House of the week: Bride Valley

It’s a case of ‘always the Bride valley, and never the Bride’ in the case of the setting of west Waterford’s winsome Brook Lodge.

Looking far older than its 1977 genesis is this scenically-set lodge style home, on up to seven acres with tennis court and swimming pool, near both Lismore and Tallow. Located closer to Cork City than to Waterford City, it’s a bucolic sort of retreat in any case from any sort of city bustle.

Auctioneer Michael H Daniels describes Brook Lodge as a “charming country property, hidden away by wonderful gardens and grounds, with far reaching views over the Bride Valley.” So, you know the river’s there. It’s just tantalisingly out of view amid the greenery. Designed to an old world palette (there’s a classic vernacular lodge along the Ring of Kerry near Blackwater Bridge, Kenmare, it might even be loosely modelled on?) there’s just over 2,600 sq ft here, mostly at ground level, with two en suite bedrooms overhead.The ground floor has bed four or optional study, and a larger bed three, plus bathrooms, while living accommodation spans an attractive drawing room, linked with double doors to a dining room and each have oak floors, there’s sun patio access, and a fireplace with adjacent bellows.The kitchen’s got some updated appliances, a double Belfast sink, and beech worktops, with a good-sized utility next door to it, which houses a new condenser boiler.

In fact, the c.40-year old home has had some other upgrades which help it get a decent D1 BER, and they include solar panels for hot water, and external insulation plus double glazing. But, be warned, the outdoor swimming pool is unheated. It’s been cherished by a UK couple who moved over to this area three miles from Lismore, but it’s moving on time and Mr Daniels guides the entire on 7.5 acres at €360,000, or the house on half the nicely planted grounds (3.27 acres) at €295,000, minus a 4.3 acre section, home to a veg garden and paddock.

Mr Daniels reckons it’s well-priced, priced to sell, even though the market in many locations outside of the cities and other hotspots is still quiet. For those who cherish quietness, the area between the Blackwater and the Bride rivers has got a gentle pastoral feel, with lots of outdoor activities, from walking and climbing to fishing, golf, horse riding and hunting. Should a lifestyle/relocating buyer come from overseas, Cork and Waterford airports are an hour or so away.

VERDICT: Lots of recent work done takes the sting out of taking on a 40-year-old country home, but Brook Lodge still needs a few extra upgrades.