Brendan Sweeney reports for Overseas Living on the majestic corner of Ireland known as County Cavan

Poets write about a secret Ireland, where time seems to stand still, where the spirits of ancient chieftains haunt woodland glades, where the air is fresh and pure and clear lakes reflect shifting skies. The north western corner of County Cavan offers just such a landscape, and the Radisson SAS Farnham Estate provides the perfect opportunity to explore this unique and unspoilt part of the Irish countryside. Situated on the 16th century Farnham Estate, the new SAS Radisson Farnham Estate Hotel with excellent spa facilities, 158 rooms and suites and an 9-hole golf course designed by Jeff Howes, offers its guests a series of exclusive walking routes which take ramblers through parks and woodlands and along reedy lakeshores, where wild garlic grows alongside ancient oaks and pines.

So large is the Farnham Estate that some of these trails take well over two hours to complete, and straddle the shores of two separate lakes. Apart from walks and golf, guests can take advantage of excellent angling or horse riding. In the surrounding countryside, hundreds of lakes and the Erne River beckon to fishermen and nature lovers alike. County Cavan is a well-kept secret, decidedly rural despite its proximity to Dublin, and full of small sleepy villages, with authentic local pubs where tourists are always a welcome addition to the company. Ireland's two greatest river systems the Erne and the Shannon meet in this county, via a network of 19th century canals, so with its rolling drumlin hills and network of small fields Cavan appears to have a timeless quality.

Literary landscape
Its historical heritage is impressive too. Ancient Celtic ring forts dot the landscape and the ruins of numerous castles and forts bear witness to long-forgotten battles. The county has strong literary connections too. Jonathan Swift was a frequent visitor to the area and it is reputed that most of Gulliver's Travels was written at the house of his friend, Dr Sheridan, in Mullagh. The Farnham Estate is itself an integral part of this history which was once the seat of the O'Reilly chieftains, who ruled the ancient kingdom of Breffni.

The present building forms the centerpiece of the hotel complex. Guests visiting the estate can walk in the footsteps of lords and ladies of times long past, enjoy the same natural beauty and breathe the same pure air enriched by the scent of woodlands and forest flowers. Located just an hour and a half from Dublin, and two hours from Belfast, the Radisson SAS Farnham Estate offers guests the chance to dream themselves back to a time when the pace of life was far slower while still enjoying the best modern facilities available.