Trading up: Enniskeane, West Cork €370,000

There is a sort of city sophistication to the finishes at this rural-set, architecturally-designed over-basement home, 20 minutes from Ballincollig and a few miles north of Enniskeane.

Size: 233sq m (2,400sq ft) 

Bathrooms: 3 

Bedrooms: 4 

BER: B3

There are views over gorse-strewn hillsides at this Ballvelone location, from the raised terrace off a gable end play room/reception room, with its contemporary-looking glass balusters.

Immediately underfoot this terrace is a view of the striking, curving dry-stone walls leading to a very handy 19’ by 14’ basement room, which has internal hall access to the upper two levels.

Ernest Forde of Hodnett Forde in Clonakilty guides this dormer four-bed at €370,000, noting “it offers an exceptional living experience, finished to the highest standards with an obvious attention to detail.”

It has a sunny patio off the kitchen/dining room, next to a sun room, and there’s a double-sided integrated stove heating both the dining and living areas, while the roof has solar panels for water heating.

Extra touches include walnut flooring, Jacuzzi bath, and quality decor and finishes.

One of its four bedrooms is en suite, and the roadside house by a small country road is on sloping, tended gardens with recent tree planting, and views for miles.

VERDICT: Works so well with its site, with a basement bonus.