Lough Owel Lodge

Lough Owel Lodge is a modern house set between Lough Owel and a quiet country road that runs into Mullingar. While the house has no architectural distinction, this is a tranquil country spot where you can cycle down quiet roads, stroll the shores of Lough Owel, and generally enjoy the peace and quiet of the center of Ireland. Aideen and Martin Ginnell find that the house works really well for raising a family of four children and providing bed and breakfast; for it is divided into two parts, the front being for guests and the back for their family. I particularly appreciated the large car port which sheltered me from the rain as I arrived. A large sitting room with comfortable sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the garden and lake adjoins the dining room with its lovely old table and chairs. Upstairs, the two premier rooms are Lough Ennell with its king-sized, four-poster bed and Lough Owel with its family heirloom mahogany half-tester double bed. A family suite consists of a small double bedroom leading to a small twin-bedded room and a bathroom. Guests often wander down to the lough, enjoy a game of tennis, and make use of the children’s game room. Tullynally Castle, Carrickglass Manor, Belvedere House, Fore Abbey, and Athlone Castle are within an hour’s drive.