The road along the Waterford coastline is populated with scenic spots, and the views overlooking the seaside town of Dungarvan certainly stick in the memory.
Further along, the turn off for Ardmore takes you back down to the coast as you wind your way through pleasant countryside, before arriving at the old tourist town and its fabulous horseshoe inlet.
The roads of Ardmore twist and turn some more as you make your way to the far side of the town and start to climb the hill, arriving at the Cliff House Hotel.
The stark, grey exterior that welcomes you to the Cliff House might not be what you would expect from one of Ireland's most renowned hotels. However, you are in for a surprise once you step through the glass doors into the lobby.
The wall of blue grabs your attention and you cannot help but be drawn to the spectacular panoramic views of what must be the most scenic hotel lobby in the country.
It is quite understandable, and perfectly acceptable if, like me, you spend the first couple of hours of your stay enjoying these omnipresent views of Ardmore, its bay and the sprawling sea beyond.
My balcony was spacious and sundrenched as I took the best seat in the house and soaked up the afternoon rays, dipping in and out of one of many interesting books, which were part of my incredible suite and the adjoining library.
I did, eventually, shift locations as I dropped in to the downstairs bar to enjoy a coffee and a scone to fill a gap before dinner. The afternoon tea was tempting but the dining experience at the Cliff House is not to be messed with, so the scone would suffice.
My six o'clock appointment was a new departure, as I wandered, perhaps suspiciously, to one of the wellness studios for an hour-long yoga class.
It would have been easier to opt for a body massage, a seaweed bath or just to hang out in the outdoor Jacuzzi.
But it had been a long winter and my body and mind were near their elastic limit with eye strain and shoulder pain, thanks to a life of laptop usage and poor postured computer lounging, so I was hoping for some miracle moment that the yoga might provide.
I threw myself into the experience; listening, concentrating, breathing from the different areas of my lungs, stretching, twisting, and finally, relaxing.
My yoga experience left me, without doubt, the best that I had ever felt after a hotel spa or wellness treatment, and I've tried it all, from deep tissue or hot stone massages, to reflexology or dark room flotation tanks.
I felt taller, relaxed, aligned and with clarity of mind and strength of body.
Hatha yoga, I would later read, is a set of exercises and postures aimed at opening the body's many channels, with the main one being the spine, and designed to align your skin, muscles and bones. It is also meant to create balance, unite opposites and still the fluctuations of the mind.
So it was just one class, and I was trying not to get carried away with my new-found state of wellbeing, but I have to admit, I felt great.
And while the yoga proved the perfect tonic for the body and soul, some other senses were about to be stimulated as I sat down to sample my first ever Michelin Star dining experience.
I put myself in the expert hands of the hotel's award-winning chefs and settled down for a feeding fiesta, having heard nothing but wonderful things about executive chef Martijn Kajuiter's kitchen.
One of the first signs of a great restaurant is the quality of bread that is served at the start of the meal, and any head chef will tell you that their bread baker is worth their weight in gold.
The Cliff House, evidently, adheres to the same principle, as the three, perfectly formed breads that were presented were of a quality that had to be tasted to be believed.
Just breaking into these miniature loaves, slathered with the accompanying butter and stone-mounted cream, sipping on a glass of Spanish red and enjoying the early evening changing shades of blue outside would easily have satisfied my palate. But this was just the beginning.
Almost too pretty to eat, a selection of bite-sized starters, or the amuse bouche, arrived, including a potato 'stone' covered in edible clay, the most delectable beetroot macaroon, a jellied broccoli dome and a shot glass of frothed soup.
And so it continued as the courses kept coming: West Cork scallops, McGrath's Black Angus beef, served with beef tea, and a most memorable dessert of organic sea-salted chocolate served with white chocolate ice cream rounded off the perfect day at the Cliff.
The hotel's location offers a host of options for your Ardmore break, and the cliff walk will, no doubt, be top of the list.
The path runs from the hotel, out and around Ardmore Head and offers spectacular views of the Celtic Sea coast. You will come up close and personal with the old Sampson Wreck - the 180-foot crane barge that ran aground in 1987 - and Father O'Donnell's Well on the leisurely stroll that will have you back at the hotel within the hour.
For the more adventurous, guided hikes can be organised to the nearby Comeragh Mountains, while there is also a chance to go rock climbing or abseiling the local cliffs.
The Ardmore inlet can also be utilised with several options available from the town's adventure company, including surf lessons, kayaking or snorkelling. A moonlight paddle will take you out around the bay to witness the phosphorescence in the water as you kayak by the light of the moon.
Back in the hotel, my midweek, early season break was proving to have its benefits as I had the hotel's spectacular indoor swimming pool to myself.
The 15-metre infinity-edge pool boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and ocean views designed to create a sense of unending space.
I sensed the hotel's designers knew what they were doing.
For more information about The Cliff House Hotel, visit: www.thecliffhousehotel.com.
Ed Leahy
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