Pastoral paradise close to the city but far from the madding crowd

GO up Donnybrook Hill, turn right and you enter another world. A pastoral paradise that appears miles away from the city’s throng.

And yet it’s not — the beauty of this Castletreasure, Cork house is that it’s minutes from downtown Douglas and a quick dash away from the Kinsale road roundabout.

But you’d never think it — because Foxlodge is an island on grounds of 2.5 acres, set on one of the city’s necklace of hills.

Views, however, run over little drumlins to the south and over a shelter belt of trees to the rear. And despite being elevated, it occupies a cosy, verdant hollow.

Built on the cusp of the 1980s, at a time when land and property prices were modest, (but when visits to bank managers were on hands and knees), the owners bought as much ground as possible for their small-holding vision.

And while the ponies have disappeared along with the now-grown children, the property retains its wide space and utter privacy.

There are five other properties off this country road, good for children and nice to have neighbours, but each is invisible to the other.

So Foxlodge ticks a number of boxes: it’s that rare thing; a hobby farm close to the city, but with enough splendid isolation for the estate-averse.

And there’s more, not only is there 2,800 square feet in the house but the property includes a stable block and a detached apartment ideal for a nanny or granny.

The house has mature gardens to the front, all leafy and obscured from the road, and at the back there’s a raised, west-facing patio looking out over lawn, wild flower gardens and that boundary of pines.

Behind the tree-line is the main paddock — a big grassy field which runs down to a rushy glen/fox covert with a stream at the bottom — basically, a child’s paradise.

The main house is a simple bungalow whose looks belie the amount and quality of space under its roof.

There are three en suite bedrooms here, along with a main bathroom and two other double bedrooms.

The house is pristine: all rooms have light oak flooring with matching window sills and all is done in low-key, good taste.

The formal living room has wide, sliding doors facing west and it is finished with a white marble fireplace and recessed lighting: it’s an elegant and good entertainment space at 20’ by 14’.

The family room is a long, double room and it combines a relaxed TV area at one end with a dining room at the other.

The kitchen, like the living room, leads directly to the patio and is a good, eat-in room with an equally big utility behind.

Foxlodge is a bit of a beauty and it’s the kind of house where a glance at a brochure just doesn’t do it justice — it has to be walked, not just seen.

Malcolm Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing is inviting offers in the region of €1.2 million for Foxlodge, Castletreasure.