The Seagull has landed in a beautiful west Cork setting

FORGET ‘The Eagle has Landed’: July has had such a wet and windy start that even the seagulls are land-bound.

In Schull, west Cork, a house called The Seagull is a secure, year-round coastal perch for a family or flock, and by coincidence is owned by a couple with the surname of Wing.

Russell and Josephine Wing bought The Seagull, a bungalow on nearly four acres overlooking Schull, about 13 years ago from Skibbereen estate agent Charles McCarthy, and having steadily worked on it, have put it back up for sale with him once more.

Its big selling point is the setting, on a rare-enough plot, with super-scenic views over the harbour and its seasonal flotillas of yachts and dinghies to the village itself. Also in its sights is the Colla Road across the bay, Schull’s own version of the Golden Mile with lots of high-end houses.

The Seagull flies into this exalted price category too, albeit from across the bay, and as a bonus point, it has a south/south-westerly aspect. Sunsets over the swimming pool on its terraces must be only spectacular. It is guided at €1.3 million by Sarah Connolly of Charles McCarthy’s office, who rates the views, aspect and site size as among its finer features.

Would someone knock and replace with a modern mansion to suit this suite of attributes? She doesn’t think so, given the amount of work put into upgrading the house and its colourfully planted grounds.

It has underfloor heating in a bathroom, electronically controlled blinds in some rooms, and solar panels which heat both the pool and the house, and which they say works very effectively. After all the aspect is bang on, and the add-on 20’ by 11’ conservatory is another sun trap.

There’s an entry hall and porch, an 18’ by 11’ kitchen/dining room, a 22’ by 13’ sitting room (with those electric blinds), three bedrooms with built-ins, one very good quality en suite (Jacuzzi bath, separate shower, bidet, underfloor heating, etc) and a main bathroom.

The solar panels heat the pool, and the house’s hot water, with controls in a separate garage, other heating is via oil, and there’s bulk tank gas for cooking and a gas-insert fireplace.

Schull’s amenities are an easy walk or sail away, and there’s a golf club almost on the doorstep, with beaches and coves nearby. Cork city and airport is about a two-hour drive.