On the right track

A FORMER railway station, used in latter years as a hostel, is up for sale, suitable as a house, guest house or upgrading for future hostel use.

Loo Bridge Hostel is just off the Cork to Killarney road, on the route to Kenmare, in a scenic hilly area popular for outdoor pursuits.

Hill-walkers flock to the Paps and the Kerry mountains, fishing is good on the rocky river Flesk, which is also popular with canoeists.

Cycling, mountain biking and bird-watching are also to hand, and a private company uses Coillte forests and tracks for quad-biking safaris.

The hostel is near where the Clydagh and Loo rivers meet, and Kenmare is 15 miles away, Killarney 12 and Cork is 45 miles.

This property was built as a Great Southern Railway station connecting Kenmare with the Cork Killarney line, and dates to 1893.

While the line is gone, the old platform and iron bridge over the river remain as a souvenir of journeys past (the last train departed on a one-way ride to oblivion in 1959).

It was bought by An Óige, who sold on to private investors a few years ago, and they have decided to sell on.

Estate agent Micheal Creedon of Ballyvourney gives a guide in the region of €250,000 for this place.