Welcome to golfing country
Two five-star courses, minutes away
The K Club is five minutes down the road and Carton House fifteen — with a host of excellent courses just a little further afield. A dream base for a golfing trip with friends.
- The K Club5-star championship · 5 min
- Carton HouseTwo championship courses · 15 min
- MoyvalleyParkland championship course
- Millicent Golf ClubLocal favourite, nearby
- PowerscourtA little further · excellent
- CastleknockTowards Dublin
- PortmarnockClassic links · further afield
Kildare — home of the thoroughbred
Where Ireland breeds and races its best
Famous for its horses, racing and stud farms, Kildare's three great racecourses host exciting festivals through the year, while the Irish National Stud stands testament to the county's breeding tradition — all a short drive from the house.
Bred and raced in Kildare
- The CurraghHome of Irish flat racing & the ClassicsShort drive
- PunchestownIreland's premier National Hunt festivalShort drive
- Naas RacecourseTown-edge jumps & flat fixturesShort drive
- GoffsIreland's leading bloodstock sales, est. 186615 min
- Irish National StudStud farm & Japanese Gardens, TullyShort drive
Getting around
On the doorstep
- The K ClubGolf, spa & fine dining5 min
- Carton HouseGolf & two restaurants15 min
- GoffsBloodstock sales15 min
- Cliff at LyonsRestaurants & The Well spaNearby
- Dublin CityTrinity, museums & nightlife~40 min
- Dublin AirportInternational arrivals~45 min
Eat, drink & unwind
A well-fed corner of Kildare
From Michelin-calibre dining rooms to snug country pubs and restorative spas — and a bespoke catering menu created just for guests of Castán House.
Fine dining, minutes away
In-house catering
Brown Box Catering, delivered to the door
A dedicated menu created for Castán House — relaxed, restaurant-quality food brought straight to the kitchen, so you can dine in around the big table without lifting a finger.
Restaurants
Where to dine
- The MillCliff at Lyons
- The Morrison RoomCarton House · fine dining
- The Carriage HouseCarton House
- NeighbourhoodNaas
- Harts of KildareKildare town
- Bistro 52Local bistro
- Avenue CaféCasual
- Willow and WildBrunch & lunch
- Farringtons MillCountry dining
Pubs
For a pint
- The Straffan InnThe local
- Brady's ClockhouseMaynooth
- O'Neill'sMaynooth
- Cunningham's BarTraditional
- Barberstown CastleCastle bar & dining
Spas & wellness
Slow down
- The Well in the GardenCliff at Lyons
- The Spa at CartonCarton House
Pair a morning round with an afternoon treatment for the perfect country-house day.
Sample days
Two days to get you started
A taste of how guests spend their time — one day out in Dublin, one closer to home in Kildare. Mix, match and make them your own.
A Dublin Day
City streets & history
Morning
Train to the city
Hop on at a nearby station and rumble into Dublin in well under an hour — no parking, no fuss.
Late morning
Trinity College & the Book of Kells
Wander the cobbled squares, then see the Long Room library and the famous illuminated manuscript.
Lunch
Grafton Street & around
Browse the shops and side streets, then lunch in one of the city's buzzing rooms.
Afternoon
Guinness Storehouse or Kilmainham
A pint with a skyline view at the Gravity Bar, or the moving history of Kilmainham Gaol.
Evening
Trad session in the old town
Dinner and live traditional music before the short journey home to Castán House.
A Kildare Day
Horses, greens & spa
Morning
Tee off at The K Club
A five-minute drive to the first tee — or visit the Irish National Stud and its Japanese Gardens.
Midday
Lunch & a little shopping
Lunch at Harts of Kildare, with time for the boutiques of Kildare Village nearby.
Afternoon
The Well at Cliff at Lyons
Unwind with a treatment at the garden spa, or stroll the grounds of Carton House.
Evening
Dinner at The Morrison Room
Fine dining at Carton House — or have Brown Box cater dinner in at the house.
Nightcap
The Straffan Inn
Round off the day with a quiet pint at the local before the fire back home.
Planning further afield? Kildare is the gateway to Ireland's Ancient East — 5,000 years of history within easy reach.