Best for country living
£ £ £ CULLODEN ESTATE & SPA
This 92-room landmark in the Holywood hills grew out of a Baronial-style 19thcentury bishop’s palace. The setting, just 10 minutes’ drive from the city, remains palatial: contemporary sculptures from Ireland’s Gormleys art dealers punctuate 12-acre gardens sloping towards Belfast Lough and the estate’s own pub; oil paintings, tapestries and chandeliers define interior decor. A hotel since the 1960s, rolling renovations continue to update, adding wings, enlarging guest rooms (all with King Coil Cloud beds), and revamping the sizeable spa and modest pool. The original creaky-floor building around reception is most atmospheric, while newer waterfront suites offer VIP lough views. The country estate setting is Culloden’s main draw, though, plus top-notch tasting menus
