Fodor's Expert Review Kilmokea Country Manor & Gardens

Originally an 18th-century stone rectory, the authentic Georgian-country-house experience is promised and more than delivered at luxurious Kilmokea, known for its award-winning gardens. An elegant hideaway, Kilmokea is set amid 7 acres of gardens that include formal walled gardens, more than 130 species of plants, and woodland gardens with winding paths—a delight for amateur and serious horticulturalists alike. While you may want to nest in the fragrant and tranquil gardens, you will have to settle for gorgeous views from one of the seven elegant bedrooms. Rooms are appropriately named for beautiful flowers like the rose, the lily, and the daffodil: the Magnolia Room boasts a period four-poster bed, sumptuous mahogany furniture, and the required garden views. Breakfast is served in the large conservatory beside the gardens and dinner is available in the impressive main dining room. The on-site spa offers aromatherapy treatments and a heated swimming pool. There is also a self-catering cottage that's ideal for families.