Harvey's Point

Harvey’s Point is one of Ireland’s most
famous and luxurious hotels, owned by a Swiss family who work hard to create a
Swiss experience in Donegal. The hotel is stately and elegant, with grand rooms
and bespoke furniture, lots of dark wood, elaborate millwork, and luxe
upholstery. The lake and mountain views are stunning, and the hotel offers
plenty of vantage points for enjoying the sunsets. Despite the setting's grandness, Harvey’s Point is fresh, not stuffy.
Throughout the hotel, there are great stone and brick fireplaces and crackling peat fires. The lobby is spacious, lit by chandeliers, and lined with
oriental carpets. Harvey’s Bar has a club-room feel, with atmospheric lighting, a
grand piano, and plenty of spots for quiet conversation. The Reading Room is so
large that the grand piano in the center looks small; the rose carpet and comfy
wing chairs give it a welcoming feel, and the views are, again, unmatched. What
distinguishes Harvey’s Point are the details, from individual picture lights on
the artwork to the good behavior certificates awarded to guests’ pets after a
few days in residence. There's a reason this hotel is a preferred destination
for Irish citizens as well as foreign travelers, including families and couples: A stay at Harvey’s Point will
be a memorable one.

Harvey’s Point is located between Lough Eske
and the Blue Stack Mountains, on a quiet country road beside the water. There
are no shops or restaurants within walking distance, but there are miles of
hiking and biking trails to explore. Two of Europe’s best Blue Flag surfing
beaches, Murvagh and Rossnowlagh, are within a 25-minute drive, as are several golf
courses. The Ardnamona Woods, an atmospheric native oak forest, are less than three miles of the
hotel, and the town of Donegal, Donegal Castle, and the Donegal Bay Waterbus are about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Harvey’s Point offers free
parking with enough space for cars, RVs, and buses. This is rural north Ireland, and the closest major airport is, in fact, over the international border in Belfast, Northern Ireland, about two-and-a-half hours away by car. 

Rooms at Harvey’s Point are huge, spotlessly
clean, and beautifully decorated with fine fabrics, lush carpets, and heavy
carved furniture with handsome dark wood details. All rooms are suites, and most are entered via individual
foyers for extra privacy, and even the smallest Executive Suite offers 75 square meters of space (807 square feet). Fresh fruit, cookies, and milk are delivered daily to
each room, one of the personal touches that set Harvey’s Point apart. Rooms
have lake or mountain views, and some have furnished balconies. The comfortable
memory foam beds have large, carved head- and footboards; some rooms have romantic
canopy beds. There are oriental rugs layered on top of wall-to-wall carpeting.
Guest rooms are large enough for there to be work desks that don’t double as TV
stands or makeup mirrors. The Italian marble and tiled bathrooms are as large as small
hotel rooms elsewhere, and come with separate walk-in shower stalls and deep
soaking tubs for two. Some suites have whirlpool tubs. Many bathrooms have
separate makeup stations with flattering lighting and magnifying mirrors.
All rooms include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars, ironing and coffee/tea facilities, free
toiletries, and hairdryers. 

The Restaurant at Harvey's serves gourmet dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. The dining room is sophisticated
and upscale, with lovely sunset views, but kids are welcome, and there's a
children’s menu on offer. Breakfast is included, and offers a buffet as well
as cooked-to-order dishes. On Sundays, the restaurant serves a special Carvery
lunch that's popular with guests and locals alike. There's a stylish bar with
a light menu, and coffee and tea are available in the lobby at all times. Bikes
can be rented from the concierge, and picnic lunches are an option for guests
planning long hikes or other outings. After a strenuous day, or instead of one,
spa and beauty treatments can be booked; the hotel has two treatment rooms. There are conference and event facilities, as
well as a 24-hour business center, and the hotel provides free Wi-Fi throughout. The lobby includes a high-end gift
shop with clothing, accessories, candles, and other items for sale. Family-friendly
features include laundry facilities and babysitting services. There is free on-site parking.