Thanks to Ireland's rich history, our island is filled with countless buildings and ruins which give us an insight into what life was like here decades, even centuries before our time. Whilst many of these treasures become derelict and unusable, thankfully there has been a number of important restoration projects around the country which have managed to successfully preserve these precious sites.
A great example of this kind of restoration is Martello Tower Sutton, a tower in North County Dublin originally built in 1804 as a deterrent against a French invasion of Ireland by Napoleon Bonaparte. Restoration of the abandoned tower began in 2006 and was complete with such care and finesse that the Tower is now open to guests to book for short term lets or perhaps a truly unique staycation.
Guests are invited to enjoy the historic space 'with its ten feet thick walls, original stone staircase and 360 degree views of Dublin Bay.' The Tower is located right on the rocks of the Irish Sea so as you can imagine the views are spectacular on a good day.
Whilst this tower might be over 200 years old, you would never tell from the inside as the rooms have been refurbished and styled with complete modern elegance. The cosy master bedroom, fondly titled The James Joyce Room, looks incredibly inviting and the rest of the tower has all the amenities you need for the ultimate romantic getaway including a jacuzzi bath, power shower, open fire, smart TV and WiFi.
If you do find yourself inspired to leave the Tower whilst staying there, the breath-taking Howth Cliff Walk is only a short drive away, or if you've caught the sea swimming bug over lockdown, there are also a number of points where you can safely have a dip if you're brave enough to face the cold.
The consensus from those who have been lucky enough to stay at Martello Tower before is unanimous - people seem to absolutely adore the experience. "This place was truly an epic place to stay. The views from the kitchen had me crying tears of joy to experience being there," recalled one emotional guest named Ashley.
"The home touches around just make you feel comfortable. We travelled all over Ireland for 2 weeks and this was our favourite we stayed in!"
Another guest named Richard agreed commenting: "The best of the best. I would recommend this [place] over and over and over again."
As you can imagine, to stay in such a one-of-a-kind location does not come cheaply - two nights in Martello Hall will set you back €525 during off season (September - May) and during high season (June - August) you'll be looking at paying €2,000 for a week here.
Whilst those prices might make your eyes water just a little, we know from Ashley that the views you'll be met with once at the Tower could have you in floods so we're guessing it's probably worth it? If you'd like to book a stay at Martello Tower Sutton you can do so here.
Featured Image Credit: MyHome.ieTopics: airbnb, Ireland, dublin