A Victorian Hotel Re-Imagined for the 21st Century
Parknasilla Resort & Spa can date its origins back to 1895 when it first opened its doors as the Southern Hotel. It was built and designed to attract guests who would be travelling via the railway. The word Parknasilla means a ‘Field of Willows’ and this is an accurate description of its scenic location on the Kenmare River, in Co. Kerry along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. This part of Kerry is warmed by the Gulf Stream, hence its incredibly vibrant landscape featuring a wild abundance of shrubs such as montbretia and fuschia, to name but a few.
The vast majority of Irish people have heard about Parknasilla Resort and it is highly regarded as a holiday destination. Throw your mind back to when it opened and ladies wore long formal dresses for dinner. You will then understand why everything about this hotel can be regarded as spacious and on a grand scale. It was the ideal location for celebrities and has played host to some well known international luminaries such as Princess Grace of Monaco and Presidents Herzog and Charles de Gaulle, never mind several generations of Irish holiday makers. More recently it has played host for the newly acclaimed movie Lobster.
On entering the spacious Lobby there is an authentic Victorian feel as the original highly polished traditional patterned floor tiles are still being trodden on. On the right is a series of roomy high ceilinged Drawing Rooms with a delightful little clubby bar set between the rooms. On the left is yet another spacious Drawing Room so lots of space to wander around.
Activities: This is a hotel which caters for all categories of guest; from older guests to younger more energetic types who want to explore and avail of the more sporty activities on offer.
Outdoors: There are several themed walks throughout the 500 acre Estate. Kayaking is an exciting amenity on offer for guests so no excuse for not getting out and about. Parknasilla also boasts its own 12 hole golf course and a great opportunity for a more relaxed round of golf. In the last couple of years a divine Infinity Pool and a Vitality Pool have been added to the Menu of outdoor activities. Another recent addition is Dorothy’s beach, a private beach nestling in the cove and a great place for sunbathing and building sandcastles.
Indoor. If the weather is inclement there are lots of activities that are par excellence. The Spa is sublime with an 18 m swimming pool ideal for the whole family. The Thermal Suite, including Steam Rooms and Sauna are for adults and this is hard to resist – even if the sun is shining from the heavens.
The Bedrooms: There are 83 bedrooms in the main hotel, which has undergone some serious upgrades and transformations over the years and yet holds on to its traditional and authentic features. There are suites, cosy loft rooms, manor rooms, parkland view rooms to choose from in the main building. Furnishings match the type of room type keeping in mind its Victorian traditions and yet offering every conceivable modern amenity. It is wonderful to see wallpaper back in fashion and here at the Parknasilla Resort it makes one realize just how bland painted walls can be in some hotels. The views of the nearby mountains with constantly changing light makes for a new view each time you look out your window.
Villas & Woodland Cottages: Guests staying in the self catering Villas and Woodland Cottages have full use of the Hotel. The Villas and Cottages are ideal for families where more room is needed for children and also every family member gets to have a real holiday and that might include the family pet dog. The boarding kennels are a big hit with children, who hate being parted from their family pet.
Cuisine: Dinner is served in the Pygmalion Restaurant, a majestic room with bay windows and panoramic views across the bay. I personally liked that it was a first come first served approach to getting the tables by the windows so no nasty ‘reserved’ signs making you feel ‘below the salt’. Being an early bird I managed to snag a table by the window for Dinner and Breakfast next morning. Good staff are so important in any hotel and here in Parknasilla they didn’t disappoint and I felt suitably cossetted. The Menu included a comprehensive list of dietary options and the provenance of all produce. This makes life so much easier for anybody with an allergic condition.
An alternative dining option is the relaxing Bar Restaurant area which features a well thought out Menu to suit the guests who prefer a more casual dinner.
The hotel was extremely busy when I stayed there being a Bank Holiday weekend. It is a very fine balancing act combining such a variety of guests from older couples to young families. The exquisitely restored Centenary Library is a perfect child free space, eminently suitable for the quieter guests, with its green herringbone chairs and soft grey patterned wallpaper. It could do with a few more books though!
Apart from the Resort activities the Ring of Kerry has an abundance of interesting places to visit such as Derrynane House, home of Daniel O’Connell and Staigue Fort, a ring fort, which probably dates back to the 1st century BC.
A stay at this sublime resort is a must for those who want a hotel that caters for all those little whims as well as making you want to stay fit and healthy and enjoy all the outdoor adventures on offer. It has become synonymous with guests who like a buzz and want to immerse themselves in the luscious Kerry landscape where the air is so pure that it could be bottled! Can’t wait until I visit again and breathe in that pure west Kerry air.
