Gorman’s Clifftop House & Restaurant

Seaside Guest House House & Restaurant

Home from home doesn’t describe Síle and Vincent Gorman’s wonderful guesthouse – it’s much, much better. Síle’s welcome is fantastic - warm and friendly and instantly, you feel that you’ve made a friend for life. Add to this the fantastic location, on the edge of Europe with breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, overlooking Smerwick Harbour and you won’t want to leave. Unless, of course, it’s to walk the local hills or even climb Mount Brandon, towering in the distance. And Síle will supply the maps and the information for any of these as well. Two comfortable lounge areas are well equipped with newspapers and books, including guide books so you can plan the next day’s trip relaxing in front of the open fire. In fact, visitors are actively encouraged to take it easy and mingle. There’s also Internet access here if you need to catch up on the outside world. Tea and coffee are available by request.

Bedrooms are very spacious and have magnificent views over the countryside or the ocean. Comfortable king-size beds have good linen sheets, blankets and white quilts, rather than duvets. The pine furniture, darker than usual, was made to measure in Tralee and sets off the rooms perfectly. There are a number of family rooms with two extra single beds. Four of the superior rooms have a Jacuzzi bath, wonderful for all those aches and pains and very large fluffy bath towels (Síle imported these specially from Turkey). Bedside lockers have books that include authors such as Maeve Binchy and Thomas Flanagan. Tapestry wall hangings and hand thrown pottery lamps add a personal touch.

The house sits comfortably on the hilltop and with windows on two sides, views from the dining room are wonderful, particularly on fine evenings when the sun is setting. Add to this Vincent Gorman’s great food and you’ll be very happy to sit back and relax.

On my recent visit, I couldn’t resist the delicious Traditional Potato Cakes with local Annascaul Black Pudding sandwiched in between with Mushroom & Bacon Sauce. Other choices included an unusual Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup and a Tian of Crab and Potato Salad with Locally Smoked Organic Salmon.

Fish and seafood are locally caught so fish features heavily – mains include Grilled Scallops with Toasted Hazelnuts and Coriander Butter, a Trio of Lemon Sole, Monk and Prawns with Lemon Herb Risotto or my own choice of the evening, a very toothsome Stir Fried Dingle Bay Prawns with Basmati Rice. Meat lovers have the choice of Sirloin of Irish Beef with Scallion Mash and Brandy & Mushroom Sauce or Roast Breast of Chicken with Chorizo Sausage and Pan-fried Potatoes. Vegetarians are well looked after – a starter of Avocado with Sunflower Seed and Cashew Nut Pate with a mixed Leaf Salad and Oatcakes might be followed by Grilled Aubergine and Roasted Red Pepper Mille Feuille with Ardsallagh Soft Goats Cheese.

We drank an excellent fruity Pinot Grigio from a good wine list that has an excellent selection, including half bottles. Tempting desserts might offer a Seasonal Crumble, Almond or Hazelnut Panna Cotta or Homemade Ice-cream.

You might need a walk to digest all this wonderful food, particularly as there’s a great breakfast to look forward to in the morning. Juices, cereals, fresh fruit, porridge with honey & cream or a delectable prune and apricot salad can be followed by a traditional cooked breakfast, savoury croissant with cheese, tomato and salami, or, of course, local free range eggs scrambled, poached or boiled. The Continental-style breakfast offers a selection of farmhouse cheese with salami, chutney and boiled egg, smoked wild Irish salmon and mackerel or a vegetarian favourite, cashew nut and sunflower seed pate with tomatoes and olives.

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Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

Glaise Bheag
Ballydavid
Dingle Peninsula
Co Kerry
+353 (0) 66 9155162
Email: info@gormans-clifftophouse.com
Web: www.gormans-clifftophouse.com

 

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