Ovens bungalow well worth the view at €745,000

THERE are views and then there are these views over the Lee at Ovens in Co Cork.

The signs along the roads don’t lie — the lovely Lee goes all the way up to beautiful by the time it reaches the wide valley at Currabeg. And right on the top of a ridge, with breathtaking views, is this multi-faceted bungalow at Ovens.

Rosslaoi is new to the market with Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald and already has a offer of €745,000.

That’s not surprising considering the rarity of house sales in this Special Area of Conservation, where development is not allowed.

Luckily, the vendors built their house some 25 years ago and are now down-sizing. This means that a new family gets a pristine property with gardens already matured and perfect for children. (There’s even a proper, brick-built Wendy house in the garden, the Wendy’s owner having moved on to banking in the UK.) And that’s not all: there’s a south-facing deck, a covered barbecue area with built-in oven that doubles as a handy teen den, say the vendors.

Surrounded by high hedges, the south-facing garden is full of flower beds and very sheltered. Facing onto the lawn is an extension that comprises two separate sunrooms. One is a glassy extension of the living room and extends on to the deck and the second opens off the kitchen and provides a bright dining area.

Warm and unfussy, the kitchen has a working island unit with sink and a bank of units behind. The lounge has arrow-slit, west-facing windows and a big picture window that takes in that view looking down on the Lee in its widest sweep.

The Iniscarra Water Works can be seen in the distance and the house is close to the Lee Valley Golf Club, as well as the National Rowing Centre at Farran Woods.

In terms of location, Rosslaoi has a winning combination of country and accessibility; the opening of the by-pass means its now just minutes from Ballincollig and 20 minutes to town.

And there’s over 2,000 square feet of space on offer here, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a guest toilet, a massive utility with buckets of storage and a range of outdoor buildings, almost too numerous to mention.

Rosslaoi has everything to offer a family: it’s close to local schools, clubs and sporting facilities and is on the right side of town for those working in the city’s main institutions.

Norma Healy is giving a guide in excess of the current offer.