Our stay at Hillview House
Hillview is a wonderful stone farmhouse situated only 8min from Tobercurry in beautiful County Sligo. As with any rural Irish retreat, expect unspoilt country views of the surrounds, and of the forested Muckelty Hill which rises to the West.
Hillview is on a working farm and it was an absolute pleasure to greet the cows with each morning coffee, in fact a new calf was delivered on our second day there and Tom kindly invited the kids to come up to see the little calf resting in the shed.
The house itself is well appointed with loads of sleeping room, comfortable chairs, even a reclining sofa set in the room with a roaring fire! Logs and turf were available to enjoy this most authentic farmhouse experience- and for those who don’t want to set the fire- there’s a safe and beautiful new electric fireplace in the sitting room too. The kitchen has all the mod cons necessary for a self catering holiday without taking away from the house’s heritage. A warm, clean and comfortable home from home, and a perfect base to start from and retire to each day.
The surrounding countryside for me held memories of my own childhood holidays but being small at the time I was unable to fully enjoy the natural attractions which are liberally distributed nearby.
The gorgeous ox mountains between Muckelty and Ben Bulben feature Knocknashee (Hill of the fairies) which is a must see, with its Megalithic tombs, and Bronze Age settlement atop providing both historical interest and the most stunning views.
There are forest walks, Eagles Flying Experience, mountain trails, Neolithic monuments, coastal drives, graveyards from the great hunger, unspoilt beaches, gushing waterfalls and miles upon miles of perfect scenery all within 45min drive and most much closer, this location was splendid to explore what Sligo has to offer.
Our hosts made us so welcome it was sad to leave, the farm’s friendly and playful dog Sandy was keen to play with the kids in the yard, which gave them lasting and glorious memories of our time there. We were even treated to home baked scones from Rosaleen and they were both on hand should we need anything tended to or any questions- even providing sightseeing suggestions and directions- we had our very own knowledgeable local guides as they live in the bungalow just across the farm.
All in all a wonderful location and a fantastic rural holiday which was missing absolutely nothing. Would highly recommend a stay at Hillview house to explore Sligo, or just to relax and disconnect from the hi-tech modern life, this idyllic retreat provides comfort and beauty in spades!