Guests say
Tudor Lodge is a spacious and well-loved family home with historical significance, offering a comfortable stay for large groups and families, including those with pets and mobility issues. Its location is ideal for exploring the local area, with particular praise for the proximity to Tollymore forest. The property's rich history and personal touches add to the charm, making it a unique and engaging experience.
The property generally maintains good cleanliness, though some guests noted the presence of animal hair and a particular issue with a sofa's odour. However, these seem to be isolated incidents, possibly due to the pet-friendly nature of the property.
The location is highly praised for its quietness, proximity to Tollymore Park, and suitability for both relaxation and exploration. It is deemed perfect for walking in the Mournes and enjoying the clear night skies.
The property is described as very spacious and comfortable, with multiple seating areas and suitable accommodations for the elderly or disabled. However, there were some minor issues with hot water access and towel provision.
The facilities are generally well-received, with a well-catered kitchen and ample space for guests. However, there were some concerns about waste management and the need for clearer instructions for hot water usage.
While the reviews reflect a positive experience with personal touches and historical significance, there is no mention of gifts or special amenities provided by the hosts, thus a score cannot be given for thoughtfulness in this context.
About this property
Located in the quaint and historic village of Bryansford,roughly halfway between the towns of Newcastle and Castlewellan, Tudor Lodge is a perfect base for relaxing and exploring beautiful and historic County Down. Tudor Lodge is a large detached four bedroom property which provides a homely welcome for up to 8 guests and a well-behaved dog or two! The property is privately set back with mature gardens and beautiful views of rolling countryside. Internally the house is well furnished to provide a comfortable,spacious and relaxed environment. Enjoy the comfort of the front living room as you watch TV, peruse the extensive collection of books or choose a family game. Meals can be enjoyed in the well-equipped kitchen or gathered around the large extendable dining room table surrounded by eclectic art. Adjoining the dining area, a light-filled conservatory beckons you to unwind amidst breathtaking countryside views. Double doors open onto a furnished south facing patio, a sun trap, perfect for al fresco dining or evening barbeques. The downstairs is completed with two spacious and welcoming twin bedrooms, WC and electric shower. Head upstairs to discover two well-presented, sizable double bedrooms, each boasting its own en-suite bathroom for ultimate comfort. Just 200 yards from your doorstep lies the back entrance to Tollymore Forest Park, famed for its ancient forests, scenic bridges, and cascading rivers which served as a dramatic backdrop for iconic scenes filmed throughout the popular Game of Thrones series. Take a stroll and gaze out at breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic Mourne Mountains and the glistening Newcastle coastline. Follow the breathtaking pathway along the Shimna River to the famous Meeting of the Waters and stepping stones. For the more energetic, further adventure awaits deeper within the forest at Tollymore National Outdoor Centre. Here, challenge yourself on the indoor climbing wall, or choose from a diverse range of outdoor activities to suit your sense of adventure. Alternatively, take a 10 minute drive to Castlewellan Forest Park and lake for walks, watersports, mountain-biking and horse-riding. Newcastle, where the Mournes meet the sea, beckons with its famed beach and fresh ocean air. Stroll the scenic promenade, enjoy boutique shops, or indulge at the many cafes & restaurants (including Percy French at Slieve Donard Hotel and the Harbour House Bar). Newcastle also boasts the renowned Mourne and Royal County Down Golf Clubs, home to one of the best links courses in the world, it has challenged and impressed Championship golfers for over 130 years and hosted the Irish Open in September 2024. Explore all this and more from Tudor Lodge.
The city of Newcastle (on the north bank of the River Tyne) and the town of Gateshead (on the south bank of the River Tyne) have been transformed into a single visitor destination called Newcastle Gateshead. With a history dating back over 200 years, there is much to see and do in this vibrant, lively location. Excellent shopping, top-class restaurants and amazing night life are all to be enjoyed, along with a variety of museums and galleries. A host of events and festivals take place throughout the year and a number of historic castles and delightful parks and gardens lie within easy reach. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside and coastal scenery in the UK, Newcastle Gateshead makes a superb location for an exciting and enjoyable holiday!
Accommodation
Four bedrooms: 2 x double with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 2 x ground-floor twin.
Ground-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Kitchen.
Living/dining room.
Conservatory
Central heating.
Oven, hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, kettle, toaster.
