Lisa Connell visits the fabulous Farnham Estate; the place where mini-’moon dreams are made.

A short drive from Cavan Town, you’ll find the stunning Farnham Estate Spa and Golf resort nestled into 1300 acres of picturesque countryside. At first glance, the stunning view forecasted the immediate escape that awaited, promising a welcome respite from the madness and hectic pace of modern living.

First stop after check in was afternoon tea in the drawing room, which was every bit as sumptuous as it sounds. Housed in the original main house of the estate, the beautiful location for the ultimate tea party boasted wonderful high ceilings and ludicrously comfortable seating. This particular afternoon tea will bring out the Lady Violet Crawley (AKA Maggie “What is a weekend” Smith in Downtown Abbey) in any of us. Delightful and plentiful mini bites of deliciousness ensued. I’m very partial to a mini scone, it must be said!

Fresh from afternoon tea we checked into our room to promptly don fluffy white robes in preparation for our visit to the Health Spa. Boasting a large state-of-the-art facility, the spa offers multiple treatment areas including a spa store with a wide range of skincare, wellness and beauty products.

I was booked in for the Inner Calm Massage, which is a new ESPA treatment that uses a specially selected blend of oils specifically tailored to help you find your inner calm. With neck and eye pillows to encourage warmth and relaxation, this massage experience is outrageously soothing. My masseuse and had a chat about what products would be use and got to choose some special oils. What followed was a most wonderfully chill 60 minutes where could feel all the stress and strain of the week, heck, the year, melt away. To conclude the 60-minute treatment, my masseuse performed a scalp massage and Rose Quartz crystals were gently massaged over the third eye and forehead areas to rebalance the body, restoring a sense of focus and inner calm. Bliss.

There was an option to spend time in the various and plentiful Water Mint Thermal Suites. Each area had helpful signs describing their various benefits. Options included an Aroma Steam bath and a Finnish Sauna to name a few, but was so chill after my massage that opted for pool side lounger with my New Yorker magazine as an interlude before taking a dip in the hydrotherapy pool which continues outdoor into an infinity pool. There was something strangely exotic about swimming in a heated pool in the middle of the verdant Irish surrounds during a very Irish spring with crisp temperatures!

We had time before dinner to explore and enjoy the beauty of the grounds. There were a wide variety of walks to choose from and in the fading light of late afternoon we opted for one of the shorter strolls to visit the lake. This was as picturesque as it sounds and worked up our appetites for the tantalising five-course tasting menu of our evening dining experience in the Botanica Restaurant. We retired to the Cellar bar for a night cap after dinner and stayed up later than intended due to the fun and buzzy atmosphere in the bar. This is usually a bit of a rarity with hotel bars!

After a wonderful sleep in the dreamy, king-size bed. we rounded out our stay with a delightful breakfast served once again in the Botanica Restauant and managed to fit a final dip in the pool before checking out.

Farnham Estate really was a great escape and a truly relaxing experience overall. felt so refreshed it was like we’d been there for luxurious days not just an overnight visit. If you need to recharge and reconnect with yourself, then look no further than this truly ideal mini-’moon destination.

Treat yourself to an overnight stay at Farnham Estate from €129 per room midweek including breakfast.

The Inner Calm Massage is also available as a 30 minute treatment for €65 or €140 for an 80 minute treatment.

Call 049 437 7700 or email info@farnhamestate.ie for more information.