Watershed moment for Kenmare lakeside retreat

Going to quite extraordinary lengths to own a waterside holiday home in Kenmare, the owner of Cappanacush Heights created a small lake beside his property.

Tue, 10 Dec, 2019 - 13:08

Trish Dromey

Going to quite extraordinary lengths to own a waterside holiday home in Kenmare, the owner of Cappanacush Heights created a small lake beside his property.

The impressive five-bed house faces out through large front windows onto Kenmare Bay and the Caha Mountains across on Beara and, from a balcony at the side, overlooks the still waters of the lake.

Created from a stream that runs through the site, the lake is probably around three times the size of the almost 4,900 sq ft house and, at a depth of over six feet, must have been a quite an undertaking to dig out.

Looking exactly like a naturally occurring lake it is used for swimming and has a small decked viewing area above the water at one side.

The UK owner originally came to Kenmare for a weekend, but was so taken with the local scenery that he sought out a site as well as an architect to build this lakeside property which he has used for holidays for almost 20 years.

In the construction of the house, as in the creation of the lake, it’s clear that no expense or effort was spared. Designed by an architect in Killarney, it’s a stone clad dormer style property with four distinctive gable-style sections, two at the front and two at the rear.

Looking for a property which would blend in with the woodlands which surround it, the owner left the design to the architect but stipulated that it be built with an exposed timber frame of Japanese larch and pine. And because he loved water, he also asked for a lake.

The interior, fitted out by an interior designer, has some limestone Travertine tiled flooring at ground level, a hand painted Italian fitted kitchen and, because of the timber frame, a great many beams and pillars as well as oak flooring, windows and architraves.

In the centre of the property there is a large limestone floored hallway which has an open tread double oak staircase leading up to a galleried landing overlooking the living room.

Two timber beamed archways in the hallway lead through to a front sitting room with an entire wall of oak framed windows offering views of wooded countryside and of the mountains across on Beara.

Fitted with a solid fuel stove set into a chimney breast, this is a high ceilinged bright room with timber beams, roof lights and two large medieval style wrought iron chandeliers.

Also at the front, at one side, is a modern kitchen fitted with contemporary cream Italian units topped with black ceramic tiled worktops which has a central U shaped island unit as well as a selection of good quality appliances.

One of the few rooms that don’t have oak beams, the kitchen has double doors out to the patio.

Off the hallway at the rear the property has well equipped utility room as well as a guest WC.

There are two carpeted en suite ground floor bedrooms although the one at the front has now been fitted out with bookshelves and is being used as a study.

At the top of the marble and oak staircase is a spacious galleried area overlooking the lounge. At one side of the house is a generous sized master bedroom which has both a dressing room and a bathroom.

From a large apex window at the front this looks out on to Kenmare Bay and across to the Beara peninsula in the distance while from a balcony at the side, it has views of the lake.

Across at the other side of the landing are two more en suite bedrooms including one with another large sea facing apex window A well insulated property with a B3 BER rating, Cappanacush Heights has a computerized lighting system, underfloor heating at ground level and a water purifying system.

On site of over two and a half acres, it has lawned gardens and several patios and a large decking area as well as a stone faced garage.

Situated on a hilly wooded slope above Kenmare Bay and the Ring of Kerry road, and accessed through an electric gated entrance, the property is around a kilometre and a half from Cos Strand and five from Templenoe Pier.

“It’s eight kilometers from Kenmare and is close to amenities including the Ring of Kerry Golf and Country Club,’’ says Suzanne Teahan of Sherry FitzGerald Daly.

Setting a guide of €795,000 she says that because of its views, its space, its high standard of finish and its private lake, this is quite an amazing property.

International interest is practically guaranteed.