From Green Fields to Guest Welcomes at Rostrevor Holidays
It all began in the 1980s, on a patch of green fields at the foot of the Mournes where my parents, Liam and Eileen Baxter, grazed their cattle. Back then, the land wasn’t ours. It had passed through the Dunlop and Taylor families before being bought by the Seventh Day Adventists, who dreamed of creating a retreat centre.
Daddy didn’t even know the land had been sold. His cattle were still grazing there when the new owners arrived to tell him. They were friendly and told him he could keep the cattle on, and over time he got to know them and even helped out as they tried to set up their camps and retreats. He always said they were lovely people, but that they didn’t really have a plan for how it was all going to work.
After about a year, they decided it wasn’t quite right for them and offered my parents the chance to buy it. Daddy couldn’t afford the price they were asking, but in an act of generosity, or maybe just a twist of good luck, they let him buy it for less. That moment changed everything.
Looking back, it feels like the start of something that was meant to be. A story rooted in kindness, chance, and a little bit of courage. That’s where Rostrevor Holidays began, in those same green fields where good fortune met hard work and a dream quietly started to grow.
Roots of a Spark
Daddy grew up in the heart of Rostrevor, in a place locals knew as The Central. It’s now called The Cloughmor Inn. Back then, Rostrevor was a lively little holiday village. People came from near and far for the clean mountain air and the peace of the countryside. That sense of hospitality, of sharing this place with others, must have stayed with him. Because when the opportunity came along, he saw something that others didn’t: the chance to build a place where people could come to rest, to breathe, and to feel renewed.
It was the 1980s, in the middle of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, and plenty of people told him he was mad. I was only a child, but I remember hearing that. Still, he had courage and a deep belief in the land. He decided to take part in a farm diversification scheme, turning the tumbled down home into a holiday cottage. It was a leap of faith, and maybe a touch of stubborn optimism, but that’s how all good stories begin.
Building Dreams – The Rise of Rostrevor Holidays
People often ask how Rostrevor Holidays started. Were the houses always here? The answer is no. There was just the old farmhouse where the Taylors and the Dunlops once lived. That became the foundation, with Leckan Beg, Leckan Mor, and Crotlieve being the first cottages.
In the 1990s, a few three bedroom cottages were added to appeal to the European market. Then, in the early 2000s, Owenabwee and Carnaclasha were built to welcome larger groups from America. A little over a decade later, around 2013, Slieve Roe and Slieve Meel joined the mix, the bigger houses perfect for group stays.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were things tried that didn’t quite work, but that’s part of the story too, learning, adapting, and growing.
Fast forward to today, and Rostrevor Holidays has become a little village of its own. Twelve cottages gathered around the Ceili House. It’s the heart of the place, where warmth and welcome come together, much like the old Irish inns where stories were shared and friendships made.
What began as one man’s idea has become a haven of peace, a place where people breathe easier, where the sounds of the river and the birds mix with the laughter of children and the chatter of guests arriving.
And in a lovely twist of fate, the land’s story has come full circle. The Adventists once dreamed of a retreat centre here, and in their own way, that dream came true. The quiet reflection they hoped to create still lives on in this place. It just found a different form.
Tackling Challenges with a Bit of Craic and Resilience
It wasn’t always easy running a tourism business, especially starting one during uncertain times. It took resilience, creativity, and a good dose of humour, and my parents have both in spades.
There were tough years, when political unrest halted travel, when foot and mouth closed the countryside, and when COVID kept the world apart. But through every setback, my mum would always say, “We’ve done it before, we’ll get through this.” And they always did.
Through all the ups and downs, they held onto a simple belief: hospitality is about more than just accommodation. It’s about creating a place that connects people, to nature, to each other, and to something deeper within themselves.
Guests often tell us that arriving here feels like coming home, and really, there’s no greater compliment than that.
A Family Affair
Our family’s fingerprints are on this place, but not in the polished, brochure way. For us, Rostrevor Holidays isn’t just a business, it’s an extension of who we are and of the community we belong to.
We’ve always believed in keeping things local. The people who work here are from nearby, and they care about the place as much as we do. We quietly give back to the community too, not for show, but because it feels right.
When guests arrive, we want them to feel like they’re being welcomed by friends, or even by family. If someone’s travelling home after a long journey, especially in the winter, I’ll often pop down in the evening to make sure the lights are on and the curtains are closed, small touches that make it feel like home.
My Mum taught me that we want people to feel when they arrive here, that they matter, that they’re cared for, and that this is a place where they can settle in, breathe out, and truly rest.
In Tune with Nature and Community
From the very start, we’ve tried to work with the land, not against it. The mountains, rivers, and woodlands are part of everything we do, and we care for them because they’re what make this place special.
My parents have always had a passion for nature, planting trees, working with the local fish hatchery to restock the river with brown trout, and creating a wildflower garden whose seeds have spread into the meadows. That care for the land runs deep.
Our ethos is simple: sustainability, appreciation, and giving back. The landscape isn’t just a backdrop; it’s part of the story we tell every day, through how we work, who we hire, and how we welcome people in.
Carrying the story forward
I’ve always been obsessed with this place. As a child, I’d beg to come over when the farm was busy or the cottages were being built. As a teenager, I’d find any excuse to help out. When I went to university, it’s all I ever talked about, and every chance I got, I came back to work here.
It’s more than just home. I love the river, the ground, the stillness of it all. There’s something about this land that feels alive, like it has its own quiet rhythm, and I’m happiest when I’m part of it.
As we look to the future, our goal is simple, to carry forward the legacy my parents began while keeping Rostrevor Holidays fresh, alive, and connected. It’s about blending tradition with new ideas, honouring where we’ve come from while continuing to grow.
We’ll keep welcoming guests from all over the world, each one adding their own chapter to this story.
So that’s our story, how a few green fields became a place full of life, connection, and belonging. It’s a story of vision, perseverance, and the quiet power of home. Every time a guest arrives, it feels like that vision continues, the one that started with my parents and still guides us today.
A little piece of the Mournes, shared with everyone who finds their way here.
