Conveniently located just an hour from Dublin or Belfast airports, the Carroll family's 18th century house is attractively situated in its own walled grounds on the edge of Carlingford village, with views across the lough to the Mountains of Mourne.
A proper little bar offers a relaxing space where guests can mingle - in a more convivial atmosphere, perhaps, than beside the drawing room fire, although that too has its moments; it's very pleasant for residents to return to, and especially welcoming for non-residents just coming in for dinner.
Accommodation is in four rooms of character in the main house, each with sea or mountain views, and eight newer bedrooms in a separate building, which have been finished to a fairly high standard.
And there's even more to it than comfortable accommodation and the delicious meals you will enjoy for dinner or breakfast, as the Carrolls also run a cookery school on the premises.
Conference/banqueting (55/85); house available for exclusive use. Garden; walking. Children welcome (under 5s free in parents' room; cots available without charge; baby sitting arranged). No pets.
Rooms 12 (1 shower only, 3 superior, 2 family, 1 single). B&B Double Room €95 pps (€65 pps low season), single €75. (Discounts applied on stays of 2 or more nights.) Open all year except Christmas & New Year.
Restaurant:
Dinner is, of course, a high priority at Ghan House. The style is contemporary, based mainly on quality home-grown (vegetable, fruit and herbs), home-made (breads, ice creams, everything that can be made on the premises) and local produce, notably Cooley lamb and beef, dry cured bacon, free range eggs - and seafood: oysters are synonymous with Carlingford (there are also mussels from the lough and lobster from Ballagan, while smoked salmon and crab come from nearby Annagassan).
A user-friendly set dinner menu with about five choices on each course is also priced by course, allowing considerable flexibility without having a separate á la carte, and there's a fairly priced wine list.
Seats 60 (private room 34); non-residents are welcome by reservation. D only, "most days" 6.30-9.30 (from 6pm Sun); Set D €40; gourmet D €65; L Sun only 12.30-3.30, €27.50. House wine €21; sc discretionary. Children welcome. House closed 24-26 Dec and 31 Dec & 1-3 Jan. Amex, MasterCard, Visa, Laser
