French flair at beach hideaway

THE shutters on the windows give a clue — this west Cork hideaway with its own private beach has a strong French flair.

A personal project for its now-deceased French owners, this low-slung and rangy stone house and assorted outbuildings is on two acres of remote land, near when this country’s peninsular fingers taper to an end at Kilcrohane, and graced by the amenity Sheeps’ Head walk.

The land is undulating, and tucked into bits and pieces of it are the main house, an artist’s studio, a glass roofed bath house with old Jacuzzi/hot tub placed for star gazing, and a big barn-shaped shed, with curved galvanised roof and stone gable peeping out over grassy mounds.