Dreamy coastal cottage in West Cork

Dunworley, West Cork Price: €150,000

YOU know that dreamy coastal cottage many of us have at the back of our minds? Well, it’s here — at Dunworley, West Cork.

And forget your namby-pamby coastal views and all that other auctioneering flim-flam — this is the real thing. And even saying that the sea starts at the end of the garden is not really enough — you have to see it, so go online, open the brochure and go to maps, then satellite view and — enlarge (see pic right). That’s what it’s all about.

Just back from the water there’s the garden, and what a garden — an acre of sandy soil, facing due south all the way to a stone boundary, and below that, rocks and waves.

There’s a rise to a hillock on the eastern boundary, (which will offer some shelter) and on the western boundary, a little laneway to a small, secret sandy beach — almost like a private cove.

The site is flat, recently ploughed and seeded, although after the storms of the last three months, the job might need to be done again.

But with this aspect, soil and orientation, you’re talking gardener’s delight — can you imagine the balls of floury spuds that would come out of here?

Then, there’s the house — a classic, dotey little council cottage dating from the 1960s with an unchanged layout that incorporates a generous main living room to the rear, a smaller sitting room to the front and two bedrooms, one good double and one single with bathroom nearby.

There’s a galley kitchen projecting south-eastwards and a small little patio along the back. Shrubs are only to the front as the sea breeze is a tough master.

Next door, on a larger site is a distinctly architect-designed bungalow, the boundary is safeguarded by brutish formium which give a tough, wind-resistant hedge and also suit the pared-down nature of the site.

Both houses sit nicely together on the cliff side and it would almost be a shame to add a large extension onto the cottage, bar a sun room perhaps, because it’s proportions are so dinky.

As it stands now, it’s the perfect lock-up-and-leave holiday home, but the pitch of the roof would suggest space for a dormer maybe, which might also give stunning views out to sea.

The tigín is on the market with Ernest Forde of Hodnett Forde and at the time of typing, he had a list of viewing slots and an offer of €150,000 on top of the guide price of €140,000 — a sure sign that it’s a rare buy indeed.

VERDICT: Love at first site — worth going into hock for.