Magherintemple Lodge

Magherintemple Gatelodge is a wonderful 1870s house, restored beautifully by the Irish Landmark Trust, whose careful work preserves the character and atmosphere of these old buildings. It’s well equipped for a few days, or even better, a longer stay. The House Manager does a fine job and is helped by his family. Thank you all for such a delightful stay.

We wanted a quiet break from the holiday rush in Dublin, so my wife and I stayed here just after Christmas 2016. It was our first Irish Landmark Trust rental, and the lodge was beautifully kept inside and out, with modern comforts alongside its old-world charm. We spent two of our three nights reading and playing cards and scrabble by the fire. We’d brought books and games, and the kitchen had everything for the light meals we planned: a stove, oven, refrigerator, kettle, coffee press and cooking utensils. The bathroom was excellent, with a tub and shower. My husband loved the heated stone tile floors throughout the property, since he’d forgotten his slippers. During the day we drove to nearby sights, including Giants Causeway, The Dark Hedges, several Castles and parks. It’s a lovely place for a romantic or relaxing few nights in the Irish countryside. If you want dinner and drinks in town each night, you’ll need to drive. For visitors from outside Ireland, there’s zero tolerance for drink driving, and the road into town is narrow and curvy, though only a 5-10 minute drive.

The house was well equipped, with a full bathroom, two bedrooms (one double and one with bunk beds), a living room and a dining room with a full kitchen, even a dishwasher. We visited Ballycastle, The Giant Causeway, Portrush and some other lovely towns nearby. It’s a nice place to stay for a couple of nights, but you’ll need a car if you want to get around. It’s quite isolated. There’s only one other large house a couple of minutes’ walk away, and people live there. There isn’t really anywhere to walk, run or let your dog off leash, since everything is open and the road beside the house is very narrow and busy. A good fit if you’re planning to stay in or travel by car. The places we visited were all very recommendable.

A lovely period building, kept in beautiful condition, with modern touches like underfloor heating that don’t spoil its rustic character. It’s also well placed for Ballycastle and the surrounding towns. A TV or WiFi would be the one thing I’d add, since there are only so many board and card games you can play in the evening.