Stay in your very own Castle at "Castle Leslie"

Have you ever dreamed of staying in a Castle?

The beautiful Castle Leslie in County Monaghan, just 90 minutes north of Dublin, has a history of rock stars, war heroes, equestrians, aristocratic heritage and its surprisingly affordable.

Castle Leslie Estate and its world class Equestrian Centre, nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating Irish countryside, dotted with ancient woodlands and glittering lakes. The Estate offers an idyllic setting for outdoor activity and adventure. It is the perfect place to discover the thrill of exploring the beautiful Irish countryside on horseback. Riders of all ability and age groups are welcome with expert tuition, gentle hacks and exhilarating cross-country rides.

An Equestrian destination

Today, the estate has an indoor riding school with 56 stables, miles of bridle paths and more than 200 cross country fences. Horse riding is a big part of the experience here. Even the award-winning restaurant is called Snaffles and the Lodge is decorated in horsey memorabilia. When you wander around the estate you will see horses being hacked out in the stunning park style grounds.

Castle Leslie Lodge

The Lodge at Castle Leslie. A restored Victorian manor, overlooks the stables and has an ivy-covered charm of its own. As the Lodge overlooks the stables the rooms are named after horses such as Top Gear, Saphire, Oscar and Napoleon. You can also choose to stay in the Castle.

Where is Castle Leslie in Ireland, and how do you get there? Castle Leslie Estate is in Co. Monaghan, less than 2 hours north of Dublin and an hour southwest of Belfast. It’s just outside tiny Glaslough Village, which is off the N2 about 10 minutes north of Monaghan Town.

Horse Riding and Riding Lessons: Depending on the individual, week long equestrian packages can be arranged or if you are driving around the countryside we can also arrange 1-2 nights depending on your requirements.

Victorian Spa: The Castle Leslie Estate has a spa with 7 treatment rooms.

Dining at Castle Leslie Estate: The award-winning Snaffles Restaurant focuses on locally-sourced cuisine and fine dining in a spacious room with oak beams and a hand-carved ceiling. Meals are also available at the estate’s Conor’s Bar & Lounge. Afternoon tea is served in the Drawing Room at the Castle.

History of Castle Leslie

Now the once crumbling castle is one of the most enchanting castle hotels in Ireland. This is one of the few Irish castles and estates still maintained by the original family, since the 1660s.

The Castle is part museum, part luxury castle hotel and part comfortable home (if your home happens to have 18th century tapestries, candelabras and Winston Churchill’s baby frock behind glass.)

Today, Castle Leslie is one of the top castle hotels in Ireland. As well as horse riding at its world-class equestrian centre, pike fishing, boating, archery, hot air balloon rides and falconry are all on offer for you to enjoy.

And check out The Coach House Pub a short walk up the street. Owned by the Wright family who are also the local undertakers, it still retains much of its original character from when first built in the 1860s and houses many artifacts from over the years.

Castle Leslie also attracts many famous guests. Sir Paul McCartney and his second wife Heather Mills got married at Castle Leslie just outside Glaslough Village in County Monaghan in 2002. Other famous guests to stay at Castle Leslie have included the Swedish royal family, Winston Churchill’s mother, Mick Jagger and “the Boyband “Westlife boys”,

Snaffle Travel can help with your booking and all other travel arrangements as well as flights and other sightseeing options. We can also suggest a great self-driving route in Ireland.

Check out the riding holiday Ireland information