TV, WiFi and a selection of books.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Off-road parking for 3 cars.
Rear garden with lawn, patio, barbecue and furniture.
Pet-friendly, max 2 pets.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 2.8 miles, pub 2.2 miles.
Please note: This property only accepts booking coming in on Saturday.
Please be aware there is a small stream/brook running through the front garden.
Reviews (5)
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Thomas
This lovely house is also very engaging if you love a good story & like reading. Owned by the Kyle family this property belonged to the late John Wilson Kyle, better known as Jack Kyle. Jack was one of Ireland's greatest Rugby players of all time having been entered into the Rugby hall of fame for his achievements in the sport. He also graduated from Queen's university in Belfast in the medical field & spent 34 years as a surgeon in Africa & was one of the first doctor's to help people with the Hiv virus. When this incredible gentleman returned to Ireland he brought back with him all his books & art work from Africa, which are all still in Tudor Lodge for you to indulge yourself. The house itself is a lovely big family home with lots of seating areas, a large kitchen , living area, dining room & conservatory. At one point we had 20 people in the house, & as people came & went it was a fantastic atmosphere for everyone to catch up, even the kids had lots of room to run around & the back garden is very nice too, with great views but especially at night if the sky's are clear, as there is no light pollution, so the sky lights up like a Christmas tree, you can even see the outline of the milky way. For sleeping the two downstairs bedrooms & bathroom are very handy, if you have people with you of an older age or with mobility difficulties, this was very handy for us as we had 70+ years old family members coming to stay. At one point we had 6 cars on the drive too, so having all the room at the front of the house is ideal for people coming & going. The upstairs bedrooms are both nice and big , comfortable & are both ensuite with large wardrobes for all your clothes etc. I highly recommend this family home, it's location, views, accommodation & history, make it an absolute pleasure. A special mention for Caleb too, jack's son, the landlord, he is a lovely man and very helpful and accommodating, thank you Caleb for everything & bless you , Tommy.
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Ruth
We had a great week. The downstairs accessible bathroom made it ideal for the grandparents while the location is ideal for walking the Mournes. The house belonged to Jack Kyle which was an added bonus for the older generation of Irish rugby fans! It is spacious and well equipped and good value compared to other similar sized properties in the area so I have given it four stars. Had it been pricier, I would probably have rated it slightly lower as there were a few niggles and it is important to know what to expect: (1) there was a lot of animal hair on the mats and stair carpets (maybe thatâs normal for properties that allow pets - I donât have any and wouldnât normally choose one except the accessible bathroom and location made this one attractive); (2) again possibly an animal problem, but the sofa in the living room smells really bad to the point we couldnât use it, although fortunately there is a lovely sunroom with nice seating so that was less of a problem than it might have been; (3) the bin situation is not adequately managed - guests have to put the right bin out on bin day but that clearly hadnât happened for weeks as both the black and blue bins were overflowing on the patio. We had to tidy up the previous tenantsâ rubbish and rearrange it to get it in the bins and get them closed. We put out the blue bin so it was emptied and we had to take the rest of our rubbish home as there was no room for our rubbish in the black bin. There wasnât even a bin liner provided so we had to get that ourselves too. Thatâs going to be a problem for this weekâs incoming guests too although at least they wonât have to tidy up our rubbish. The owner needs to ensure that the bins are emptied and have enough space for incoming guests - it isnât fair to have to sort out previous guestsâ waste and if you were coming from further afield you couldnât take your rubbish home. (4) Getting hot water was complicated - there were more switches than explained in the book - you need to turn on switches to the left of the door in the hot press as well as the one in the kitchen to get hot water for the upstairs shower. It took us a couple of days to work that out! (5) It would be a good idea to bring extra towels even if you arenât planning on the beach. We were 7 guests and had 7 towels and 2 hand towels. If you have a few people with long hair and it isnât cold enough for the heating to come on, they donât dry. So, great location and plenty of space. The man who cuts the grass was also very friendly and considerate. It clearly states that pets are allowed so my first two niggles might not bother you if you had brought some. However, I think the owner should sort out the bin management and improve instructions for the hot water. A couple of spare towels would be nice but not essential!
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Euphemia
It was so well catered for our family and dogs and we had the best wee family holiday with every facility we needed. The comfort and cleanliness was first class. It just said what you see on the tin! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us and we would recommend a stay at Tudor Lodge