Our first weekend break as a threesome was to the stunning Glenview Hotel in County Wicklow...
It's a dogs life in County Wicklow
Whether it's a village B&B or the 5* Claridges in Mayfair, most hotels now allow dogs to stay with their owners. As a dog owner myself, I think this is a fantastic idea, and one that not many people know about! Our one concern about getting a pup was that we might have to leave him behind when we travelled - but we needn't have worried. On a recent trip to the Glenview Hotel in County Wicklow we simply packed our cases, strapped the dog (Turf) into the car and hit the motorway.
Located just south of Dublin off the N11 motorway, the Glenview Hotel is within pretty easy reach for a weekend break... only three hours from Belfast, and more importantly, welcomes dogs. Nestled high on the hillside in the picturesque Glen of the Downs in County Wicklow, the hotel is perfectly positioned for those who want a country retreat near to Dublin, but don't want to pay out the nose for it!
Exterior view of the hotel from the gardens
Dating back to 1914, when it originally opened as a cottage, hunting lodge and guesthouse, the Glenview Hotel used to be part of the nearby Powerscourt Estate, but is now in private ownership. It's easy to find - you can spot it from the motorway - although we still managed to get lost, taking turnoff 10 instead of turnoff 9! It was easy to scoot back towards Dublin again though and five minutes later we were parked and heading for the hotel reception with Turf trotting along beside us.
The staff were very friendly and welcoming (even making sure to wish Turf a 'happy stay'), which set the scene for the rest of our visit. We had very thoughtfully been put in one of the front suites with a balcony, meaning turf could do his business outside without one of us having to take him downstairs - this was great in the middle of the night when he needed a widdle. To say the room was huge would be an understatement, Turf had plenty of room to play. There was also an attached dressing room which led to the bathroom, so we weren't tripping over puppy paws while getting ready for dinner.
While dogs are allowed in the hotel's main areas, they are not, of course, allowed in the restaurant or bar, so we left Turf snuggled up in an armchair while we headed down to the bar.
The bar area is open plan to the bistro, with a large open fire providing a cosy warmth throughout. We chose a table beside the fire for our dinner - nothing better than a roaring fire, good food and a few glasses of wine!
Entrance to the Glenview Hotel
I had the Asian chicken salad to start while the other half opted for the soup of the day with fresh crusty bread. We both chose the sirloin steak, chunky chips, onion rings and three peppercorn sauce for mains, while we shared the dessert - a beautifully light fruit cheesecake with whipped cream... and of course more wine. I have to say, the three peppercorn sauce was absolutely divine with the sirloin... it was warm (not mouth-scorchingly hot) with a lovely sweet taste which complemented the meat beautifully. The service was very prompt too, no sooner had we finished our starters than our mains appeared... this pleased the other half no end, as he's not one for drawn-out dinners.
The night was still young, so not wanting to head to the room just yet, we sat a little longer by the fire (we currently do not have a fire at home, so we wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible!) When we did eventually did decide to head upstairs, Turf was still fast asleep in the armchair... his little head popped up only long enough to see if we had brought him any leftovers, unfortunately for him though we had scoffed everything.
With it being very much into winter, and the nights being very dark and our bellies very full, we all snuggled up in the huge bed for some Saturday night TV and a cup of tea - I don't think Turf missed his after-dinner walk too much that night.
Breakfast consisted of a selection of cereals, continental pastries and a hot buffet. We both headed straight for the hot buffet... a fry-up being one of the highlights of staying in a hotel, as it's not something we would make at home. I was very glad to see black and white pudding in the buffet, as not many hotels serve it, but it is absolutely delicious and I had two pieces of each. Not wanting to return to the room empty handed again (after all, this was Turf's holiday too) I cut up a sausage into bite-sized chunks, which the breakfast waitress very kindly wrapped in tinfoil for me, to take back to the room.
We put our overnight things back into the case while Turf enjoyed his sausage chunks... one thing about travelling with a dog is that they seem to have more bits and bobs to fit into the case than you do.
Gardens at the Glenview
We wanted to be on our way pretty sharpish for the drive home, so checked out at 10.30am. This gave us plenty of time to put the case in the car and take Turf for a walk around the little garden to the front of the hotel.
With plenty of grassed areas, trees, shrubbery and flower beds there's no excuse for doggy boredom, and Turf careered around them all with abandon, happily running through muddy patches (it had been raining overnight), sticking his nose into every tree root and rubbing alongside the damp moss on the fences. The walk isn't very long and we covered it in 10 minutes at a very leisurely pace (including stopping to relax on a bench or two along the way), so we circled it a few times for Turf's amusement and to tire him out for the journey home.
If you too are travelling with your dog the Wicklow Way is a great way to spend the day - the Wicklow Way is the best known of the wonderfully unspoilt mountain trails in Ireland.
Our cheeky boy Turf
We had a fantastic time at the Glenview Hotel and as it was the first time we had taken Turf away with us overnight, it gave us the opportunity to make a 'snag' list - a list of things we should or shouldn't have packed for him. A dog seat belt is absolutely paramount, we would never take him anywhere without one - and he sits on the back seat, not on the passenger side incase of an emergency where the airbag would be deployed - safety is everything.
Turf can get carsick, so plastic bags, kitchen towels, baby wipes and a spare blanket are essential for the car journey. We also like to plan ahead, make sure he has been walked and fed at least an hour and a half before we leave, so as he has burned off some energy and has had time to digest his food. We also make sure he has done his business before we put him in the car, and plan if we will need to stop on the way. A small plastic bowl and a bottle of water is kept in the car with us (not in the boot!)
We take puppy pads for the hotel room (incase he needs to go while we are having dinner or during the night), a kong, stuffed toy and a cushion - although he likes to make himself comfy in an armchair!
We also bring treats (for the kong) and his normal food and bowls. This is what I mean when I say we pack more stuff for Turf than for us!
Our next adventure will take us to Sheildhill Castle in Scotland, and I'll post the feature/review as soon as its printed.
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