Wayside a fine catch

With terrific views of Cork harbour, this family home by the coast is worth a look, writes Tommy Barker

WITH a viewing perch good enough to make a base for a ship’s captain or boat pilot, the large, harbour-mouth home Wayside is a bit of a coastal catch.

Last on the market back in 2006, but retained by its vendors of the time, this is a house where it really is all about the views, the aspect, the passing maritime traffic, the changes in the weather, and what the gulls are getting up to.

Set out by the entrance to Cork harbour by Weaver’s Point and Church Bay, beyond Crosshaven, it is sort of out at the end of the world, in local terms at least, on an elevated site of close to acre, and with a 400 sq ft garage as well — so there’s scope for keeping a boat up here, high and dry but ready to launch in ‘Crosser’ when the weather suits.

Wayside is among rows of detached and individual houses on the road to Weaver’s Point, within an easy walk of Crosshaven village itself, while Cork city is an easy enough daily commute — if you can drag yourself away from the lure of its coastal views.

Selling agent is Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald, who says visitors are captivated by those views, to Roches Point to the east, beyond to Poer Head, out to sea to the south, to coves to the west and with spectacular skies as well, with plenty of advance warning of weather changes too, thanks to views to the horizon.

Inside, the bigger than expected and thoroughly comfortable house has three reception rooms, with a long 38’ by 10’ sun room across the south-facing rear to grab all the views and the light.

There’s lots of timber (including old stripped pine) used for homeliness, throughout, as well as some quirky bathrooms, thanks to the scope of having five of the six bedrooms en suite.

One of the bedrooms is at ground level, and so can be uses as a home study if required, and the master bedroom, meanwhile, has a decent dressing room as well as its own bathroom.

There’s a roll top bath in one bathroom, and a naughty/nautical ceramic sink in another, with the plinth modelled on a young woman’s legs and skirt, done by west Cork-based ceramic artist Ian Wright.

Two reception rooms open from the main house section to the sun room, one with internal sliding door access, and each of these two rooms have open fireplaces, one in a brick hearth, the other a cast iron fitting.

The kitchen has cream, painted units, a tiled floor, and a range cooker set into a colourfully-tiled surround.

The house itself has oil-fired central heating, and has been added to over time, with part slate-hung exterior facades. It doesn’t look the most cohesive, and has that ‘organic,’ grown over time appearance, but to be honest, it is pretty much all about the views so your eye will tend to wander off in any case.

Externally on the acre, there’s a good sweep of sandstone coloured patio space beyond the kitchen, beckoning for al fresco dining.

VERDICT: Wayside is both a coastal retreat and a full-time family home in the one package, worth throwing an eye over, and bring the fishing rod while going to visit: if you don’t land the house, you might at least go home with a few mackerel.