Hideaway by the sea

Trish Dromey visits a restored stone cottage which is heaven-sent for romantics

Sat, 21 Apr, 2018 - 01:00

Trish Dromey visits a restored stone cottage which is heaven-sent for romantics

Almost any of the ingredients you could think to look for in a romantic bolthole can be found in Gunpowder House near Ballydehob in West Cork.

For starters it was originally built in the 1800s to store gunpowder used at the copper mine at Foilnamuck owned by Lord Audley, the largest landowner in the locality. Set on a an elevated site overlooking Audley Cove, a pretty shingle beach, it is in a coastal location, 5km from Ballydehob, which qualifies as being scenic as well as popular and tranquil.

In addition to its and historic value, the property, with thick stone walls and blue windows as well as wild gardens with daffodils and mature trees, also has an abundance of charm.

As an additional attraction Gunpowder House has a guide of €149,000.

Describing the property as unique and charming, selling agent Martin Swanton says it was renovated and restored by a builder around 12 years ago. Bought by a US couple it has been in the hands of Irish owners for around six years.

Estimating that it has about 800sq ft to 900sq ft of living space, Mr Swanton says it’s well laid out and has been fitted with electric heating, a stove and double-glazed timber windows.

The ground floor has a pine- ceilinged bedroom and a shower room while upstairs under a timber-beamed vaulted ceiling there’s a kitchen/dining /living room.

The tiled upstairs living space has kitchen units at one gable end and at the other, a stove and a corner window with views of Audley Cove.

The property is set on a generous three-and-a-half acre site which is a mixture of hill, fields and woodland.

At one side it has a cobbled area with a BBQ and a picnic table and at the other, a winding path leading down towards Audley Cove, which is within a few minutes stroll.

The garden has daffodils and a pond as well as a long timber storage shed where the owners keep their boat.

A mooring in Audley Cove, a sheltered bay with views of Roaringwater Bay where locals go to boat and swim, will definitely be seen as an added attraction.

Mr Swanton says that Gunpowder House has attracted immediate attention from buyers in Ireland and the UK.