Alternative New Year's Eve: Ardmore, Co Waterford

If you are looking to start the New Year in style, the Cliff Cottage in Ardmore, Co Waterford, is a world apart from the usual holiday home experience.

The views over Ardmore Bay alone make it special, and, if you can withstand the bracing winter chill, there are two stone patio areas where you can wrap up and survey the surroundings.

This is the kind of holiday home where you won’t find yourself searching cupboards for a wine opener or running out of towels half way through your stay because everything you could ever need has been thought of (there are even disposable raincoats in a drawer in the hall and nappy sacks should you run out) .

The cottage comfortably takes six adults and up to three children and is decorated to reflect the colours of the surrounding landscape with soothing creams, whites, nautical blues and purples.

Located on a hill overlooking the Cliff House Hotel (pictured above, which owns the cottage) it has concierge service and you can order food from the hotel restaurant.

The staff will try to cater for your every whim – a Wii for the kids was delivered during our stay.

It also has a broadband connection and guests have access to the hotel’s facilities.

It doesn’t come cheap at between €450 and €600 a night (there’s a minimum of two nights’ stay) but with three double bedrooms (and one single room for the kids with bunkbeds and a cot) there’s scope to share the cost.

Living space includes a lounge, a den with toys for the kids and a large very well-equipped kitchen with a dining table.

Guests get a welcome basket on arrival and have access to spa facilities in the hotel.

See thecliffhousehotel.com for details.