Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa, nestled among several beaches that jut out into the Atlantic Ocean near the most-southern point of Ireland in County Cork, is reached via a winding road that skirts hillsides on one side and the sea on the other. It is comprised of a series of buildings, with the main hotel as the central, largest one and a number of houses adjoining it.

The grounds are spacious with a network of interlinking pathways that lead to the beaches and hills beyond. In July, the hotel celebrated the completion of a $500,000 redevelopment of the island headland, which protects the natural habitat. The area now includes an amphitheater, picnic terrace, specially-designed trails and a walled wind garden. The gardens are planted with palm trees (a warm Gulf Stream passes along the coast), flowers and bushes.

The hotel’s façade is painted a bright, creamy-white with large windows and open terraces along the sides. An open patio to the side of the main entrance hosts the Dunes Pub & Bistro whose interior is decorated with wooden floors, chairs and tables. Its interior is filled with maritime maps instead of wallpaper and resembles the distinct shape of a boat with the main bar being the bow of the ship, complete with a shiny brass wheelhouse.

Immediately inside the hotel is an antechamber with soft sofas for relaxation. Further on through a second set of doors is an airy lobby which holds a reception desk, large brown-marble fireside and a spacious seating area with a chocolate-brown sofa and beige-colored armchairs. The reception desk is a particularly enchanting, curved, single-block of sculpted, lightly-varnished walnut.

At one end of the lobby a winding staircase sweeps its way up to the bedrooms above while a thick blue and white tartan carpet leads in the other direction towards the elevators. At the bottom of the stairs a glass-fronted cabinet contains a diverse collection of Irish crystal vases, bowls and flutes and beside it, an eclectic collection of artwork adds interest to the space.

The third floor, also adorned by interesting works of art, houses The Gulfstream Restaurant and The Lounge, a spacious room which hosts lunch and afternoon tea. Paintings line the walls, and the inviting décor is made up of comfortable sofas, an open fireplace, full wall of bookshelves and shapely, varnished-wood coffee tables.

Our third-floor accommodation provided a glorious view of the ocean surf and a beautiful wide strand of beach. An outdoor, wood-slate patio with slate-wood chairs make the view even easier to enjoy. Inside, the room is modern with dark-wood furniture, two bright Picasso-esque modern paintings and carpeted floors in warm colors. The bathroom, with a black-tiled floor, offers marble bath and walk-in shower.

The Gulfstream Restaurant also grants the stunning views of gently rolling hills, the wide bays of the Atlantic and rocky cliffs. Its menu, provided by head chef Adam Medcalf, features a number of products sourced from nearby towns, including pan-fried scallops from Clonakilty, and black pudding (blood sausage) from Castletownbere, together with carrot purée, asparagus wrapped in pancetta, confit tomato and a red pepper essence.

Other Irish-sourced dishes include baked breast of Clonakilty chicken that is tender with a wonderfully crisp skin, filled with blue cheese from Cashel and accompanied by an arugula and tarragon potato purée, glazed baby carrots and plum tomato compote, all in an arugula pesto cream sauce. There’s also breast of Skeaghanore duck from a farm in Ballydehob, West Cork, roasted with orange au jus and a hazelnut crust and accompanied by potato royale, celeriac puree, rhubarb and Pak choi.

County Cork is well known for its cheeses so it is no surprise that Gulfstream's offerings includes many among its entourage, along with West Cork honey, spiced plum chutney and homemade Parmesan biscuits. Coolea, a handmade cheese from the mountain farm of Dick and Sinead Willems near the county town of the same name, is a wonderful choice to get acquainted with.

Aside from the fine food, further pampering awaits guests at the property’s spa, which offers traditional treatments and facilities as well as thalassotherapy treatments, which include seaweed baths, mud therapies and a seawater pool. Inchydoney, which works with partners Elemis and Les Luneides in Paris, can boast the title of Ireland’s first such thalassotherapy spa.

This year, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa was named Ireland’s leading spa resort for the fifth time running at the World Travel Awards, and for good reason. With its scenic location along the Southern Irish coast and strong reputation for fine food and diverse spa treatments, it really is a stay that's hard to beat.