Brookhaven House: Care and Comfort in Waterville Ireland

Deciding to stay at Brookhaven House on the Ring of Kerry was one of the best decisions of my 2018 trip to Ireland.

Simply staying out on the Ring of Kerry versus racing around it was the first good decision.

The second fabulous decision was to stay in Waterville — a delightful town in a beautiful and superb location.

And the final excellent decision was choosing Brookhaven House.

Why?

 

Location

While Brookhaven House is not right in town, it’s only 1 1/2 kilometers or a 4 minute drive into town.

It sits right on the Ring of Kerry but not directly on the road as the house sits back so is away from any traffic noise.

You can easily get to Skellig Ring — the extra ring that branches off the main Ring of Kerry where the tour buses can’t go.

If you’re a golfer then you’ll be happy to hear there are 2 championship courses right in Waterville.

Derrynane Beach and Caherdaniel are only about 15km away.

And the colorful town of Portmagee is only 20km away.

I liked being just close enough to Waterville that it was a very short drive yet out of the hubbub of it all.

Not that Waterville is that big!

 

Brookhaven House is beautiful

It’s a lovely house, purpose-built to be a B&B.

There is a beautiful garden that was not yet flowering when I stayed. But I can imagine it’s stunning when all the flowers are in bloom.

You’ll find ample parking.

And wonderful 360 views.

Brookhaven House is warm and inviting with a charming sitting room as you enter.

I mistakenly didn’t get a photo of this!

But Mary, the owner, and I did have tea here when I arrived and I remember it being a wonderful spot to sit and read or have a cuppa.

I’ll be coming back to Mary.

 

The rooms

This was definitely one of my favorite rooms on this entire trip.

I had a room at the front of the house on the upper floor so I had views toward the mountains and the sea.

Lucky me!

The rooms are decorated simply, yet with taste and are large with some being a bit bigger than others.

Mine was perfect for 2 people so plenty big enough for just me.

 

You’ll get your toiletries, towels, hair dryer, electric kettle and a treat with the tea.

Water is left in a glass bottle for you each day. This is one of the touches I really like.

And the bed is comfortable, cozy and warm. One of the best beds for sure!

Bathrooms are also of a good size and most have bathtubs.

The shower is nice and hot.

Wifi works great which is necessary for me since I’m working as I travel.

And the room was always warm.

It was cooler than normal during my stay and Mary ensured the heat was on.

I cannot tell you how much I appreciated this!!

Mostly, I just felt very snug and at home in my room.

As someone who does a lot of traveling, this is not only important to me, but comforting.

 

The breakfast

Breakfast is delicious.

There’s a fabulous array of cereals, fruit and yogurt as well as coffee, tea, herbal teas, hot chocolate and juices.

Excellent choices for a hot breakfast are also available.

You’ll find fresh eggs, Atlantic salmon, bacon, pancakes and homemade brown bread on the menu.

Mary will also cater to vegetarians or those with special diets. Just let her know in advance.

Because I’m not a big breakfast eater, I ate the fresh fruit and yogurt 2 mornings and scrambled eggs the morning I left.

It was all fresh and tasty.

And the breakfast room has lovely wood floors and a view out back to the fields and the mountains.

It’s a great place to mingle with the other guests and exchange stories — which I naturally did.

 

The owner of Brookhaven House

Mary Clifford is your host — and she is wonderful.

I was treated to tea and cake upon my arrival.

She called my room to ensure I was warm enough as the second day was particularly rainy, windy and chilly.

Mary recommended things to do in the area as well as places for dinner.

We actually ended up having dinner together one evening.

It was fabulous to chat with someone else in the travel/hospitality business, sharing stories and exchanges ideas and opinions.

Mary is someone who truly cares about her customers.

And I always say that having a lovely host at your B&B really makes your stay that much more special.

 

The verdict on Brookhaven House

I didn’t want to leave.

It was one of the best stays of my trip.

I truly felt cared for at Brookhaven House.

It was comforting to have someone call the room and check on me.

I felt more a part of the family than a guest.

And having a warm comfy bed, a warm cozy room and warm caring host makes this one of the best B&B’s ever!

 

This is part of a series I call Charming Places — a series in which I talk about the places I stay. From B&B’s, hotels and guesthouses to apartments and farm stays, I’ll give my honest thoughts on these spaces. I’ve found that the accommodation I choose to stay often directly affects how I feel about a particular destination. And how I connect with that location and its people. So I want to share these places with you by dishing out a bit of info and some of my opinions.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of Brookhaven House so my stay was discounted. However all opinions are my own.