I’ll never forget the drive to our little mountain view cottage in Glencar, County Kerry – it was one of those journeys that starts off promising and ends in a comedy of errors. We’d piled into the car back in Killarney, full of beans after a fry-up breakfast, with the sat-nav chirpily directing us towards the foothills of Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest peak at a dizzying 3,414 feet. The roads narrowed into these twisty lanes flanked by sheep-dotted fields and the odd waterfall tumbling down the hills, and I was buzzing with anticipation, imagining cosy evenings by the fire after a day’s hike. But then, about halfway there, disaster struck: a sudden downpour turned the track into a muddy slip-and-slide. I misjudged a puddle, and splash – we aquaplaned right into a ditch. No damage, thank goodness, but there we were, four of us (me, the wife, our two lads and the dog) laughing hysterically as a local farmer in wellies towed us out with his tractor. “Welcome to Kerry!” he grinned, and we were proper caked in muck by the time we finally rolled up to the cottage.

Pulling into the drive, still dripping and giggling, my first impressions were pure magic despite the chaos. This beautifully renovated three-bed place, perched right at the foot of Carrauntoohil, looked like a hug from the landscape itself – all welcoming and sturdy, promising adventure for anyone mad enough to get physical with the great outdoors. It sleeps seven comfortably, which was spot on for us, though we were one short. Stepping through the front door into that lovely porch area was a godsend; we hung our sopping coats and kicked off the muddy boots right there, sparing the inside any grief. Honestly, after that drive, it felt like the house was saying, “Come on in, you eejits, I’ve got you.”

Wandering into the large open-plan living area, we were gobsmacked. A fully fitted kitchen gleaming with everything you’d need to rustle up a stew after scaling the hills, a dining area big enough for a proper family feast, and a comfy sitting room with Sky TV – perfect for collapsing in front of the rugby when the legs gave out. Upstairs, two en-suite bathrooms with showers and another with an electric one meant no queuing for a hot blast after a soggy tramp. The views from the windows? Straight out to those rugged peaks, with mist swirling around like something from a postcard. We cracked open a few tins (local craft beer, naturally), and within minutes, the arrival pandemonium melted away.

That first evening, we didn’t venture far – just a short stroll up a nearby trail to stretch the legs and watch the sun dip behind the mountains, the air crisp and alive with the bleat of sheep. It was one of those moments that made me pause and reflect: here I was, mid-40s, still getting daft splashes in ditches, but sharing it with the family in a spot like this? Pure gold. Kerry’s got that knack of turning mishaps into memories, and this cottage was the ideal base for it all. If you’re after a holiday that gets you moving and grinning, this is the ticket. We’re already plotting a return – minus the aquaplaning, hopefully.