Ashford Castle - Co. Mayo, Ireland

Castle hotels are a dime a dozen in Ireland. What sets Ashford apart from the rest of the medieval rabble is its unwavering dedication to maintaining the feel of its 13th-century origins. Once the private estate of the Guinness family and one of the first Irish castles converted into luxury accommodation, in 1939, Ashford is a place where it’s easy to imagine yourself living in the time when clay pigeon shooting and falconry were typical daily pursuits. And its stout gray walls and battle towers stand on a lonely spit of land overlooking Ireland’s second largest lake. It’s 350 acres of the most gorgeous Irish countryside you’ll ever behold.