THIS EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMMODATION AND ITS 180° VIEWS COMBINE FOR AN EMERALD ISLE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME
BY EVAN MONROE
E.M. Forster’s much loved 1908 novel, A Room with a View, begins with upper crust Englishwoman Lucy Honey church and her chaperone, on vacation in Florence, becoming miffed that their hotel room overlooks the courtyard rather than the River Arno. The aftermath of swapping rooms with another guest ultimately puts Lucy into the arms of George (though not without a good deal of gentle complication) and she’s ultimately the happier for it, but this plot complication could have been resolved immediately if only Lucy had had access to one of Finn Lough’s seven Forest Domes, where lack of view is decidedly never the issue.
Located in Ennis Killen, Northern Ireland, the brother sister (Michael and Gillian Beare) run Finn Lough, in addition to its traditional and lovely accommodations on a stunning forest lake and with an associated marina, spa, and local ore restaurant, offers what combines all the natural access of glamping, with none of the bugs. Its transparent domes allow for flora and wildlife admiration by day, stargazing by night, and feature a handmade four poster bed, en suite bath, a coffee machine, robes, slippers, and complimentary daily breakfast.
If you can tear yourself from this experience, dishes not to be missed in the dining room are Pea and Thyme Pannacotta, with crab meat and beetroot crisp, and for an entrée, the Red Wine Poached Cod, with garlic and green pea chutney with lemon beurre blanc…but room service is always available, of course.
Finn Lough Forest Dome
From $300 per nightfinnlough.com