Not a gripe.........for once!

 Just to prove that I'm not a completely grumpy old git, I thought I should report on two short trips that we did since our stay at The Ballygally Hotel (Hastings Hotel Group).  See this post for my rather disappointed review of that hotel:  Yet another gripe. (oldandireland.blogspot.com). Both of these hotels were around the same price, and probably a bit cheaper than the Ballygally, yet were infinitely superior in every respect.  What's not to like?

1)  The Salthouse, Ballycastle:  The Salthouse Hotel | Luxury Hotel in Ballycastle, Co Antrim

This is a new hotel set on a hill just outside the town of Ballycastle.  It has tremendous views north to Rathlin Island which is about three miles off shore, and to the Scottish Isles and coast beyond that.  Both Isla and Jura are visible on a good day.  Look west, and you will see Donegal, on the East the cliffs of Fairhead.  It is a stunning setting.  The rooms are comfortable, spacious, clean ( unlike at the Ballygally), and modern.  The food is excellent, drinks are not as overpriced as at the Ballygally and all the public areas, being new, are also good.  There were a few areas outside where the landscaping was not yet completed. but that is to be expected in a new hotel.

It was an excellent base to do all the touristy things that we had not done for a few years, like walking the Giant's Causeway, crossing the rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, and simply walking along the beach at Ballycastle.  Even the weather was kind to us.

This rock formation at the Giant's Causeway is known as the Organ Pipes for obvious reasons.

The famous rope bridge.  It is a long way down from the middle, believe me!  You can just about make out Islay, home of all those lovely single malts, on the horizon in this picture.  Probably best not to sample too many of those before crossing this bridge.  :-)

From the other side of the bridge, looking West.

2) The Ebrington Hotel, Derry:  The Ebrington Hotel & Spa | Hotels In Derry City | Book Now

This is another fairly new hotel.  It is part of a redevelopment of the old army barracks that used to be on this site, and faces across what was previously the parade ground to the river Foyle and the old city walls beyond that.  The white structures in the middle of the photo below are the supports for the Peace Bridge.  It takes pedestrians from the parade ground, across the river Foyle, right into Derry city centre.

Again, this new hotel is pleasant, bright, and serves good food (although not quite as good as the salt House in my opinion).  We got a free upgrade to a suite, although I know not why?  The upgrade was nice, if a little pointless since we were only there for one night, still, I'm not complaining.  It is a damned good hotel.

The view from one of our windows at the Ebrington.  There is a craft brewery about two doors up, and some other decent places to eat dotted around the square.

There you go, a positive post for once, although just to introduce a negative note, I do wish that the Hastings Hotels management would take notice of posts like this.  The pompous self opiniated drivel that they put out would lead anyone to believe that staying at the Ballygally was luxury personified.  It ain't, and both of the above hotels are way, way better.  I have no connection with either of them BTW, and received no inducements, either monetary or in kind to write a good review for them.  The chalk and cheese comparison between these two, and the Ballygally as reviewed in the link at the start of this post would be obvious to anyone who, like us, stayed in all three.