Woodenbridge Hotel and Lodge

The Woodenbridge Hotel has 29 comfortable en suite rooms with TV, direct dial telephone, complimentary Wi-Fi and tea and coffee facilities. A dozen rooms come with private balconies, which are well worth requesting if you want a quiet spot for a post-round drink overlooking the valley. The rooms are cosy rather than flashy, well appointed and designed for golfers who want a good night's sleep and a proper base rather than resort-style frills.

Next door, Woodenbridge Lodge sits beside the River Aughrim and offers the same core comforts in a slightly more tucked-away setting. If you're travelling as a group, splitting rooms between the hotel and lodge can work nicely, especially if some of you prefer an earlier night while others are making the most of the bar. It's ideal if you're after a bit more privacy or prefer to be a step removed from the main hotel's activity.

Food and drink are a key part of the appeal here. The Four Vales Bar is the social hub, serving hearty bar food from lunchtime onwards, with a friendly mix of golfers and locals. In summer, live music adds to the atmosphere and, yes, you'll find a bit of Irish craic if you time it right. It's the natural spot to settle in after a morning round at Woodenbridge, and the kind of place where you can linger over a pint without feeling rushed.

For dinner, the Redmond Restaurant offers a more formal option and has held AA Rosettes every year since 1995. Expect a confident blend of contemporary plates and Irish classics, ideal for rounding off a day when you've earned something a bit better than a quick burger. The food is genuinely good, the kind of dining experience that makes you glad you're staying on-site rather than driving somewhere else.

If you want to mix in something different between rounds, fishing on the River Aughrim or a trip to Lough Dan are both within reach, and the scenery is exactly what you came to Wicklow for. It's a genuine all-round Irish escape, built around quality golf but offering plenty more if you want to explore.