in the dining room (officially called Lake House Restaurant). The views of the lake from this room are spectacular, as was the food.

The next day, Gerhard launched his kayak from the hotel’s private access to the lake and went for a multi-hour paddle–even though the wind and waves were strong and the day was a bit stormy!

While Gerhard was kayaking, I wandered through the inn’s lovely gardens and hidden pathways, which comprise several acres.

After finishing my walk around the gardens, I was hungry! Although the restaurant only serves breakfast and dinner, I asked Frank if it was possible to get a little something to eat. He graciously said he would talk to the chef, and a few minutes later, this is what he brought me!

By the end of the afternoon, the stormy weather had cleared, and the evening sunset over Lake Caragh was spectacular.

Our entire stay at Carrig Country House was delightful. The beauty of the location, the charm and comfort of the rooms, and the kindness and graciousness of the owners made for a memorable holiday and birthday present. We will definitely return soon.