More about hotels in Monaghan
Monaghan doesn’t do flashy. What it does is drumlins, hundreds of small rounded hills rolling out in every direction, dotted with lakes that catch the evening light and edged by hedgerows that have been there for generations. It’s the kind of county you drive through on the way to somewhere else, then wonder why you didn’t stop sooner.
From lakeside cottages to a genuine castle estate, there’s a stay here to match however you want to spend your time. Most travellers base themselves in Monaghan Town for the walkability, or out near one of the lakes for something quieter.
Where to stay in Monaghan
- Monaghan Town – the county town, built around the wide market square known as the Diamond, with Georgian streets you can walk end to end in about twenty minutes.
- Glaslough – a tiny village best known for one address, Castle Leslie Estate, set across 1,000 acres with its own lakes and stables.
- Clones – a quiet market town famous for its crochet lace, once made by hand in well over a thousand local households.
- Carrickmacross – in the south of the county, home to its own distinct lace tradition and the golf course at Nuremore Estate.
- Castleblayney – sits right on the edge of Lough Muckno, good for a lakeside walk or a paddle before dinner.
How much is Monaghan accommodation?
Rooms around Monaghan start from about AU$184 a night, though it swings a fair bit depending on how rural or resort-style you go.
- Budget B&Bs and guesthouses – from AU$95 per night. A spare room in a family home, breakfast included, and a host who actually knows the area.
- Self-catering cottages – from AU$120 per night. Your own kitchen and a bit more space, handy for a few nights parked near one of the lakes.
- Mid-range town hotels – from AU$150 per night. A proper bed in the centre of Monaghan or Carrickmacross, an easy walk to a pub dinner.
- Leisure hotels with a pool and spa – from AU$185 per night. Think swimming pool, sauna, and a bar that doesn’t close early.
- Castle estate and country resort – from AU$300 per night. One night at Castle Leslie or Nuremore Estate and the drumlins start to feel like your own back garden.
Top-rated hotels in Monaghan
- Castle Leslie Estate (Glaslough) – rated 9.6/10 by Traveloka guests, set on its own lake with a working stable yard and rooms that still carry the family’s original furniture.
- Nuremore Estate (Carrickmacross) – an 18-hole golf course out one window and a full spa out the other, a short drive south of Monaghan Town.
- Hillgrove Hotel (Monaghan Town) – a leisure club with a pool and gym built into a hotel that’s an easy walk from the Diamond.
- Westenra Arms Hotel (Monaghan Town) – family-run, right in the centre of town, with two separate restaurants including one that looks straight over the old market square.
- Four Seasons Hotel & Leisure Club (Monaghan Town) – a hot tub and sauna a few minutes’ walk from the centre, a solid pick if you want a swim before breakfast.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Monaghan
- Book Castle Leslie’s Lodge rather than the Castle rooms if you want the estate experience without the top-end price tag.
- Base yourself in Monaghan Town if you’re without a car. Most of what you need is within a short walk of the Diamond.
- A self-catering cottage near Castleblayney or Clones works out cheaper than a hotel if there are four of you staying more than a couple of nights.
- Pack for four seasons in one day. The drumlin countryside is green because it rains, even in summer.
- Dublin Airport is about an hour and a half’s drive, so factor that into an early check-in or a late flight home.
Once you’ve had your fill of Monaghan’s lakes, County Cavan’s own drumlin country is right next door if you want more of the same quiet, unhurried scenery, and Dublin is close enough for an easy day trip by car.
