About this hotel
General information
Sheen Falls Lodge stands where the River Sheen tumbles over its falls, beneath the arches of an 18th-century stone bridge, and into Kenmare Bay. Grown from a former fishing lodge, it sits on a 300-acre estate of ancient woodland, gardens and waterside paths on the Wild Atlantic Way, between the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.
The main house holds 60 rooms and 12 suites, and five thatched cottages and villas are scattered across the estate above the bay. Interiors are quiet and drawn from Kerry’s natural colours, furnished with work by local craftspeople, while a resident librarian chooses the books for guests. A member of Relais & Châteaux, the lodge is known for the waterfall seen from its windows and dining room, a wine cellar counted among Ireland’s largest private collections, the Easanna spa and exclusive fishing rights over the whole of the River Sheen.
Location
The estate lies on Kenmare Bay in County Kerry, five minutes’ drive from the small town of Kenmare with its restaurants, galleries and shops. Scenic drives around the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula start from the gate, with the Caha Mountains and MacGillycuddy’s Reeks close by. Killarney is about 40 minutes by car, Cork Airport 90 minutes and Shannon Airport roughly 2 hours 30 minutes. Private transfers are arranged on request, and there is on-site parking with free electric-car charging.
Spa
Easanna Wellness & Spa looks out over the river, the mountains and Kenmare Bay. Massages, facials and body rituals use Elemis, Natura Bissé, Seabody and the Cork brand Ground Wellbeing, and a dedicated menu of gentle treatments is designed for people living with or beyond cancer. Hotel guests have free use of the heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and relaxation room, and there is a hair and make-up salon. Treatments are for guests aged 18 and over.
Sports & leisure
Classic country pursuits fill the estate and its surroundings; most are arranged by the Guest Relations team and are best booked ahead.
- Golf: the lodge’s own Ring of Kerry Golf Club, 8 km away, an 18-hole par-72 course mixing heathland and tree-lined parkland with views of the bay and mountains; complimentary transfers for hotel guests, buggies available.
- Fishing: exclusive rights over the entire River Sheen for salmon, sea trout and brown trout; ghillies help with tackle, licences and trips to mountain lakes, and the catch can be cooked or smoked in the lodge’s own smokehouse.
- Hawk walks with a falconer, guided horse riding on the estate and in the countryside, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
- Clay pigeon shooting, archery and axe-throwing.
- Tennis courts, complimentary bicycles, walking and running trails, and guided hikes.
- Kayaking and paddleboarding on Kenmare Bay, photography excursions and packed picnics.
- A 24-hour fitness suite, yoga on selected weekends and private personal training.
- Wine and spirit tastings in the cellar, a genealogy consultation on Irish roots, and the library.
For children
Children’s menus are served at The Falls, The Stables Brasserie and Nua Vista, and the Sheen Lounge offers a Junior Afternoon Tea of small sandwiches, brownies, a milkshake and hot chocolate. The Guest Relations team arranges family activities: cycling and nature walks on the estate, birdwatching, horse riding, kayaking and paddleboarding, board games, chocolate making at the nearby Lorge chocolatier and visits to The Ewe Experience sculpture garden; the River Sheen is a good place for a first fishing rod. Children may use the pool until 6 pm, supervised by an adult.
Restaurants & bars
Cooking across the estate follows the seasons, with produce from local suppliers and the lodge’s own smoked wild salmon.
- The Falls Restaurant — dinner above the waterfall: seasonal modern Irish cooking built on Kerry produce and French technique, by candlelight with live piano.
- The Stables Brasserie & Bar — a relaxed brasserie with a terrace and bar in the estate’s former stables, serving classics made with local produce.
- Sheen Lounge — a fireside lounge with river views for sandwiches by day and three-tiered afternoon tea, out on the terrace above the falls in season.
- Sheen Bar — Irish whiskey, gin, craft beer, wine and cocktails.
- Wine Cellar — a vaulted cellar, one of the largest private collections in Ireland, open for tours and private tastings.
- Nua Vista — the restaurant and bar at the Ring of Kerry Golf Club, facing the Caha Mountains and MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, for breakfast and lunch.
In-room dining is available, and the kitchen packs picnics for days out.
Swimming
Swimming is in the heated indoor pool at Easanna spa, alongside a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, all free for hotel guests.
Pets
Medium-sized dogs up to 23 kg are welcome in selected rooms and in all cottages and villas, with a maximum of two per stay. Each dog is given a bed and a bowl; owners bring food and accessories, and the Guest Relations team can suggest walking routes and local grooming services.
Rooms
The main house has 60 rooms and 12 suites looking over the falls, the river, the gardens or Kenmare Bay, dressed in calm natural tones with Irish furniture, fabrics and art by local makers. Elsewhere on the estate are five thatched cottages and villas with their own kitchens and terraces above the bay.
Nespresso machine, tea-making facilities, bathrobes and slippers, Dyson hairdryer, air conditioning, seating area, fridge, handheld clothes steamer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi and Irish toiletries; suites add a walk-in wardrobe, a yoga mat and an Inish Living wind-down programme for better sleep.
Classic Room
A cosy room in soft seasonal Kerry colours, with a deep, comfortable bed and a window seat looking towards the water. Sleeps two adults and a child.
Deluxe Room
A room with deep armchairs right above the River Sheen, its window sliding open to the sound of the water, furnished with Irish-made pieces. Sleeps two adults and a child.
Superior Deluxe Room
Larger than the Deluxe, with the best views of the falls and the old stone bridge, deep armchairs and generous windows. Two adults plus an extra bed for a child; connects to a Falls View Suite.
Estate Room
A large open-plan room overlooking Kenmare Bay or the falls, with a king or twin beds and a sitting area; some hide two extra beds in wall panelling. Two adults and up to three children.
Suite
A suite with garden views: an en-suite bedroom and a separate drawing room, joined by an entrance hall.
Falls View Suite
A suite directly above the Sheen falls, with an en-suite double bedroom and a separate sitting room where up to three children can sleep. Connects to a Superior Deluxe Room for larger families.
Signature Suite
One of four individual suites facing the falls or Kenmare Bay: one has a wall of windows on the waterfall, others an open fire in the bedroom or a large balcony over the river.
Oscars Suite
An open-plan suite in muted gold tones with Irish art, a king or twin beds and a dressing room; French doors from the lounge open onto a private leafy terrace with sun loungers.
Falls Master Suite
The lodge’s flagship suite: an octagonal drawing room beneath a ceiling oculus, a wall of windows on the falls and bridge, an open fire, a private bar, a six-seat dining table, two balconies, a jacuzzi bath and an extra bathroom, plus a side entrance and its own parking space.
Garden Cottage
A thatched stone cottage looking over Kenmare Bay, with two en-suite bedrooms (one king, one twin), a sitting room with kitchenette and a terrace. Sleeps four.
Little Hay Cottage
A thatched cottage behind its own gate in an acre of waterside garden, with two bedrooms with marble bathrooms and balconies, an open fire, a range-cooker kitchen and a sun lounge opening onto a terrace. Sleeps four.
Marianne’s Cottage
A thatched cottage on a wooded hillside, with two bedrooms under the roof with marble bathrooms and balconies (king or twin beds), an open fire, a full kitchen, a sun lounge and a patio. Sleeps four.
Bay Villa
A thatched villa a short stroll from the lodge gates, with four en-suite bedrooms, a large living room, a long dining table, a fully equipped kitchen, a private garden and a patio facing Kenmare Bay. Sleeps eight; two villas can be combined for 16.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.