Ballyfin Demesne – A Regency Estate of Refinement
Tucked beneath the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin Demesne is an impeccably restored Regency mansion set amid 614 acres of lakes, ancient woodland and walled gardens. With just twenty individually styled bedrooms, it offers the privacy of a country house party, yet the polish that regularly earns it “best hotel in Ireland” accolades. Built in the 1820s for Sir Charles Coote, the house closed for much of the twentieth century and re-emerged in 2011 after a nine-year restoration that returned hand-painted silk wallpapers, marquetry floors and a soaring glass conservatory to their original splendour. Nights here begin around €750 and rise quickly, so stays tend to be measured in memories rather than in bargains.
Snapshot for Planners
- Distance: roughly 100 km
- Typical drive: about 1 hour 20 minutes via M7
- Optional detours: Kildare Village (5 min) • Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens (5 min) • Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery (20 min)
Fleet Highlights
- Mercedes S-Class LWB (up to 3 guests, 2 large cases) – €325 one-way
- Mercedes Viano 7-seater (up to 7 guests, 7 cases) – €310 one-way
- A complimentary 20-minute comfort pause is available on request
Why Ballyfin Captivates Discerning Travellers
- Morning views across the 28-acre lake from the Louis XV-style bedrooms
- Champagne picnics on the roof-top Belvedere or beneath the romantic grottoes
- A library of 5,000 leather-bound volumes, flanked by secret mirrored doors leading to the Gold Drawing Room
- Estate pursuits curated for adults and older children alike: falconry, clay-pigeon shooting, horse riding, boating, cycling and archery
- A cellar housing more than 600 labels, with tutored tastings before Chef Richard Picard-Edwards’ Michelin-starred menus
Your Chauffeur Route
Settle into a quiet cabin while your driver handles tolls and navigation. The motorway soon gives way to hedge-lined lanes and glimpses of limestone follies before iron gates swing open and the mansion appears at the far end of a mile-long drive.
Elegant Diversions En Route
- Kildare Village – designer boutiques with tax-free shopping and a champagne bar
- Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens – thoroughbred legends and manicured Zen paths
- Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery – small-batch pot-still whiskey and cooperage displays
Quiet Roads to Rare Estates
Whether you are marking a milestone anniversary, hosting a discreet board retreat or simply craving a retreat where no request feels choreographed, Viptransfer.ie delivers you to Ballyfin Demesne in comfort—not ceremony—at a price that reflects the distance, not the diamonds on the chandeliers.