Temple House

A private drive loops through native woodland and pastures to this classical mansion overlooking a ruined Knights Templar castle and teeming fishing lake in W B Yeats country. Home to Roderick and Helena Perceval and rich in history, it is an endearing mix of the palatial and personal, from its soaring double-height vestibule to snug sitting rooms with log fires. Every surface is crowded with heirloom antiques, ancestral portraits and mementos. The aptly named Half Acre has a separate room for a child or two. We hear no complaints about storage space in Porch, with a half-tester bed and 14-foot wardrobe. The former master bedroom has a lake view, a bath and shower, a Victorian lavatory with delayed flush to spare a lady’s blushes. At night, B&B guests gather in the morning room for aperitifs before a light supper of homemade soup and soda bread, Irish cheeses or pudding, and tea or coffee with fudge. The meal is served communally at a long mahogany table, or separately if you wish, but, as Yeats wrote, ‘There are no strangers here. Only friends you haven’t yet met.’ Roderick and Helena also love to host house parties and will hire a chef for group bookings and for special occasions.