Golf and wildlife on the doorstep of picturesque lodge at gateway to Fota

IT looks like it should have been part of the grand Fota Estate, but South Lodge is actually associated with the period Tullagreine House, say the selling agents of the winsome-looking stone cottage.

The picturesque Victorian lodge is on grounds of up to half-an-acre just by the bridge to Fota Island in east Cork, and its mainland setting gives it a Carrigtwohill address rather than a Fota moniker.

Across the bridge, Fota’s grounds are a particular attraction, there’s great marine wildlife (and the Fota Wildlife Park to boot for a bit more exotic colour) and there are no less than four golf clubs within a few minutes’ drive.

The adjacent Fota golf course is to have a new hotel, holiday homes and second golf course built by its new owners, Fleming Construction, and both Cobh and Carrigtwohill are housing boom towns. In a nutshell, the landscape around South Lodge has been revolutionised since its construction.

The place has been extended in cottage style, and has external features such as slate roof, ornamental fascias, wood windows, and inside it has a stone chimney breast, exposed timbers and pine kitchen.

Estate agents Hamilton Osborne King are looking for over €350,000 for the three-bed lodge, which has one ground-floor bedroom and two more overhead bedrooms, with the bathroom at the lower level.

Other accommodation includes porch entrance, a surprisingly large 23 by 12ft living room, a kitchen plus utility.

It has gas heating, very good private, mature and colourfully planted gardens with pond, and secure parking with garage, and the lodge has an alarm.