PR professional and lifestyle influencer Rob Kenny was invited to review a relaxing three-day stay at CABÜ by the Lakes.
Often, a mini break trip away can feel full of pressure to pack loads in: all the best recommendations, places to go and things to see. You can end up eating and drinking your way through a city, always trying to squeeze in one more restaurant, one more café, one more view. By the end, you feel like you need a holiday!
Sometimes the best thing to do on a holiday is absolutely nothing. That was this trip.
My fiance, Shane, and I had both been absolutely wrecked from work, and what we needed was not excitement and a jam-packed itinerary, but peace. Proper peace. The kind that slows your heart rate down and makes you realise you have been running on a combination of adrenaline and pressure for far too long.
That is exactly what we found at CABÜ by the Lakes in Co Cavan.
Set among the woods and lakes of Killykeen, CABÜ is one of those Irish stays that manages to feel both considered and completely unpretentious. It is beautiful and luxurious, but remains warm and cosy.
We stayed in one of the brand new two-storey cabins, and it was gorgeous. The minute we opened the door, I felt my shoulders drop about three inches. There is something about a place that is well designed, calm, quiet and surrounded by nature that instantly tells your body it can stop performing.
Our cabin had a hot tub, which would already have been enough to sell me on the whole thing, but everything about the space felt like it had been designed for a slower kind of weekend. It was the kind of place that made you want to put your phone down, cook something lovely, have a bath, light the fire and just exist for a while.
And that is pretty much exactly what we did.
One thing I would say to anyone booking this is to do a proper food shop before you arrive. We stopped in a supermarket in Virginia on the way, and that was one of the best decisions of the weekend. For this kind of trip, having the cabin stocked properly changes everything.
We made healthy meals every day and every night, and it became part of the whole rhythm of the stay. Slow breakfasts, easy lunches, cosy dinners, no pressure to go anywhere or do anything once we arrived. There is a store on site for forgotten essentials or treats, but definitely do the big shop first.
There is also a bar and restaurant on the grounds, and that is ideal for anyone who wants more of a social weekend. In fact, the last time we went to CABÜ, about two years ago, that was more our vibe, and we fully enjoyed it from that angle, too.
This time around, we decided to focus on the slow, relaxed nature of it all. The walks around the area were a huge part of the weekend for us.
The setting is stunning: forest walks, lake views, and that soft stillness you only really get in certain parts of Ireland. We spent hours walking, talking, and enjoying stretches of silence. Just moving through that landscape felt so restorative.
CABÜ's location in Cavan is nestled among so many gorgeous lakes, all surrounded by walking trails. We were happy to put Google Maps away and just go for it, as we always tended to loop back.
That is what I loved most about the whole weekend. It didn't feel forced or ‘booked’, we were just letting the place do what it does best.
One of the most special experiences of the stay was the Japanese bath, tucked privately beneath the forest canopy. It felt incredibly serene and unlike anything else. We did it the last time and knew it was worth booking. In fact, this was one of the few things we needed to book in advance.
Being in warm water, surrounded by nothing but trees, total privacy, total quiet, no notifications, no noise, no rush! Just so, so gorgeous.
We also had really lovely massages from local masseuses that CABÜ brings in for guests. Between the walks, the hot tub, the fire, the stillness, and the massage treatments, the whole weekend became this very gentle reset.
CABÜ also arranged a lake boat tour for us, which was a really lovely addition. Again, this was not an activity for activity’s sake. It simply gave us another way to experience the area and appreciate how beautiful the surroundings really are.
A bit of advice here, though, wait until the winds calm! This is still Ireland after all.
Each of our three nights (three-night bookings are compulsory), we made dinner, lit the beautiful fire and watched films in our cabin surrounded by the woods. I honestly cannot remember the last time a weekend felt so restful. It is such a simple formula, but somehow one that can often feel impossible to access in ‘normal’ everyday life.
Space, nature, warmth, good food, no pressure, no hangover, no rushing out the door for reservations, no trying to make every minute count. Just rest. Again, this was our ideal take on a weekend here, but I’m sure the bar on the grounds was still busy! We just decided not to be there.
And maybe that is my main takeaway from CABÜ this time around.
Yes, it is stylish. Yes, the cabins are beautiful. Yes, there is a bar and restaurant if you want it. Yes, there are lovely extras that elevate the stay. But if you ask me what CABÜ is best for, my answer is very clear: rest.
It is the kind of place I would recommend to anyone who feels like they have been operating at full capacity for too long. We returned to Dublin feeling calmer, lighter, more rested, and much more like our full selves.
The details
Rob Kenny was invited to stay at CABÜ by the Lakes as part of a press invitation for the purpose of review. Usually, a three-day stay at the venue would cost anywhere from €685 - €1,050 depending on the type of cabin.
Follow Rob Kenny on Instagram here.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ.
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