Belfast, Northern Ireland
Culloden Estate and Spa
A palatial old bishop’s estate just outside Belfast.
What it is
An opulent 19th century manor house steeped in local history and surrounded by gorgeous landscapes.
What it isn't
A modern boutique nor a nor a homey B&B
What we think
The care with which Mr William Auchinleck Robinson built the Culloden in 1876 has been inherited in full by the Hastings hotel group. Mr. Robinson lovingly transported each stone from Scotland to build the Culloden, and recent renovations have kept the hotel up-to-date and contemporary while preserving the intimate character of the original building. In all the hotels’ main rooms you'll find antiques and heirlooms of the building’s near sesquicentennial history, happily incorporated to the Culloden’s Downton-chic interiors.
Rooms are extremely large, benefitting from a hotel-wide room reduction, and come complete with spa-like rain showers and ESPA amenities. The Culloden’s award-winning ESPA spa offers a range of oriental treatments including seaweed foot massages. And the octagonal spa pool, located in a light-flooded atrium, is the epitome of a spiritual cleanse.
You're here because
The Culloden is perhaps Belfast’s most picturesque hotel. From the sweeping views over Belfast Lough to the daffodil fields scattered through the estate, there’s always something to be entranced by.
The Moment
Ordering a Guinness (it was always going to be a Guinness) in the hotel bar in the early evening as guests start dropping in and the atmosphere begins to liven. You recall with dry amusement that this bar used to be a church—just another of the Culloden’s playful nods to history.
Restaurants & Bars
Mitre Restaurant - Serving delicious dishes inspired by the local environs.
Cultra Inn - Traditional Irish bistro and pub.
Crozier Lounge - enjoy some exquisite cocktails, premium Wines and a range of fabulous Gins.
Location
About a 15-minute drive to central Belfast and a 40-minute drive from the airport. Royal Belfast golf course, the most prestigious course in the area, is just an optimistic put away.