Journalist Glenn Kelly reviews his family's stay at the Roe Valley Resort, followed by a romantic getaway with his wife in Galgorm.
Owned by the Hill family, the Galgorm hotel collection has grown significantly over the last decade, with the original resort having become a leader in spa hotels throughout the UK and Ireland.
This month, I was lucky enough to be invited to stay in the Galgorm, as well as their latest acquisition, Roe Valley Resort in Limavady, to find out if these hotels really offer the best of the gateways to the famous north coast this summer.
Starting our journey at the Roe Valley Resort, my partner and I brought our two kids along for the stay, and for a very good reason. Whereas spa hotels are flourishing throughout the island, each one more luxurious than the last, few – if any – incorporate a family element into the hotel experience, but Roe Valley hope to change all that.
Purchased as an existing hotel business in November 2024, Galgorm has grand plans for the Limavady resort. With pool slides, playgrounds and kids' entertainment proposed, this will be the premium resort in the north for families, without forgetting about the luxury treatment that some parents demand.
Based just over a one-hour drive from Belfast and two hours from Dublin, it is surprising how reachable the north coast is to much of the island’s population.
Arriving at the hotel, we were promptly shown to our fantastic family room that offered plenty of space and a sofa bed, which the kids quickly claimed as their bed for the night, forgetting all about their single beds.
The rooms were immaculate, with nice views over the award-winning golf course, with my only gripe being the difficulty connecting to WiFi. An issue that will need to be solved as improvements occur throughout the hotel in this modern age.
Despite the slides being pencilled in for the end of summer, our young kids (seven and four) were more than happy with the existing pool, practising their cannon balls and improving backstrokes in a chilled environment.
Soon, it was time for dinner at The Coach House restaurant. The restaurant has a fantastic informal vibe, set amongst the golf course, giving great views after a hard day's play.
The staff were super, with the kids swiftly given colouring paper and crayons, all served with a smile and a warm chat that reminded you of the friendliness only found in rural Northern Ireland.
The parents had steak, which was thoroughly delicious - the pepper sauce to die for. The kids had plenty of choice from the little ones’ menu, and given they managed to remain seated for a couple of hours, I’ll take that as a resounding thumbs-up.
The next day, after a super buffet breakfast, we travelled to the nearby Crindle Stables for some beginner horse-riding lessons for the kids.
We had been here once before, and somehow our kids remembered their horses’ names from two years ago. This is a highly recommended outing for the family, particularly for those kids, like ours, who haven’t quite convinced Santa to deliver one of their own horses just yet.
Back at the hotel, before leaving, I had a golf lesson with the resident instructor Shaun Devenney, while my wife took the kids on a walk into the beautiful Roe Valley Country Park, adjacent to the hotel.
Shaun was an absolute star, and his easy-going and friendly approach is a credit to the hotel. As a casual player who hadn’t lifted a club in right years, Shaun soon had me hitting the ball better than I ever had, meaning I haven’t quite given up on challenging Rory at the Open this summer in Portrush!
Leaving Roe Valley, our kids were gutted and so were we. We can’t wait to return when all the works are carried out, but the best thing about visiting the north-west is its close connections to the north coast. The Giant’s Causeway is within an hour away, as is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
So, to soften the blow, we travelled the 35 minutes to Portrush along the way, Northern Ireland’s premier seaside resort. After spending too much on the rides and arcade games, we hit the road home with two very tired but happy kids.
However, although the kids were off to their grandparents, my wife and I were only halfway through our experiences.
And then there were two…
Any parents out there will know that feeling. You love your kids unconditionally, but when you drop them off for a night away, just the two of you, there is a feeling of unrivalled ecstasy.
The Galgorm Resort, 40 minutes from Belfast, is only two miles away from where I grew up, but having not visited in over a decade, it has now grown into a world-leading spa resort, totally unrecognisable.
Arriving at the hotel, we were greeted by two jolly doormen, dressed immaculately with top hats on show. Right away, I could see that Galgorm was more of the premium offering ahead of the more informal setting at Roe Valley, perfect for a couple’s retreat.
Our check-in process was efficient and friendly, and we were given a deluxe room, which entailed a small seating area with a couch and coffee table.
The room featured some really cool features like a cold drinking tap in the room, which saves you from bringing pints of water from the bar before bed like in almost all other hotels - take note, competitors.
The bathroom and bed were sizeable, with views onto the spa area, but the technology is in need of some updating. WiFi was a little better than at Roe Valley, but the room had an archaic TV with no built-in smart platforms, meaning unless you brought a USB or similar, you were stuck with the free channels.
Staff advised that the TVs were being replaced throughout the hotel; this should be expedited, as technology is updated on almost a monthly basis, and you can quickly get left behind.
Having settled into our surroundings, there was only one place to go: the Spa Village. A rolling, seemingly endless walkway with sporadic outdoor hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and even plunge pools. I have been to many spas before, but none on this scale.
We were treated to a private hot tub alongside the river with glasses of chilled prosecco*, before enjoying a massage each, which again was one of the best I've ever had to relieve all those parenting-strained muscles.
Dinner was on-site at the Fratellis Italian-themed restaurant. I went for Bolognese, with my other half opting for the Seabass. She was also pleasantly surprised by the restaurant having gluten-free options for almost everything on the menu, and we were impressed by the selection of local ingredients used, which always adds to the community sense of a hotel. Real winners with today’s ever-changing dietary requirements.
Dinner was superb, as was the delicious desserts on offer. The service was extremely prompt, with table staff being super friendly and engaging.
We then made use of the complimentary transfer that brings guests to the nearby Castle Bar and restaurant, on the site of the Galgorm Golf Club, also owned by the business.
Cocktails here are phenomenal, the Rasmopolitan was my wife’s favourite, while I tried the mango Mojito, which was awesome. There is no hiding that prices at Galgorm are steep for drinks, especially. A pint of Guinness around the Spa village will set you back over €10, which in my mind is too dear.
Breakfast the next morning was great with plenty of fresh fruits and warm foods available, as well as some superb apple crumble natural yoghurt. Yum.
Galgorm is also only 30 minutes from the coast, so we made sure to visit local villages Carnlough and Glenarm on the way home, for some authentic fish and chips and a good dose of sea air.
With yet further works planned around the site, Galgorm is heading for the "King of the spas" on the island, and few would bet against it. As we were wished a good day by the doormen, we were sad to leave, and it certainly won’t be another decade before I visit again.
Conclusion
These stays have shown me what great resorts we have on our doorstep and also how accessible they are for almost all on the island of Ireland. They really do open a gateway to the beautiful north coast and the other features that you can visit there. Just remember to book the hotel (and grandparents) well in advance.
The Details
- We stayed in the hotels as invited guests.
- Roe Valley Resort is offering a one-night B&B family offer with breakfast from €305.
- Galgorm Resort is offering one-night for two with breakfast from €247. Our massages cost an extra €105.
- The horse-riding experience was €60 for a 30-minute session for two kids.
Other hotels in the area include:
- Tullyglass House Hotel
- Dunluce Lodge
- City Hotel Derry
