If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel in Northern Ireland that balances comfort for adults with things to keep the kids happy, Roe Valley Resort in Limavady is one that comes up a lot. We recently stayed there with the two kids (age 12 and 4) for 2 nights over the Christmas period and here’s a full, honest breakdown of what it’s actually like.
Overview
Roe Valley Resort is located just outside Limavady, around a 3 hour drive from Dublin, making it a very doable weekend break. It’s a large resort-style hotel with a mix of leisure facilities, golf, and spa offerings, but it also really focuses on it’s family offerings. It has recently been taken over by the Galgorm Collection who have done a great job of introducing luxurious touches to a large hotel. They also have lots of updates planned over the next few of years so watch this space!
Roe Valley Resort is a huge property with a large variety of different facilities. Meaning you don’t even need to leave the hotel if you don’t want to!
Rooms
We stayed in a family suite , which was a great size and didn’t feel cramped at all with the kids. The layout worked really well for our family of 2 adults and 2 kids as it had a separate couch area, meaning we could chill and watch a movie together in the evenings!
The decor is quite neutral and modern. Not overly luxurious, but clean and comfortable which, honestly, matters more when you’re travelling with kids. The rooms sleep up to four children, which makes this hotel perfect for larger families!
Facilities
This is where Roe Valley Resort stands out, especially for families. They have so much to offer for families to keep everyone happy. Here is a list of what we enjoyed over the weekend:
Swimming Pool
The pool was one of the highlights. It’s a good size and very family-friendly, so it doesn’t feel like kids are an afterthought. Ideal for burning off energy after a day out. They also have kids jet ski’s that can be used on one morning of your stay. My four year old absolutely loved this! Make sure to book before arrival. They also have saunas, steam rooms and a jacuzzi to allow adults to truly relax.
Keep an eye on the Roe Valley website and socials because they are making some major updates at the moment, to include some water slides!
Adventure Playground
This is the absolute highlight of the hotel! Not only do they have traditional playgrounds for kids, but they also have a mini fun park! Featuring a gorgeous helter shelter slide, a bouncy castle, bungee trampolines and mini 4×4 Jeeps. Tickets for these can be purchased from reception, but check out the family packages on their website for special offers that include activity vouchers.
Golf
The resort also has its own golf course with driving range. The golf side of Roe Valley Resort adds something a bit different, even if you’re not a serious golfer. The course itself is well kept and scenic, running alongside the river, so it gives the whole place a more relaxed, outdoorsy feel
What stood out for us though was the driving range. It’s genuinely family-friendly and not intimidating if you’ve never picked up a club before. The kids loved having a go, and it’s one of those easy activities you can dip in and out of without needing to commit to a full round. It’s a nice way to get everyone outside for an hour, with just enough structure to keep it interesting.
Food
Food was also very family friendly in this hotel. We enjoyed the large selection available at breakfast in the beautifully decorated Fratelli’s restaurant. They had everything to offer from pastries, yoghurts and fruit puree’s, to an enormous selection of fresh fruit and a full Irish breakfast.
At dinner time Fratelli’s transforms into an Italian restaurant where kids can enjoy the Little Boars menu. Here they can don a chefs hat and decorate their very own pizza. Ross and I enjoyed the Arancini and Caesar Salad to start and the Steak and Risotto for main. The only downside was that I wish there were more dessert options and the service was a little bit slow while waiting for our bill. Other than that we had a fantastic family dinner in a relaxed environment.
What else is on offer?
Roe Valley resort also has many other facilities on offer. This includes a beautiful spa onsite with many treatments available. They also put on fabulous themed events such as Easter, Christmas and Halloween. We went at Christmas time and enjoyed Christmas movies with popcorn, cookies and milk delivered to our room and even a visit with Santa Clause himself. All of these extras are what made our family stay so special.
What We Loved
- The pool and overall family-friendly atmosphere
- Spacious rooms that actually work with kids
- Everything in one place, making it an easy, low-stress break
- All of the activities available onsite.
- The large lounge area where you could have tea, coffee, scones and just relax.
Final Verdict
Roe Valley Resort is a solid choice for a family break, especially if you want somewhere that’s easy, relaxed, and doesn’t require a packed itinerary.
It’s best suited to families who want a mix of downtime, activities but don’t want to skimp on luxury and comfort.
Would we go back? 100%! This is definitely one of the best family hotels that we have stayed at in Ireland!
Let me know in the comments if you have ever visited!
Thanks for reading,
Jess x
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