Feel the pull of the ocean at a unique harbour site

THE coast just west of Cork harbour's mouth has come alive in the last few years, with year-round lights dotting the coastline as clear and shining evidence of the area's surge in popularity.

Architect Peter Sheehan of Coastal Design, who is selling the family home in one of the area's best perches, has lived and worked in Myrtleville since the late 1980s, and has been witness to the way former holiday home chalets have given way to large one-off homes for permanent residence.

Mystic Lodge, named from the Van Morrison song Into the Mystic, differs from the usual run of homes in that it is a 3,000 sq ft house, on half an acre of ground - and what a site.

It has views to the east to the harbour, Roches Point lighthouse, Trabolgan and Pier Head, then straight out to sea, and then to the west is Myrtleville beach, Bunnyconnellan bar and restaurant (now closed down after a failed planning application) and further coastline.

Gorse-bush coloured Mystic Lodge is newly on the market with Mick McKenna of Real Estate Alliance McKenna O'Donoghue Clarke, who guides it at €950,000.

"Sites like this are making €600,000 and €700,000, and few have as good a view, he says, before ever detailing the amount of house on offer on this plot.

Obviously architect/client-designed, it is deceptively large as it is built in two linked, multi-facaded sections: this means the wide variety of views are maximised and framed by strategically-placed windows and patios doors. just about every room, bar a bathroom, has a view of note.

The main living area is best placed of all, in a part of the house which appears eight-sided, and the walls are set at an angle of 45 degrees, while the ceiling height soars to almost 20' above a powerful stone-built open fireplace.

Behind is a large family room, with dining area and kitchen, with views to Roches Point as you do the wash-up and a solid fuel stove provides yet more heat.

There's a home office beyond, with a couple of multi-use rooms/optional bedrooms off again, and the far section of the house has a bathroom, four ground floor bedrooms two of which are ensuite, and there's a further top floor bedroom with sloping ceilings, exposed beams and jutting triangular window for further views.