Specialist Bed & Breakfast - Hillcrest House

Property Name: Hillcrest House

Theme: Angling

Bangor Erris, or simply Bangor to the locals, is at the gateway to the beautiful Erris peninsula.   A typical small rural Irish town, Bangor Erris is an oasis amidst the beautifully natural rugged landscape of mountain and bog dotted with wild flowers and purple heathers.  Evelyn Cosgrove lives in Hillcrest House on the main street and she really loves being in the centre of things, chatting with the neighbours and engaging in a bit of banter with locals.

This trend continues indoors at Hillcrest House where Evelyn enjoys a repartee with her guests who have stayed at various stages in the Cosgrove home for 23 years.  Many are return visitors and have become established firm friends such is their enjoyment of the warm hospitality and the accommodation.  Though fishing is the main activity in the area, there are other attractions for those who haven’t been blessed with an abundance of patience’!   There are beautiful beaches at Elly Bay; a wonderful links course at Carne; or trek along the Bangor Trail over the Nephin Mountains and blanket boglands.  For those who prefer the indoors, you can learn a bit of history, have a spot of lunch and engage in some retail therapy all at the Foxford Woollen Mills just a short drive away.

On arrival, you are greeted with tea and some fresh scones and Evelyn will go through your fishing itinerary/requirements for the days ahead so no precious time is lost through arrangement making.  Hillcrest is very well equipped for the fisherman and indeed for anyone partaking in outdoor activities with a storage room which includes showers, drying facilities and a freezer.   Breakfast is a convivial experience at Hillcrest House with guests exchanging fishing experiences and details over a delicious home cooked breakfast from Evelyn; it would seem that the largest fish is always the one that was nearly caught!!!  Evelyn and her husband are both members of the local fishing club and keep abreast of events and occurrences’ on Carramon Lake and the Owenmore River at their meetings held in the West Inn Bar just down the street.  As a result Evelyn has a close alliance with the local fishing manager who co-ordinates licences,  and permits where required along with organising a ghillie if required who in turn will see to boat hire on the lake or find the best spot on the river.  The day on Lake Carramon usually starts at 10am until 6pm and sometimes lunch is enjoyed on a small island therein.  The fishing on the river is very well orchestrated by the fishing manager so everyone gets a fair go at bringing home a trout!!  Wild salmon is a real luxury here in Ireland, so if you are fortunate to catch one, you are blessed!!  Many of the returning fishermen to Hillcrest House find a real escapism in the peace and quiet of this area and enjoy the sport of fishing in itself so much that for some a catch is a bonus on top of the day they’ve had taking it easy at the water.  ‘Catch’ up with some of the local angling club in the West Inn Bar over a well deserved pint and remember this Irish Blessing:     ‘may the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it’!!.