Coastal bungalow step in right direction with elevated views

FINISHED only in the last few months, a coastal bungalow built by an architect has been designed to hide its relative bulk under not one, two but three stepped sections, with a few bedrooms tucked away out the back as well for good measure.

Set right in the go-ahead village of Ardfield, near Clonakilty in West Cork, which is now building a general purpose hall to go with its new GAA pitch, it is a four-bedroomed, single storey house with great but relatively distant sea views to the Galley Head and lighthouse, as well as Castlefreke’s dwindling woods from its front rooms.

It runs to over 1,700 sq ft, but appears almost cottage proportioned from its front elevation thanks to the deliberate design by its designer Michael O’Leary.

And, the size of the package is enhanced as well by the site size, a good half acre in the village itself, with a pub, shop and post office a few yards away, and the church, national school, GAA pitch, and floodlit tennis courts only a few hundred yards away as well. The progressive village just last weekend had the GAA’s John Allen turn the sod on a new 1.6 million community hall, for mixed parish and sporting purposes as well.

Clon town is five miles away, Cork city about an hour’s commute, and beaches nearby include Red Strand, Inchydoney, Long Strand and a host of small coves.

Selling agent is John Loughnane of Sherry FitzGerald, acting jointly with local man Jim O’Brien of CCM Property Services, and their guide price is 640,000 which puts it into the 9% stamp duty threshold category... election promises of changes notwithstanding.

It is as likely to be bought for holiday home usage as a full-time home, and more will look to use it part-time with a view to possible retirement (looking, ahem, further afield for those putting down other roots, even the cemetery in this pretty spot has a sea view.)

This completed home was built for the long-haul in any case, with living room, kitchen/dining and conservatory all with best aspect, and the en suite master bedroom also to the front.

Towards the rear are three more bedrooms, main bathroom, and utility, and it is finished to a high level, with kitchen fitted, plus appliances, and heating is via oil.

The large site has been grassed, with some retaining railway sleepers.