we arrived tired and hungry, after a long tortutious delay. We were warmly greeted and given tea and treats. we felt as if we were visiting friends the entire time we were here. Carmel is the best cook, her breads are second to none! We thought her breakfast's better than Ballymaloe's by far. We can't wait to return.

We have just returned from a stay at Railway Lodge. We were met with a tray of tea and fresh scones by Carmel the owner who has an excellent knowledge of the area. Each day began with a hearty home cooked breakfast (including veggie sausages) and helpful humorous chat about what we had done the day before and our plans for the day ahead.
Our room was comfortable and spotlessly clean and the en suite shower was modern and effective. Oughterard centre is a short walk away and Carmel is good at giving directions. The pier is a short walk/drive away and we spent a great day on a boat trip over Lough Corrib to Cong. You can buy tickets from your host/captain David on the day and it was well worth the money. Your ticket allows you entry into the gardens of Ashford Castle. Try the Fennel Seed in Ryans Bar for lunch, the goats cheese starter and the fish cake are highly recommended! If in doubt ask Carmel - she knows everything about the area and will give you an honest account of all that is good.

Railway Lodge is the perfect B&B for couples. It's situated just outside the village of Oughterard, up a winding country lane in a very pleasant country setting.

The house is beautifully and tastefully decorated and has a most warm and welcoming ambience. As well as having the pleasure of a delightful bedroom and spacious bathroom, guests also have access to a cosy sitting room with open fire, and a conservatory with views of the countryside.

Carmel is a most charming hostess and greeted us with freshly brewed coffee and biscuits. She also treated us to a delicious breakfast, with a splendid array of fruit, yoghurt, cereals, breads plus the traditional cooked breakfast.

Railway Lodge was one of the nicest B&Bs we stayed at in our time in Ireland, and if we ever get back to Ireland, we'd love to stay there again. Highly recommended!

I'm just back from my holiday in Ireland, the last two nights of which were spent at the Railway Lodge, which I highly recommend. The house itself is situated off the main road, down a country lane, and is blissfully free from any traffic/urban noise!

We were greeted by the owner with a very welcome tray of tea and delicious home-baking - a personal touch I vastly appreciated. The guest areas are well-stocked with local menus, tourist attraction information and beautiful hardbacked books on the history and heritage of Connemara. Further, the owner - Carmel - recommended us some beautiful shops in the neaby area stocking very tasteful crafts and souvenirs - not a shamrock or leprichaun in sight! It's this insight that can really help!

The bedroom was beautiful - fresh crisp linen, bountiful soft towels, and all very tastefully decorated. And - bliss - there was no TV in the room! The whole guest house was perfect for reading, relaxing, and appreciating the peace and tranquility of Connemara.

Breakfast was delicious and very filling, with Carmel catering for all tastes (as veggies we'd worried about finding any suitable food but there was loads - fruit salad, yoghurt, free-range eggs, breads, veggie sausage...)...

As you can see, I'd a great time there - it was the perfect end to a really fantastic trip. Plus I'm a stingy Scot and rarely bother to review any hotels I stay in, so this really did have to stand out in order to provoke all my typing!