Our family headed to Mount Wolseley in Carlow for a two-night stay in one of their Resort Houses. Here’s our honest family review of what we did, what we ate, and what everyone — kids included — really thought.
I’ve long been a fan of self-catering accommodation over a hotel room when we’re travelling with the kids. Since having our two children, it just makes more sense. They have room to be themselves, and we have room to actually enjoy the time away too.
We’ve stayed in plenty of self-catering apartments and houses over the years, and the Resort Houses at Mount Wolseley are genuinely one of the best. It had all the benefits of staying at a hotel, with all the comforts of home.
Sleeping
The beds are so comfortable — like falling asleep on a cloud. There were four bedrooms in the house we stayed in, so plenty of beds for the kids to choose from, all beautifully decorated in teals and golds with the cosiest grey carpets underfoot.
It was lovely and quiet too. We had windows open on both nights as it was warm, and even though the hotel was busy, we didn’t hear a thing.
The bathrooms were lovely, with plenty of towels, toilet paper and toiletries. The showers had just the right amount of power to feel like a mini massage. There’s one main bathroom upstairs, an ensuite off the master bedroom, and a small toilet downstairs — plenty for any family.
Eating
My little man is a very picky eater, so we usually feed him before we head out and let him colour or read while we eat — it makes for an easier life.
So when we arrived at the house on Friday evening, I made him his tea in the house while my other half and little lady headed up to the hotel bar.
The house has a small but perfectly formed kitchen with a toaster, kettle, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine and full-sized fridge/freezer. It’s a great setup if you’re staying longer and self-catering the whole way — one big shop and you’re set. There are several shopping options in nearby Tullow, including SuperValu, Tesco and Aldi.
The cooker was easy to use and every appliance worked as expected. The kitchen was well equipped with pots, pans, cutlery, delph and glasses.
Dining at Mount Wolseley
At the bar, my little lady was raving about the “super delicious” spaghetti bolognese — just the right portion size for her. My other half had fish and chips, which he loved, and I had a gorgeous chicken burger.
Since it was a weekend away, we ate out quite a bit, with snacks and the little man’s meals sorted back at the house — super handy.
On the second night we had dinner in Fredericks Restaurant at the hotel, and it was excellent. I had salmon with gorgeous mash, leeks and a white wine veloute, while himself had pork belly, which he deemed “great” — high praise indeed. My little lady’s generous burger and chips got a double thumbs up.
That’s another real benefit of the resort houses: all the facilities of the hotel are just a two-minute walk away.
Things to Do at Mount Wolseley
There’s plenty to keep the kids happy at Mount Wolseley and in the surrounding area. We spent a good chunk of time in the hotel’s playground, which is swipe-card access only. It has a zipline, slides for both smaller and bigger kids, and swings, all on a woodchip surface, fully fenced in — it felt very safe.
We also spent a lot of time at the hotel pool. Even when it got a little busy on Saturday morning, it didn’t feel crowded, and there’s a smaller kids’ pool for the less adventurous ones.
We didn’t make it into the Leisure Centre/Gym, but it looked impressive from what we saw. The hotel also has a family den with a changing area and plenty for little ones to play with, and opposite that is a Teen Zone with a foosball table and comfy sofas for older kids to hang out in.
Local Fun
While based in Tullow for a couple of days, we explored the local area. We took in a Teddy Bears Picnic at Rathwood, which was great fun. My two were a little on the older side for it, but the little man (6) admitted afterwards that he’d enjoyed it. They got to stuff their own teddy bear, visit Goose Island and have a mini picnic in the sunshine.
We also tried the Maze of Ireland at Rathwood, and it was genuinely good fun — you get a map and have to find your way through, collecting county numbers along the way and matching them up. Not always as easy as it sounds. The kids enjoyed it, though myself and himself had a fair bit of “discussion” over which space on the map was actually Laois.
Our last stop was the Chocolate Garden of Ireland, a lovely little spot with a small playground and sandpit that gave our tired little man a chance to lose himself in the sand with the diggers for a while. We had a cup of tea and coffee and tried a few of the chocolates — delicious, and it would have been rude not to. The staff were super friendly, letting our little lady taste a few bits before she made up her mind.
Useful Things to Know About the Resort Houses at Mount Wolseley
- The houses have loads of space — plenty of room for playpens, buggies, and floor activities like large drawing paper or car mats.
- It’s close to plenty in the local area, including Rathwood and the Chocolate Garden of Ireland, with Kilkenny Castle around 40 minutes away and Dublin Zoo around 1 hour 15 minutes away.
- The hotel offers a range of family-friendly services for Resort House guests, including babysitting, kids’ club during school holidays, kids’ golf lessons and a family-friendly menu.
Final Verdicts
Grace, 9 — “I loved my bed, the spaghetti bolognese was AMAZING & the zipline was the best ever.”
Fionn, 6 — “I never want to leave Carlow. I love the pool and the sofa.”
The Grown Ups — “A great, spacious house with loads of room for fun, and brilliant to have the hotel so close for dinner or a swim.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Resort Houses at Mount Wolseley good for families with young children?
Yes. The houses are spacious with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and easy access to the hotel’s playground, pool and family den — all handy extras when you’re travelling with kids of different ages.
Do you need to bring food, or can you self-cater the whole stay?
The kitchen is well equipped with a fridge/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, washing machine, cutlery and cookware, so you can do one big shop locally and self-cater fully if you prefer. There’s also the option to eat at the hotel bar or restaurant just a short walk away.
What’s there to do nearby for families staying at Mount Wolseley?
There’s plenty in the surrounding Tullow area, including Rathwood (with its Teddy Bears Picnic and Maze of Ireland) and the Chocolate Garden of Ireland, both of which are family-friendly and easy to combine into a day out.
Is the resort within reach of Dublin or Kilkenny for a day trip?
Yes — Kilkenny Castle is roughly 40 minutes away and Dublin Zoo around 1 hour 15 minutes away, making Mount Wolseley a handy base for exploring further afield.
Related Articles
If you enjoyed this review, you might also like our other family staycation reviews, our round-up of family-friendly days out in County Carlow, and our guide to self-catering breaks in Ireland with kids.
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