Escape to the countryside with a fall break in Ireland
By: Susan Byron | Published Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 2:01 PM | Updated Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 2:01 PM
Isn't Autumn just the perfect time for a short break away in the country?
Summer is long gone and our thoughts are turning inwards to cosying up in front of a crackling log fire with a nice hot whiskey having perhaps tramped through a thick carpet of leaves in an ancient beech wood.
Ireland has many beautiful forests, national parks and leafy lanes bordering ancient riverside walks that wind their way through quaint little Irish villages that thankfully have retained their rural charm. Old fashioned, meaty butchers sport big roasts, proper sausages and locally caught game if you are lucky. The smell of freshly baked bread and cakes (you can forget your diet on a weekend away in Ireland) wafts out of small bakeries turned coffee shops where you can sit and people-watch a different kind of lifestyle altogether.
Country markets have made a very welcome return and injected a new shot of life into otherwise quiet communities. With an eclectic mix of produce, ranging from pickles to pumpkins you can pick up some nice goodies for a picnic or indulge yourself in a lazy pub lunch. Gastro pubs are on the increase in Ireland, offering hearty gourmet food at reasonable prices. Traditional favorites like bacon and cabbage might be served up with mustard flavored mash potatoes, however the accompanying pint of Guinness which is of course non- negotiable…
Why mess with perfection !
So if you fancy ‘shortening the winter’ (code for a treat before the bad weather sets in? why not check out some of the self-catering breaks available from Ireland's Hidden Places, check website link below for details of special offers and Halloween events.
Or if you would prefer to waited on? Downton Abbey style why not stay a night or two in one of Hidden Ireland's great Irish Country Houses who have also have great seasonal offers available right now.
By Susan Byron author of
www.irelands-hidden-gems.com
Isn't Autumn just the perfect time for a short break away in the country?
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.jamieLM | Oct 28, 2011, 09:32 AM EDT
We had vivid leaf color this fall - just gorgeous - and better than in the NE where they had so much rain this year. October is a great time to visit the Midwest which looks very different from the NE. I copied a recipe for Guinness stew from IC, but I haven't tried it yet - don't have any Guinness on hand. Bacon - I love it, but I have to eat it sparingly. I've never eaten bacon with cabbage. We eat it with eggs, in a BLT sandwich, or as a part of a spinach salad. I'll have to look for a recipe. I look forward to your next column. Have a Happy Halloween, Susan.
SusanByron | Oct 27, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
Your welcome Jamie, I was lucky enough to go to New England once in the Fall (havent been to the Mid West- yet?) and it was amazing, we dont get leaf colour quite like that in Ireland, but its not bad at all....Yep we are lucky with our comfort food, bacon and cabbage is good, but Guinness stew is even better! Happy Halloween Jamie -good post coming re skeletons on twitter in Dublin! regards Susan
jamieLM | Oct 26, 2011, 09:32 AM EDT
A nice read. You paint a beautiful picture of rural Ireland in the fall with your words for those of us who can't be there. My favorite season is fall. Where I live (Midwest), we've been enjoying an unusually warm October - 20 degrees above normal - more like early summer. We have farmer's markets with plenty of apples, pumpkins, and homemade goods, but no bacon and cabbage. We get the aroma of food cooking at tailgate parties on the weekends and at the many German Oktoberfests. I hate to see fall come to an end. I like to see the similarities and the differences between Ireland and Midwest America. Thanks for your lovely "picture" of Ireland in the fall.