Worth getting out of bed for
Make use of the tennis courts, croquet lawn and hot tub on site. The hotel is chummy with local walking-tour company, Muddy Boots, which can arrange hikes into Meath, Louth and Bangor; spectacular scenery comes as standard. Head to Slane Castle (www.slanecastle.ie) for a guided tour and whiskey tasting (June to September). Fans of the archaeological monument will enjoy Newgrange in Donore, a mound-covered tomb near the River Boyne. Popular fishing locations along this river include Kilcarn, Blackcastle and Dunmoe. For horse riding, head to the Kells Equestrian Centre (www.kellsequestrian.com), half an hour away by car. Play golf at Headfort Old Course (www.headfortgolfclub.ie) or Ashbourne Golf Club (www.ashbournegolfclub.ie), among the most scenic in the county.
Local restaurants
In Drogheda, take an appetite along to the Eastern Seaboard (+353 (0)41 980 2570; www.easternseaboard.ie) and pick from the grill options, including barbecue ribs, lamb chops and tiger prawns. The Old Post Office (+353 (0)41 982 4090; www.theoldpostoffice.ie) in Slane is a cosy restaurant serving home-made takes on the classics (chicken supreme, roast lamb, and a range of hearty puddings). In Navan, try The Russell (+353 (0)46 903 1690; www.russellrestaurant.com), for baked sea-bass with scallops and salsa or slow-roast pork belly with cabbage and crispy bacon, or family-friendly Zucchini’s (+353 (0)46 906 0459; www.zucchinisnavan.ie), for a menu with Asian and Mediterranean influences.
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Smith extra at Tankardstown House
A bottle of prosecco in room on arrival
