Tankardstown

Eating

Those staying in the cottages can order breakfast (at an additional charge) to be brought to your door. Choose between continental or the full Irish option. Naturally we went for the latter - yummo - which came with really delicious home-baked bread, a choice of condiments, fruit salad and orange juice.

For other meals try Tankardstown’s restaurant, Brabazon (open evenings Wednesday-Saturday and all day on Sunday), or the more informal bistro (serving lunch Wednesday-Sunday and dinner at weekends). Both have opened since our last visit so we can’t vouch for the food, but the fusion of local and international influences looks tantalising - options include potato and black truffle soup, smoked duck salad with toasted brioche, and capuccino mousse with chocolate and thyme cookies. Set in a former cow shed, both have exposed stone walls and outdoor tables in a walled garden; the beamed milking parlour next door has been converted for private dining.

Alternatively you can whip up your own culinary delights as each cottage has a well-stocked kitchen (with a Belfast sink, a toaster, a fridge, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave, oven gloves and tea towels) and a table seating 4. You get good coffee and a range of posh teas, as well as the welcome bottle of Prosecco for i-escape guests, and you can ask for a hamper of fresh goodies to be delivered on arrival as well. With 24 hours' notice, you can order other lovely home-cooked meals: 'good farmhouse-style food' such as fillet steak with potatoes, or vegetarian lasagne.

The main house comes with a fabulous, fully equipped country kitchen where you can rustle up meals using the beautifully restored Aga. Trish can also arrange catering for your gathering: the formal dining room can seat 22 at its polished mahogany table, which looks wonderful with candles flickering in the candelabras. There's also a stylish bar next to the living room, with a large gilt mirror, purple walls and a comfy sofa.