Hotel review: Blairscove House offers a view of the best of West Cork

The Ireland's Blue Book property sits just 1km from the inviting village of Durrus while Bantry, Schull and Ballydehob are all within 15km spinning distance. 

That in mind, don’t overlook Blairscove’s destination restaurant as a dining option if you’re overnighting elsewhere in the region too. 

8.5/10

Style and design

Blairscove offers four courtyard cottages and suites which can be booked on either a self-catering or B&B basis. 

Sleeping from two (The Coach House) to four (The Piggery), they’re all set within the renovated original outbuildings of Blairscove House and overlook the property’s impressive walled gardens with mountain to sea views beyond.

Accommodation offers a mix of traditional and contemporary design with character pops from salvaged bric-a-brac and contemporary art. 

With so many interior elements, a cohesive sense of style can waver, however this design mélange does make them feel quite homely with almost a feel of a colourful Airbnb rental rather than a traditional country house escape.

It’s worth noting that Blairscove House, the main resplendent Georgian residence, blushed in duck egg blue, serves as the home to the property’s owners, the Woodward family and besides checking out in the reception area, located in its conservatory, it’s not truly part of the guest experience. 

8/10

Service

On arrival just after 4pm, reception is unattended but there’s a personalised note on the door offering instructions to access my accommodation. It makes for a quick and concise check-in, though it’s perhaps not your typical country house welcome.

My first encounter with the team is at dinner where service is professional, warm and informed and not overly precious like some other fine dining settings.

Salute-worthy are also a few subtle, guest-friendly touches, from an umbrella tucked in my room’s porch, a key-ring torch attached to the room key for any nighttime pottering about, plus a perfectly pre-set fire for a cosy night in.

8/10

Rooms

I was staying in The Loft, a spacious one-bedroom apartment located above Blairscove Restaurant. It features a lounge with fine views over the bay, a charming dining area with pine dresser stocked with Willow pattern china as well as a contemporary style kitchen. 

The bedroom, excluding the views, is a little underwhelming while the en suite wet room is compact but modern with products from The Handmade Soap Company. 

Some furnishings are eclectic, if not odd or even superfluous at times, but it all makes for a pleasant and above all comfortable West Cork pied-à-terre.

8/10

In-room perks

All guest rooms feature a welcome carafe of sherry along with a mason jar of freshly baked shortbread. 

There’s also a handsome selection of coffee table books as well as fresh magazine editions of the likes of Elle. 

The kitchen pantry is well stocked with Nespresso and teas, there’s fresh milk in the fridge and wine and champagne are available for purchase at reasonable prices. Fresh flowers come as standard too. 

9/10

On the menu

Dinner at Blairscove is served in the property’s impressive dining hall (converted from an original barn) where everything from a resident pianist to the property’s signature chandelier shimmering from the vaulted ceilings elevate its pizzazz.

Pre-dinner cocktails are offered in the cosy bar or the adjoining marquee, though the setting of the latter didn’t do much to add to the build-up.

Blairscove’s dining trademark is its centrepiece starter buffet which is a delightful smorgasbord of seafood, salads and local charcuterie. 

Main courses, which include grilled rack of West Cork lamb with a herb crumb and served with sumac fries and feta labneh are cooked and presented with imagination and finesse, while for dessert, tables enjoy the novelty of being individually escorted to a pudding buffet with a mouth-watering pick of tasters. 

Tea, coffee and petits fours cap this memorable €85 menu.

Breakfasts are delivered to each suite or cottage after pre-ordering the previous evening with mains including crèpes with banana, pecans or toffee sauce or toasted cream cheese bagel with salmon. 

8/10

Activities and amenities

There are no on-site amenities at Blairscove in terms of leisure but the property lies within short distance to myriad West Cork star attractions from Mizen Head Lighthouse to The Sheep’s Head Way for hiking lovers. 

6/10

The bill

B&B from €280.

• Blairscove, Durrus, Co Cork
• blairscove.ie
• The Hotel Examiner was a guest of Blairscove House & Restaurant