Melvin Country House

We wanted a quiet place to recharge after days exploring the North West of Ireland, with a hearty breakfast to start each day. Coming from the city, Frances and Martin's well-kept, clean property gave us just the kind of retreat we had hoped for. We booked four nights based on the online reviews and were extremely pleased with Melvin Country House. If we're back in that part of Ireland, it's top of our list. The gracious hosts gave us a warm, old-fashioned Irish welcome, and the stay felt more like visiting extended family than a formal guest and owner arrangement. It's very peaceful. Other guests included couples and families with pre-teen children, and one young couple brought their dog. Despite that, we slept well all four nights.

On the drive from Donegal back to Dublin, we stayed at Melvin Country House. The setting is beautiful, and the sheep outside were a sweet welcome before Frances greeted us warmly indoors. We got there a little late, but she still made us a fantastic dinner. The next morning she cooked us a lovely breakfast, and I got the highlight of my trip: helping feed a lamb. After driving around the Emerald Isle all week, meeting some lambs had been my goal! Our spacious room had all the amenities we needed. It's close to Belleek and JUST across the border into Northern Ireland. Ask Frances about how that border differs from the one in the 1990s. My husband's extended family is in Ireland, so we'll be back to the Emerald Isle, and we'll plan to stay at Melvin again as we cross from east to west, or west to east.

Frances and Martin were lovely hosts, and our room was spotless with amazing views. Breakfast was delicious, and the place being dog friendly was a huge bonus for us.

We were even sent off with a packed lunch for a day's fishing on the laugh. The breakfasts were delicious and generous, and there's an evening meal available if wanted. The rooms were very comfortable and spacious. We'd highly recommend this Country House for its fantastic welcome and family hospitality. Paula and Andrew Hollick, Cambridgeshire.