Blackwell House
Intimate country house with antique character and contemporary luxury. Old Irish heirlooms alongside 800-thread-count Egyptian cotton. Candlelit dinners in front of a log fire. Guests often describe it as staying with very talented friends.
Pre-book dinner — it's served for residents only at 7pm and fills up with guests. The 5-course menu at £75 is the sweet spot; the 7-course at £90 is available too.
Why It Matters
Rated 5-star by Tourism NI, Georgina Campbell Guesthouse of the Year 2019, Irish Examiner 100 Best Places to Stay 2025, TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 2025, and a 9.8 on Booking.com. The food consistently gets compared to Michelin-level cooking. Only five rooms, so the experience is deeply personal — and you'll feel it.
Five rooms. Five super-king beds. One couple who gave up finance in Switzerland to run a guesthouse in the rolling hills on the Armagh-Down border. Edele and Alessio Rampa took over Blackwell House in 2024, bringing Swiss precision to a deeply Irish property. Edele cooks, Alessio hosts, and the two of them run every aspect of the place themselves. The food is the real draw — a daily-changing tasting menu built around their own organic garden and regional Northern Irish producers like Lough Neagh smoked eel. This is proper owner-run hospitality, not a branded hotel experience.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Lily's Room
From GBP150 / nightThe most characterful and most affordable room in the house. An antique Barley Twist four-poster bed dressed in 800-thread-count linen sits at the centre. Irish heirlooms throughout. Located in the main house where the family lives — genuinely cosy and authentic. En-suite shower room is built into the eaves, so one end has a lower ceiling. An Edwardian antique washstand doubles as a desk. Not pet-friendly.
Antique Four-Poster (Super King mattress)
The Blue Room
From GBP245 / nightThe most romantic of the main house rooms. Super king bed with 800-thread-count Egyptian cotton, panoramic countryside views and the kind of sunset you'll want to photograph. The bathroom is the talking point — an authentic Victorian double-ended cast iron roll-top bath plus a separate power shower. Not pet-friendly. Shared hot tub and sauna access available at extra charge, pre-booked.
Super King
The Charleston Room
From GBP245 / nightGround-floor room in Blackwell Cottage — the best option for guests with mobility needs, as it has no stairs and easy accessibility. Art Deco-inspired bathroom with a freestanding bath and a spacious walk-in shower with wooden stool. Hidden kitchenette. Pet-friendly. Flowers and mineral water by the bedside.
Super KingThe Loft Suite
From GBP345 / nightThe top pick. Occupies the full top floor of Blackwell Cottage, a separate building steps from the main house, with its own private entrance. The headline feature is a private hot tub on the roof terrace with open countryside views. Inside: a loveseat, 42-inch Smart TV with Netflix and BBC iPlayer, kitchenette (kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge, coffee maker), and a plush super king bed. Bathroom has a full bath and power shower. Bathrobes and slippers included.
Super King (or twin on request)The Orchard Room
From GBP245 / nightViews over pear and plum trees from the window. The bathroom is a standout — an organic-shaped freestanding bath paired with a spacious couples duo shower built for two. Super king handmade bed filled with silk, cashmere and wool. Hidden kitchenette included. Pet-friendly.
Super KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Five-course homemade afternoon tea served in the elegance of the main house. Open to non-guests. Seasonal menu, licensed, large parties welcome.
Curated cheese and wine experience as an alternative evening option for guests.
Guided biking adventure exploring scenic trails around Spelga Dam and the coastal town of Newcastle. Includes bike rental, safety equipment, and transport to and from starting points.
Full day of fly fishing in Northern Ireland's rivers and lakes. Choice of wild brown trout or Atlantic salmon fishing. Includes all required licences, permits, fishing tackle, and transport.
30 minutes from the Mourne Mountains. Options for guided experience or equipment hire only. All equipment and safety gear supplied.
Hands-on bread making class — a natural fit given Edele's legendary homemade brown bread and wheaten loaves that guests consistently highlight.
Tickets to the Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge — the authentic filming location. Blackwell House organises tickets combined with your overnight stay.
Tailored golf itinerary with access to local 18-hole parkland courses within 5-10 miles and the famous Royal County Down links (45 minutes). Suitable for serious enthusiasts or amateurs.
Up to 20 miles of canal towpath walkable from the property. Two tearooms along the route. Dog-friendly.
Hosts help plan the proposal in detail — the gardens are a popular setting. Includes romantic dinner, personalised touches, champagne, and Loft Suite hot tub access. Multiple successful proposals in the gardens documented in guest reviews.
Fresh flowers, sparkling wine and homemade sweets in room. Private dinner and countryside views. Designed for couples and available to book directly.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Award-winning breakfast included in all room rates. À la carte, full Irish, and continental options. Available until 11am. Freshly prepared using local ingredients.
Small intimate weddings with exclusive use of the property, up to 50 guests.
On-site organic vegetable garden supplying produce for all meals.
Beautiful gardens including a fairy garden, garden pond, ornamental statues, and an orchard area. Popular for proposals and outdoor dining in summer.
There is no swimming pool on-site.
Dogs welcome in Orchard Room, Charleston Room, and Loft Suite. £30 per dog per night. Pet beds, bowls, towels, and homemade dog biscuits provided.
Electric vehicle charging station on-site.
Exclusive private hot tub on rooftop terrace, included for Loft Suite guests.
Available to all room guests at additional charge, must be pre-booked.
BUILD YOUR BLACKWELL HOUSE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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