Belan Lodge - boyhood playground of Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton

With fine weather on the horizon there has never been a better time to expand yours or your childrens by taking a self catering holiday at home. Only an hour from Dublin the lovely Belan Lodge, boyhood playground of the great Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton can be yours too for a week or a weekend. No long bank holiday drive, its a genuine hidden gem of a place, wild out with plenty of nature walks, canal banks and gastro pubs to be explored and whats more its very affordable, child and animal friendly, so what's keeping you?Originally part of the very large and prestigous Belan House Estate which belonged to the Earls of Aldborough for over 400 years, before unfortunately being abandoned due to bad debts and mismanagement, although the Cornmills attached were always very successful. And they belonged once upon a time to Ebenezer Shackleton, uncle of the famous Irish Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. The Cornmills had one of the longest and deepest millraces in Ireland at the time which must have been a haven for the young boy with adventure in his veins.As it was for another young lady, who wrote in the 1830’s of her childhood reminiscences of Belan, being the happiest of her life. “Here, on hot summer's evenings, we used to sit and watch the dragon files. I had never seen dragonflies before, and could not associate them with flies, I could only think of them as tiny winged spirits, whispering messages from afar to the reeds and irises which grew at the water’s edge...She describes the warm welcome received from her hosts at Belan, with its turf fires and speaks eloquently and longingly of the breakfasts...hot potato cakes, eggs, cream, honey and freshly baked bread. The ‘accommodations’ even then were perfect with sunny windowseats to while away the hours with a book or out and about amongst the farmyard animals, dogs, ducks and donkeys...She tells the story of a pastoral idyll, which is still true and exists today for a new generation of weary adults or adventurous children to delight in nature. Belan Lodge is a true haven of peace, tranquillity and genuine rural charm. The rates are very reasonable, you can stay as a bed & breakfast guest or fend for yourself (always a great option for families) and there is so much to do and see in the area.For more information visit www.belanlodge.com