It’s all about the summer spins this year.

With holidays as we know them all but cancelled for 2020, there’s a fresh focus on day trips, staycations and rediscovering all the lovely parts of Cork you might have forgotten in your rush to nab a sun lounger in Lanzarote.

If you’re looking for a fun day out with a bit of history and an utterly Instagramable setting, Bantry House has announced just the thing.

The gorgeous stately home, which overlooks Bantry Bay, is now hosting Afternoon Tea in the Library on set dates at 2pm. Ideal for a one-day visit or a special treat if you’re spending a few days exploring West Cork in the coming weeks, you can team a luxe lunch with a stroll around the lush Italianate gardens, first planted by Richard White, the Second Earl of Bantry, in the 1800s.

Guests can settle into a comfy chair and be waited on hand and foot, with a selection of finger sandwiches and petit fours, all washed down with lashings of tea and coffee or a glass of Prosecco if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Alternatively, pre-order a Bantry House picnic basket to enjoy in the garden before your visit and collect it when you arrive. Inside you’ll find two rustic ciabattas filled with ham, cheese and pickle or roasted veg with hummus, two brownies, two lemon drizzles, two packets of crisps and Connolly juices, San Pellegrino or wine – all from €24.

Afterwards, climb up to the top of the Hundred Steps or follow the Old Ladies Walk along the stream to the Walled Garden.

Availability for Afternoon Tea is limited so booking is essential (email Julie on info@bantryhouse.com to reserve your table) and it’s €30 per person or €35 with a glass of bubbles – not bad for a day of pretending you’re the lord or lady of the manor.