Fodor's Expert Review The Londonderry Arms Hotel

What awaits at this lovely traditional inn are ivy-clad walls, gorgeous antiques, regional paintings, prints and maps, rare whiskeys, and lots of fresh flowers—all time-burnished accents well befitting an estate once inhabited by Sir Winston Churchill. Located beside Carnlough harbor on the edge of a peaceful bay at the foot of Glencloy, the second of the beautiful nine glens of Antrim on the celebrated Causeway coastal route, this 1848 hotel was built as a coaching inn by the Marchioness of Londonderry. In 1921 Sir Winston, a great-grandson of the original owner, inherited the hotel, which is now owned and run by the gregarious Denise O'Neill. Georgian furnishings and luxurious fabrics—we love the ultrachic French Nobilis wallpaper with its historic scenes on the ground and first floors—are immaculately kept. During 2019, the bedrooms were reconfigured but still retain their Connemara-made furniture. Choose from rooms with a sea view, family rooms, cozier rooms, the Glencloy room (one of the most spacious), or the Churchill room (No 114) which is more isolated. The Frances Anne restaurant serves substantial, traditional Irish meals, while lighter dishes and snacks are available in the bar-bistro. The newly designed Arkle Whiskey Bar specializes in rare malts, blends, and vintages from Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland. Arkle was a famed Irish thoroughbred racehorse which won three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups in England in the 1960s. Before you leave you can touch the lucky horseshoe worn by Arkle—and it is said that you too will enjoy good luck.