Slieve Donard Resort & Spa: where Charlie Chaplin found peace and sustainability meets victorian elegance

Imagine waking to the sound of ocean waves lapping against the shore, the scent of salt air drifting through your window, with nothing but the horizon and the ancient silhouette of the Mourne Mountains stretching before you. Now imagine doing so in the very same bed—or at least the same room—where Charlie Chaplin once sought refuge from the chaos of the world over a century ago. Sleeping at the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Newcastle isn’t just staying at a hotel: it’s tiptoeing into history, letting yourself be enveloped by a timeless atmosphere of velvet, wood paneling, crackling fireplaces, and whispers from another era.

Here, everything speaks of memory, yet nothing feels old. The hotel’s Victorian charm—built between 1896 and 1898—coexists today with a renewed focus on the present and future. The result is a rare balance: one between yesterday’s elegance and today’s environmental consciousness.

What makes the experience unique isn’t just the marvelous dichotomous panorama with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other, but the sensation of being part of something greater. Staying at the Donard feels like living a small piece of silent cinema: walking the same corridors where Chaplin lost himself in thought, gazing out at the same bay he looked upon seeking peace after losing his first love, Hetty Kelly.

And while time continues to race outside, here it seems to slow down. The rooms aren’t just rooms: they’re refuges, designed for stopping, listening, and recentering.

A past worthy of the silver screen

@Simona Falasca / GreenMe

The Slieve Donard was born at the end of the 19th century as an elite hotel for travelers on the Belfast-Newcastle railway line. With a titanic investment for the era—a hefty £44,000 ($54,000)—it already offered cutting-edge services: gardens, internal laundry, bakery, and its own power plant. But it officially entered legend in 1921, when Charlie Chaplin himself stayed there. Fresh from personal sorrows and at the height of his artistic trajectory, he chose this corner of Ireland to rediscover himself. Even today, in the hotel’s Heritage Room, the guest book bearing his clearly visible signature is preserved.

The conscious rebirth under the banner of sustainability might seem like a modern trend, but at the Donard, it feels more like a natural evolution. In recent years, the Slieve Donard has undergone a profound transformation—not just aesthetic, but cultural. After more than a century of history, the resort faced significant renovation, not so much to change its face as to find a balance between memory and future.

The conscious rebirth under the banner of sustainability

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The property—aware of the symbolic and environmental value of the place—embarked on an ambitious renewal journey. The objective? Transform an icon of the past into a model for tomorrow’s sustainable tourism, without affecting its historical charm.

It was work on multiple levels. First, the systems, where the intervention was decisive: the old coal-powered energy system was replaced with a high-efficiency Combined Heat and Power (CHP) cogeneration plant, capable of simultaneously producing electricity and heat while minimizing waste. The generated heat serves to warm the environments, heat water, and power the spa, while electricity feeds the entire structure.

Electric vehicle charging stations for guests, pellet boilers to power the sauna and Turkish baths, LED lighting throughout the interior and exterior with intelligent sensors that adjust light based on actual human presence—all contributed to increasing the resort’s energy efficiency. The numbers tell the story: energy consumption dropped significantly while guest satisfaction soared.

But they didn’t stop at energy: great attention was given to water management. The resort implemented flow reducers in faucets, low-consumption toilets, and even a borehole water supply system to limit use of the public water network. It’s the kind of thoughtful engineering that guests rarely notice but makes all the difference.

All actions that brought not only environmental benefits but also a reduction in operational costs, demonstrating that sustainability and economic efficiency can go hand in hand.

Zero waste to landfill

Then came the most complex challenge: waste. The Slieve Donard adopted a “zero landfill” policy—no waste ends up in landfills. Everything that can be recycled, composted, or reused is managed internally. A result achieved through staff training, collaboration with local suppliers, and a review of the entire supply chain, from products used in the kitchen to spa supplies.

This wasn’t simple ecological window dressing, but structural rethinking. The rooms were renovated with natural materials, organic fabrics, FSC-certified wood elements, and a selection of plastic-free amenities. Even the menus at the internal restaurants were revised to highlight local and seasonal ingredients, drastically reducing red meat and making space for vegetarian and vegan dishes, in line with food sustainability principles.

The result? A hotel that managed to maintain its Victorian spirit without becoming a caricature, updating itself with intelligence and sensitivity. It’s no surprise that the entire operational staff was awarded an ESG recognition at the prestigious HOSPA Awards 2024, precisely for the quality of their approach in environmental, social, and governance terms.

Wellness with an ocean view accessible to all

The Slieve Donard spa is much more than a wellness center: it’s a refuge overlooking the ocean where time seems to slow down. Awarded “Spa of the Year” by Ulster Tatler, this two-level space offers a complete sensory experience.

@Simona Falasca / GreenMe

The 20-meter (66-foot) panoramic pool with views of the Mourne Mountains is truly accessible to everyone thanks to state-of-the-art devices that allow people with disabilities and reduced mobility to enter and enjoy the pool. It’s this attention to inclusivity that sets the Donard apart—luxury shouldn’t be exclusive, and here it isn’t.

Available to guests are sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, and a hydrotherapy area reserved for women. ESPA-branded treatments—including personalized massages, holistic rituals, and facial treatments—take place in 11 welcoming and silent cabins.

A modern gym and Zen Studio dedicated to yoga, Pilates, and fitness complete the offering. An intelligent detail? Even before check-in, from 12:00 PM, you can already access the spa to start relaxing immediately. A sea-view indulgence that regenerates body and mind.

Not just relaxation: nature and discovery within walking distance

The Slieve Donard Resort & Spa isn’t just a refuge for those seeking wellness and silence: it’s also the ideal base for exploring some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes. Just step outside the hotel to find yourself immersed in the wild and authentic nature of the Mourne Mountains, with trails winding through silent valleys, glacial lakes, and breathtaking panoramas.

@Simona Falasca / GreenMe

A few minutes on foot or by e-bike leads to Tollymore Forest Park, a fairytale forest dotted with stone bridges and monumental trees, also known for serving as a Game of Thrones filming location. The proximity to such natural beauty isn’t coincidental—it’s integral to the Donard experience.

How much does it cost to stay at Slieve Donard Resort?

Staying at the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa is an accessible experience, especially considering the quality of the offering. Classic rooms start from about £130-£165 ($160-$203) per night, while packages with spa and dinner included can reach £344 ($424) per couple for two nights. The most requested package? The One Night Spa Break, which includes accommodation, breakfast, and a 25-minute treatment starting from £156 ($192) per person.

Altogether sustainable prices for an experience where history, wellness, and ecological consciousness intertwine effortlessly.

“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” – Charlie Chaplin

And the Slieve Donard is, literally, that mountain.