Trading up: Coachford, Cork €260,000

Size: Sq m 200 (2,150 sq ft)

THE directions out to this home for sale at Clonmoyle West advise viewers to go out past the scenic-set Griffin’s Garden Centre in Cork’s Dripsey — but, from the gardens here at this hose, it appears the vendors rarely passed a garden centre, without a purchase or at least a landscaping idea.

Set on 1.5 acres, this is a bungalow with lots of space — over 2,000 sq ft — and large rooms, but only three bedrooms in the current layout. It has even made smart use of the lower eaves space on the 26’ long landing, now home to display and book shelves, a feature and a storage idea in one.

A few rooms are nicely over-sizes, such as the en suite master bedroom and the family room, each about 25’ by 12’, and the kitchen/dining room’s about the same generous size, with pine units.

Selling agent Barry Nagle of Global Properties guides the home just north of the Lee reservoir at Coachford at what he says is a competitive €260,000, and adds it’s ideal for families and gardeners. There’s lots of calming hard landscaping and seating areas, decking, swing-seat, a rustic feature garden summerhouse, drystone walling, all amid rural views half an hour or so up the Lee valley from Cork City.

VERDICT: Garden looks good even in depth of winter, so roll on spring and summer surprises.