The importance of having afternoon tea
Oscar Wilde famously said many things, including that he could resist everything except temptation – so it's little wonder the five-star Lough Erne Resort is marking the famous writer's Fermanagh links (he went to school in these parts) with a rather sumptuous afternoon tea. I can just see Oscar fancying a chicken and apricot sandwich, never mind the Valrhona Dulcey banoffee, although apparently he was said to favour caviar. A word of caution: if you're busily channelling all things Oscar, make sure you don't find anything unexpected in your handbag when you go. A handbag (as Lady Bracknell might have roared)? Afternoon tea £25 and autumn offers from £159 per room B&B midweek. lougherneresort.com
Natural beauty in Meath
The Station House, in the quiet Co Meath village of Kilmessan, is a really lovely family-run hotel in 12 acres of gorgeous gardens and woodlands. It's recently been beautifully refurbished, and the food and cocktails are extremely yum too. As if that wasn't enough, they've teamed up with their illustrious neighbour, naturalist and film-maker Randal Plunkett, 21st baron of Dunsany, to include a tour of his rewilded 750-acre nature reserve. Two nights with dinner, a nature reserve visit (where you can even opt for stoat-spotting), plus breakfasts, from €450 per room. Your hosts will even donate tree plantings at Dunsany to mark your visit. stationhousehotel.ie
Dublin voyage of rediscovery
Forgotten how cultured our capital is? The Merrion Hotel's Culture Club aims to help rediscover some of the city's special gems. The hotel itself has a pretty fabulous art collection, and with the National Gallery and Royal Hibernian Academy right on your doorstep, you can feast your eyes on the finest of pictures. Add more with a Culture Club bespoke experience at your choice of the Little Museum of Dublin, EPIC or MoLI – the Museum of Literature in Ireland. You'll need your complimentary access to the Merrion Health Club to calm down after all that excitement. Package also includes B&B in a Garden Wing room, from €230 pps. merrionhotel.com
Monaghan moments
The village of Glaslough in Co Monaghan was one of the finalists in this paper's Best Places to Live, though the judges point out that houses in these parts don't come up for sale too often. The next best thing is a Monaghan mini-break. Accommodation options range from Castle Leslie with its lake, horses, history and general gorgeousness, with B&B from €170 per night in the Lodge, or Castle rooms from €480 with dinner included, castleleslie.com – or try Elizabeth McGuinness's Lynster House from €125 per night. Handy for both Monaghan town and Glaslough, pets are welcome and as Elizabeth is a mine of information about the marvels of Monaghan, you won't be short of things to do. lynsterhouse.com
