by Andrea McVeigh

This summer we've been all about the staycation - albeit with a nip over the border to enjoy pampering, yummy food, amazing scenery and luscious decor in Sheen Falls Lodge, Co Kerry.

A quick flight with Aer Arann got us to Cork - so cheap and convenient we wondered why we hadn't done it before. After that, we picked up the keys to our spacious Nissan Qashqai at the Avis desk in the airport and we were on our way, driving from Cork to Kerry - singing Whiskey In The Jar as we drove, natch (and practically shouting our heads off at the "Cork and Kerry mountains" lines).

Just off the Ring of Kerry is the village of Kenmare, surrounded by mountains covered in rich purple heather (a very 'this-season' colour doncha know!) and just ten minutes away from the village is Sheen Falls, a magnificent five-star, privately-owned country house hotel overlooking Kenmare Bay.

Not only are there 46 deluxe rooms, 19 suites and one presidential suite in the hotel, there are also six cottages and villas in the grounds - perfect for romantic assignations with a significant (or insignificant) other!

Sheen Falls was voted one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World by Travel & Leisure magazine 2006, and we can see why.

It's also part of the swanky Relais & Chateaux collection of restaurants and hotels, and before we'd even unpacked, we were acting as if to the manor born - the valet parking certainly helped, as did the opportunity to go horse-riding, salmon fishing or clay-pigeon shooting, organised by the hotel.

If riding and shooting sound too much like Madonna in her country-house phase, you can always hit the spa, with its range of pampering treatments, sauna, steam room, gym and pool - it's where Sugahfix ended up after a long day spent sightseeing!

The hotel - which is appropriately decorated with tapestries and old paintings - certainly knows how to treat its guests in the manner to which they'd like to become accustomed. In total Brideshead style, guests can go on a picnic excursion, in the hotel's Rolls Royce Silver Spirit II or even a 1936 Buick Convertible.

Bicycles can also be hired for free, and guests can use the tennis courts, play croquet on the lawn or follow the hotel's jogging trail.

The country air certainly helped us to work up an appetite, so we booked a table in La Cascade, the hotel's signature restaurant.

With high class, locally-sourced, food, such as regional cheeses and organic veg on the menu, we tucked into dishes including Chilled Scallop Delight and Light Smoked Duck followed by Roast Loin of Venison and Guinea Fowl Breast with Warm Apple Tart and Vanilla Creme Brulee for dessert. Yum!

So it's just as well that we walked off some of those calories in the forested 19th century Queens Walk path, which was planted in anticipation of Queen Victoria's visit to the area in 1861.

The next day, we drove the Ring of Kerry, stopping off to soak up the vibe in the likes of Killarney, Muckross House, Bantry and Skibbereen.

In the evening, we returned to the sprawling hotel (so big it puts some National Trust properties to shame) to soak up an equally appealing vibe - wine before dinner in the Sun Lounge, overlooking the gorgeous waterfall in the estate grounds.

Then it was time to sink into the massive bed in our huge junior suite to dream sweet dreams of playing Lady of the Manor - Madonna's got nothing on us!

*Sheen Falls Lodge, Kenmare, Co Kerry, www.sheenfallslodge.ie , email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Aer Arann (www.aerarann.com ) flies to Belfast City Airport twice daily, Monday to Thursday and daily on Fridays and Sundays, from €39 one way including taxes. There's also online check in and no additional baggage charges.

Avis Rent-a-Car Ireland, www.avis.ie .