Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow

Hotels
8.6 (1832 reviews)
Kilkenny Road , Carlow , ie

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

ATM/banking
Television in common areas
Front desk (limited hours)
Free wired internet
Snack bar/deli
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Internet access
Housekeeping on request
Private picnics
Wine release events
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Comfortable rooms
Good location
Cons:
Inconsistent food quality
Cleanliness issues in some areas
Noise from other rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
8.18
Some reviews noted issues such as grubby bathrooms, though many found the hotel very clean.
Service
9.15
Numerous mentions of helpful and friendly staff contributed positively.
Location
9.19
Positive feedback on the convenient location and proximity to town.
Room Quality
8.64
Rooms are often described as comfortable, though some had minor issues like small TVs.
Amenities
8.17
Mentioned amenities were decent; however, some guests noted outdated furniture.
Value for Money
8.63
Many guests felt it was good value, though some found certain aspects expensive.
Food and Beverage
8.18
Breakfast was mentioned both positively and negatively; overall decent but variable.
Overall Experience
8.65
Overall a pleasant stay with many positives cited.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 09:00

Property Description

Luxurious Riverside Retreat

Enchanting Accommodations: Indulge in en suite rooms with elegant work desks, tiled bathrooms, and premium toiletries. Modern amenities like hair dryers, telephones, and tea/coffee facilities ensure a comfortable stay.

Gastronomic Delights: Delight your palate at the Barrow Bistro, where a renowned chef crafts exquisite dishes throughout the day. Savour the a la carte menu and explore the extensive wine selection for a truly gourmet experience.

Scenic Serenity: Immerse yourself in the hotel's lush gardens and stroll across the charming bridge to a private island. Take in the breathtaking views of the River Barrow and Killeshin Hills, creating a picturesque backdrop for your stay.

Experience luxury and tranquility at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow. Book now for an unforgettable getaway.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in some hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for € 5 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 11 years old stay for € 15 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 12 years old to 16 years old stay for € 25 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 16 years old stay for € 20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    People 17 years old and over stay for € 40 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.6
Based on 1832 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.18
Service: 9.15
Location: 9.19
Room Quality: 8.64
Amenities: 8.17
Value for Money: 8.63
Food and Beverage: 8.18
Overall Experience: 8.65
C
Charles solo_traveller ie
10
2026-06-27 via Nuitee
C
Chris solo_traveller gb
6
Pros:

Comfortable room, good food

Cons:

Lots of flies inside the bathroom

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
T
Tanguy solo_traveller ie
8
Pros:

I liked that I could have a lie in before the dance competition and not panicking that I forgot anything in the taxi.

Cons:

The fact that there was an event the night before and people were going back and forth until about half 2 in the morning.

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
D
Dino Allegrini solo_traveller ie
6
Pros:

The fairy garden for the children
The nice walk around the woods
Very well heated room

Cons:

I think you should light up the back of the hotel so that people staying over can still go for a walk along the river and wooded area

2026-06-22 via Nuitee
M
Marta Anna couple ie
5
2026-06-22 via Nuitee
P
Paula couple ie
3
Pros:

Hall facility good

2026-06-21 via Nuitee
T
Teresa family_with_children gb
10
2026-06-21 via Nuitee
G
gervase couple gb
10
Peaceful and relaxing
Pros:

All staff were courtious and helpful beautiful hotel

Cons:

Everything was perfect except phone charger would have been good to have in room

2026-06-20 via Nuitee
H
Hans family_with_children nl
7
2026-06-20 via Nuitee
D
David solo_traveller gb
8
Enjoyable stay
Pros:

Great location. Lovely hotel and grounds. Rooms very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was excellent and the breakfast staff very attentive and helpful.

Cons:

Evening meal in the restaurant was average. Staff were not particularly helpful. Our drinks were thrown on the table. Very difficult to get the attention of staff to order drinks even through they were standing doing nothing. None of the staff asked if we needed or wanted anything else when they came to the table with our meals even though our drinks were empty. Lack of attention to detail!

2026-06-20 via Nuitee
P
Patricia couple us
9
It was a last minute booking which was very reasonable.
Pros:

Price

2026-06-19 via Nuitee
S
Stone couple gb
9
Welcoming staff, lovely room with a good bar and restaurant.
Pros:

Lovely room in a quiet spot.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-06-19 via Nuitee
A
Ann couple ie
2
Disappointed stayed before never had a problem but will not be rushing to go again.
Pros:

Breakfast good.

Cons:

Terrible noise from young people banging on room door and shouting no supervision.

2026-06-19 via Nuitee
P
peter solo_traveller gb
8
A nice friendly hotel.
Pros:

All fine.

Cons:

N/A

2026-06-18 via Nuitee
G
Gary couple gb
9
Would definitely stay again
Pros:

Good clean accommodation. Comfortable beds. Good food. Friendly staff. Good breakfast.

Cons:

Sometimes waiting staff weren’t very present

2026-06-17 via Nuitee
R
Richard E family_with_children ie
8
2026-06-16 via Nuitee
A
André solo_traveller fr
10
Pros:

le lieu, le service

2026-06-15 via Nuitee
P
Peter couple gb
7
Beautiful grounds, wonderful staff, hotel facilities and foods coule do with an upgrade.
Pros:

Staff were fantastic - from reception through to restaurant. Housekeeping also superb. Lovely grounds. Quiet. There were two weddings on during the time we stayed and we did not hear them at all. A good shower, hot and powerful although a little short (I'm just under six feet and had to slightly bend to stand under it). Beds were very comfortable. Extremely clean.

Very good price for the stay and my wife liked the plastic duck in the bathroom!

Cons:

Greenwashing - no recycling except on things that saved them money (ubiquitous sign on towels, wall-mounted soaps dispensers etc). Claim to have an environmental award when there was no recycling at all.

Food not great - very limited choice of vegetarian options (and which included PARMESAN - which is not suitable for vegetarians.). I ordered the risotto without the Parmesan and it still arrived with it and had to be returned).

Breakfast was pretty basic - no cheeses (in IRELAND???) and I ordered poached eggs for two days running with were so underdone that they could not be eaten so had scrambled for the rest of our stay - five days). Did have vegetarian sausages as an option but only after I asked - not advertised. Orange juice was warm on one day and very sickly poor quality. Porridge quite watery. Good quality soda bread though. Muesli and croissants were alo good.

Bath towels were very small - not much bigger than hand towels.

No air conditioning and it was consequently far too warm - a fan was provided but noisy so could not really use it at night.

(Up) Light outside window shone through edge of curtains so could not make the room totally dark.

2026-06-13 via Nuitee
C
Colette solo_traveller us
7
2026-06-11 via Nuitee
M
MOHAMMED FOKRUL family_with_children ie
10
2026-06-10 via Nuitee