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.

The main house, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, has over 2,000 sq ft of space, characterised by tall floor to ceiling windows many with wooden shutters for security and weather protection, tiled floors, and one gable end has a large, curving five-sided sun room added on with a host of windows, and a slate floor.

The house’s decor is on the dated side, although the use of natural materials like stone, wood and slate frequently comes back into fashion, but upgrading will be needed.

The two-acre property has direct access via steep steps and a rope handrail down to a pretty, and rocky cove for those who are brave enough to take a daily ocean plunge.

For those keen on the sea setting, but aiming to stay drier, the property’s big shed is used for storing boats, and there’s also a double garage with rough and ready accommodation for kids, and a chicken coop.

Asking price isn’t, however, chicken-feed: Peninsula Properties quote an AMV of €725,000, but are likely to be open to offers on this executor sale.