Private sanctuary by the harbour

Rose Martin fishes out a gem called Otter Lodge near no-nonsense Castletownbere

LONG, lingering views over Castletownberehaven Harbour and an almost defensive position on a promontory at Waterfall, makes Otter Lodge a one-in-a-million kind of property.

And it’s no surprise that this little coastal enclave in west Cork has some heavy hitting neighbours.

The film-directors and financiers alight from helicopters on a seasonal basis while a mile or two down the road, the largest white fish port in the country goes about its business.

There is no nonsense in Castletownbere — it’s a hanging basket-free zone and because of this, it affords much-needed privacy to its migrant visitors.

While other areas of west Cork have a high footfall in the summer months, Beara retains a mountainy aloofness.

It is perhaps the most striking and beautiful of all the southern county’s peninsulas. High mountains, snaking roads, rough furze-filled fields and moody water combine to create beautiful scenery. Over the Healy Pass the rugged land reverts to a pastoral, painterly landscape at Kenmare.

It is this beauty that lures the rich and famous — that, and the distinct lack of razzamatazz.

Okay, Colin Farrell did open the recent Castletownbere Festival on the August bank holiday weekend, but then, he was in town to film part-time resident, Neil Jordan’s film in Beara.

Jordan lives close to Otter Lodge, in a location flanked by woodland and unseen from the road.

You won’t find this property on a cursory drive-past and that’s the main selling point. The privacy afforded by a shoreline position and a shelter belt of trees goes some way to explain the guide price of €4 million.

A substantial house, Otter Lodge is a completely individual build constructed in the last few years.

Following a H-plan, the house faces south over the water and has unobstructed views over Bere Island and Lawrence Cove and at the rear, on the northern side to Hungry Hill.

A long and very lovely driveway leads from the main road to the level vantage point on which this house is set. The ground drops to the sea. There’s a steep, shingle beach on the western side, while on the eastern boundary, there’s a road leading down to a shallow, sheltered mooring.

In terms of a west Cork buy, this house has it all, the privacy, the views, the orientation and the size.

Yet, it’s also a functional and in the scale of these properties, modest house.

The deep, dormer roof and slated exterior belie the exuberance of the interior where a lifetime’s collection of furniture, paintings, sculpture and objet d’art are displayed.

There is no average viewing here. It’s a gallery marathon where the exotic travels of the owners are marked in every item and where a tale is told in each piece. Time spent in Arabia has resulted in the open plan and opulent main living room with it’s decorative pillars, marble floors, gilded touches and fine furniture. Yet, the kitchen is very Irish, with it’s hand-made maple units, open-plan layout and farmhouse feel.

The dining room is straight out of the Big House with antique suite, sideboards and a collection of silver. The more relaxed living room also comes with a period feel, aided by leather buttoned chairs and some fine paintings.

All of these rooms are on the lower level, along with two, ensuite bedrooms. They provide a flow from west to east, with windows over the water.

The main entrance is on the northern side accessed by a sweep of gravel. A fountain provides a mini-roundabout and inside, the entrance hallway is galleried.

Overhead is a huge open plan library area and at one end, there are two ensuite rooms, while at the other, a vast space is used as a general games room and as an overflow space for visitors.

This too is galleried and overlooks the kitchen/dining area and the sea beyond.

Rooms and bathrooms are finished to a high standard and the main bathroom space is the size of an average double bedroom, with big, stand-alone bath.

The exterior is landscaped from the long driveway, (ending in a Druid’s altar of a rock), to the gardens surrounding the house, the standing stones on thesouthern boundary to the sheltering crescent of woodland.

Utterly private, this sanctuary is on the market with auctioneer Dominic Daly for offers in the region of €4 million.