New dog-friendly ‘forest dens’ open in luxury Co Antrim hotel after €3.5m investment

The dog-friendly dens are the latest phase of a €35m investment plan announced in 2021 to enhance the resort - there will be nine in total, with work already finished on four.

B&B is now available to book from £270/€317 per night. Each den can hold two guests and has an ensuite with shower and a private sauna; there is also access to the Thermal Spa Village during a stay.

Owners Galgorm Collection has invested €70m in the venue, based outside Ballymena, since 2010, and says an expansion of its Thermal Spa Village will follow next year.

The expansion will include forest walks, a wood-fired sauna, hot tubs and a rope bridge connecting the Thermal Spa Village on both sides of the river.

The ‘Forest Dens’ are the latest arrivals in a growing trend for elevated woodland accommodation in Ireland – following the announcement of a new ‘Forest Hotel’ series of eco-cabins at Mount Congreve Gardens in Co Waterford, and €680-a-night ‘Woodland Suite Experience’ at The Montenotte hotel in Cork, both set to open this year.

Galgorm managing director Colin Johnston said: “Our commitment to maintaining Galgorm’s standing as a world-class, award-winning tourism destination has driven us to invest and innovate continually over the last number of years.

"This latest £3m investment is a testament to our dedication to offering premium and authentic experiences to our guests.

“The introduction of the forest dens marks a unique addition to our accommodation portfolio, providing guests with an exceptional opportunity to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying the luxury and tranquillity that Galgorm is renowned for.

“With further substantial investments on the horizon, guests can look forward to even more exciting developments, including the expansion of our Thermal Spa Village next summer.”

The forest dens are located beyond the river Maine in the middle of Galgorm Wood and feature what Galgorm described as a “beautifully bohemian backyard”.

And they include a private sauna, wood-fired bath, outdoor shower, outdoor seating with heating, barbecue facilities and a fire pit.

Galgorm’s range of accommodation already includes 125 luxurious guestrooms, 41 cottage suites, 16 ‘shepherd’s huts’, six log cabins and four residences.

The resort was named Best Destination Spa 2024 in the prestigious Conde Nast Johansens Awards, and won six awards at the 2023 World Luxury Awards, including Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort.

Galgorm is part of the Galgorm Collection group of hotels and restaurants. The group’s other assets include the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, The Rabbit Hotel in Templepatrick, restaurant Parisien and pizzeria Fratteli.

The Galgorm Collection, which files its accounts as Tullymore House Ltd, saw revenues double from £22.7m in 2021 to £45.1m in 2022.

Pre-tax profits also rose during that period, from £3.2m to £7.75m.

The Collection has been expanding in recent years though it's best-known as the owner of the Galgorm.

In 2019 it acquired the former Templeton Hotel in Templepatrick, which was relaunched after a £10m refurbishment as the Rabbit Hotel. The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn was added to the Collection in 2021 and was reopened after a revamp later that year.

- Additional reporting by Pól Ó Conghaile