After the cool spring comes summer, and we’re dreaming of long weekends away with beautiful backdrops. We packed our bags and headed out west, taking in stunning scenery and leaving our stress in the city. Fancy a weekend away? We think this could be just the slice of heaven you could be looking for... Here are just some of the reasons why Cong, Co.Mayo could be the key to a perfect weekend break! Location, Location, Location Nestled in the grounds of the stunning castle and forest trails, The Lodge at Ashford Castle is the ideal location to switch off from the world. Just three hours from Dublin, feel the stress fall away with the city landscapes. Pulling up at the front door, the calm of the lake and peaceful surroundings guarantee the perfect start to a weekend of luxury pampering. Service (Always) With A Smile Check-in to check-out, you won’t find staff as genuine or thoughtful as those at The Lodge at Ashford Castle. From the hotel managers Colin and Jacinta who tirelessly check that your rooms, food and stay are to the highest standard, to the waitresses Niamh and Ciara who stopped to chat with us over our breakfast and lunch, it was obvious that the guest always came first during their stay. Indulge In The Décor From roaring fires, deep plush carpets and scenic views from Wilde’s restaurant, it’s hard not to fall in love with the elegance and beauty of this natural setting. Whether it was taking a walk through the hotel, or cosying up to the fire with the Sunday papers, we reclined on the couches and tucked into the hearty chowder. Home From Home If you’re looking for a home from home, the rooms at The Lodge at Ashford Castle are the perfect option for your getaway. After opening the door, we were greeted to a downstairs living area with deep-set couches and dining area, while the upstairs led to a spacious bedroom with the most comfortable beds you could melt into for a night’s sleep. As well as plush cushions and fresh towels and sheets every day, the en suite bathroom complete with robe and slippers meant you were pulled into the ultimate comfort the minute your key turned in the door. Staying Local And Fresh The Lodge at Ashford Castle prides itself on using only the freshest, local produce, and we had the pleasure of visiting Caherduff Farm to see where our weekend eating was sourced. Owned and run by Tom and Keeley Clesham, we even had a chance to milk the cows ahead of our bread baking that afternoon:

Our @lizmcq milked a cow for the first time this morning. It wasn't as easy as she'd hoped it would be... ??

A photo posted by Her.ie (@herdotie) on May 23, 2015 at 4:36am PDT

Head Chef Jonathan is working closely with Tom and Keeley to ensure the freshest, most local produce is served at The Lodge, and seeing the care and maintenance on the farm, it’s clear to see the high quality of the ingredients (and yes, you can taste it in every bite!) The Great Outdoors After our farm escapades, we decided to stroll around the grounds of The Lodge, and found ourselves sitting on decking at the lake. Perfect for fishing or even dipping your toes in the water, we sat and chatted while getting a wave from locals who were strolling through the natural beauty of the parks. Making our way to the castle, we stopped to talk to the head groundsman John, who told us about the rich history of Ashford Castle while comparing notes on where we had grown up. John was further proof that the hotel, and its staff, pride itself on being personable, helpful and always willing. One Word: Food If there was a personal highlight from my stay at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, it has to be the care and skill shown in the food. Starting the day with a three course breakfast, we started with a buffet offering homemade jams, whiskey porridge, fresh fruit smoothies, and meats and cheeses from locally sourced producers. Followed by a full Irish breakfast, we were then treated to pancakes and brown bread ice-cream that were too good to leave behind (despite our very full stomachs). Following a walk through the grounds, we took the chance to sample the highly recommended seafood chowder. Served with chunky, crispy bread and filled with delicious varieties of our favourite seafood, the warm treat was a taster of what we could expect from dinner. Delivered in Wildes restaurant by the talented Head Chef Jonathan Keane, we sat down to a nine course tasting menu that was as imaginative as creative. Smoked salmon with white chocolate, beautifully ordained with seawood was followed by courses of wild scarriff rabbit pie with treacle jus and topped with a gorse flower brulee. For anyone who associates fresh, warm bread with a cup of tea and the warmth of home, we couldn’t recommend a taste of some of the unique stylings from the head chef’s kitchen. Wild mushroom pastry bread, to seaweed rolls, and fresh sour dough – there’s a style to suit every taste. Devil Is In The Detail The Lodge at Ashford Castle makes it their personal mission to guarantee you the most comfortable and memorable experience. Whether it was booking appointments, checking the comfort of our rooms, our morning wake-up calls, or having fresh tea and coffee waiting for us in our room when we woke up – there was nothing too big or too small for the friendly team to handle. It was these kind of personal touches that leave only the warmest, lasting impressions of those you meet in the hotel. If you feel like indulging in a summer getaway or a gourmet tasting treat, have a look at the hotel's website here for a series of mid-week and weekend packages for the perfect escape.