Lime Kiln House - Self-catering in Co. Mayo

In rugged heathland above a tidal inlet, with hills and mountains all around, is an immaculately built house designed in harmony with its surroundings. Five bedrooms! Five bathrooms! Brilliant for a party of friends looking to combine nautical adventures, country pursuits and deep comfort. There's a side room for boots, wet togs and tackle, you can fly-fish in rivers and lakes, have bikes delivered to the door, and walk your socks off whatever the weather. Every room takes advantage of the views, not least the fresh, bright, pitch-roofed kitchen/dining room, with its big farmhouse table and open fire. One sitting room is enormous and so are the sofas; there are books on the shelves, logs in the grate, and the décor is contemporary-country. Two bedrooms are down, the rest are up, including a white-and-cream dorm under the eaves complete with doll's house. Sets of stairs abound, all impeccably carpeted, and the garden is large and safe with several furnished courtyards. For pubs there's Nevins, for fine dining Newport, and for Georgian charm Westport, "the best place to live in Ireland".