The Cottage, Kilbrittain - 2 Bedroom (Sleeps 4) Cottage in County Cork

Description

The Cottage, Main Street, Kilbrittain Village, Co Cork, Ireland

Small traditional cottage in the heart of a vibrant village in West Cork.

Staying in the cottage and garden is a peaceful and relaxing experience. The garden and patio are sun filled and south facing. Should guests venture out in to the village the local shop and pub opposite it are perfect places for supplies and entertainment, especially if that holiday feeling has set in and people don't want to venture too far. At a short walking distance from the house is the Kilbrittain fin whale skeleton. This is set at the base of a lovely children's playground which itself is further connected to a pathway through laurels on to the gates of Kilbrittain Castle. Across from here is the entrance to Kilbrittain Woods. The Woods are also accessible from behind the cottage. It is just a short walk along the road beside the property to the sports fields and on into the little pathways into the forest . There is a circular walk through beautiful, bird filled paths with a stream running below. The stream connects with the river and weir which are opposite the Kilbrittain Castle gates and this stream opens out onto the estuary. There is an inner road over the little bridge past a wonderful marsh hosting hundreds of migrating birds . At the end of the estuary, 5 minutes by car or half hour walk, the river opens into the dune covered Harbour View Beach. This is a truly magnificent, wide, sandy beach, perfect for walking dogs, horse riding and swimming. On one side a castle owned ,until recently, by Disney, rises out of the trees and overlooks little Coolmaine Beach which is at the end of Harbour View Beach. Taking the road to the right if you are facing the beach, you will find yourself on Courtmacsherry Bay. Gorgeous shallow bay often invaded by kite surfers and porpoises, this bay will want to make you drive slowly as the light and the water fill the air. This road takes the visitor out to Timoleague and its ancient abbey or round to Courtmacsherry full of boats and lovely places to eat. Continue onwards past Timoleague to deep West Cork and all its delights! Holiday makers come to swim, kite surf, whale watch, fish, birdwatch and eat great food. All kinds of water sports are accommodated over in Courtmacsherry or in Garretstown, the beaches on the other side of Kilbrittain. Many people will be keen to see famous Kinsale Town which is 20 minutes away from Kilbrittain. Its winding streets, colourful shops , pubs and restaurants are thronged with visitors from all over the world and who often decide they will stay and make a life there. Yachts and boats call in here on their way to everywhere and the feeling of a port town is part of the atmosphere. The Old Head golf course is one of the famous ones, spanning a narrow peninsular and is close to Kinsale. Helicopters are often spotted transporting golfers onsite from Cork Airport. the cliff views from the Old Head are spectacular as is kayaking at the base of the cliffs on a good day The surrounding area of the Seven Heads which includes the peninsula near Courtmacsherry, is fascinating to history buffs as the Lusitania went down here as well as hundreds of other ships over the centuries. In the other direction from Kilbrittain is Clonakilty, a flower filled town, boasting a famous music venue De Barras pub. Nearby is Inchedoney Bay and Hotel, with a mile in either direction of sea and sand dunes. Perfect for surfing, swimming and walking. Good food too! Beyond Clonakilty, West Cork becomes more rocky and hilly. Stone circles abound (Glandore) or tiny sandy beaches on the way to Crookstown and The Mizen. A day out from Kilbrittain and you can have lunch in Mary Anne's in Castletownsend and a pint at Levis's in Ballydehob. This pub used to be owned by two old sisters and is both a grocery and a pub. Their grand nephew has taken it over and it has retained all its charm but it has turned it into one of the hippest music venues in Cork. West Cork continually reinvents itself and you will find amongst all the ancient stones, hills and beaches suddenly appears an incredible Michelin starred restaurant (Baltimore) or an ancient old pub (Caseys in Glandore). Always surprising and unique, West Cork continues to exert its charm and beauty on visitors.

The Cottage still has the old layout of the Kilbrittain Castle Cottages, built for the workmen at Kilbrittain Castle in the early 1800s, but it has been expanded and slightly redesigned with some comfortable modern features. Enter through the low beamed sitting room, lined with books and paintings and featuring a wood fired stove. A comfortable leather armchair , rocking chair and sofa make this a room to sink into for reading or staring at the fire! Walk through to the light filled south facing kitchen and dining room. The bright red kitchen with handmade tiles has full cooking facilities including dishwasher, kettle, toaster and fridge as well as a walk-in pantry. The window over the Belfast sink frames the view of the patio and garden beyond. A Danish designed light overhangs a dining table made by the owner's father of Irish yew and English oak. Its warm glow has hosted many a laughter filled evening in the cottage. The dining room walls are lined with paintings and drawings by the owner, her family and her artist friends in Cork. Under the stairs is a small cosy cushion filled nook for reading and the downstairs loo has a bronze porthole and light on a gimbal . It's the nautical loo! The stairs are laid against the stony old walls of the original cottage and they have been carefully lime plastered to help them breathe. Painted white they reflect light all the way up to the two bedrooms . Each bedroom has a king sized bed with feather duvet, feather pillows and synthetic ones for propping- up purposes. The painted floors, Scandinavian style rugs and the scattering of sheepskins on the floor make these bedrooms serene spaces to rest in . One bedroom looks out on the garden and the other faces the village street, houses opposite, and fields beyond. The tree and telephone lines outside often have jackdaws discussing life outside! A bathroom with electric shower (that is actually very good,) loo and basin are all placed in a comfortable space and also face the garden. Downstairs the dining room opens out onto a stone and gravel patio with a herb garden in pots and a a bench under a grapevine below the kitchen windows. It opens out into a bigger space with a large garden table and chairs with umbrella . A gorgeous sunny space, shielded from any wind and lovely to have outside meals in . Several old stone steps lead up past the oregano planted on the wall onto a terrace garden above with a lawn and a circle of shrubs, trees and perennials. Started 20 years ago the garden has become mature and charming. The artist owner has built a studio cabin at the end of the garden which is available to use . A table and chair, three windows and a French door, fully insulated, this studio would work for all types of visual artists and painters . The space is sparsely decorated and perfect for a creative to sink into their work.

Amenities include full wifi, comfortable sitting room, full dining room and full kitchen facilities including dishwasher and washing machine. (At this stage no freezer and no dryer but a drying rack is available), local shop and pub just 30 seconds walk. Two large spacious bedroom sand comfortable shower room and loo. Outside a sun filled patio and garden above, all south facing and full of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs and some strategic weeds....A studio lies at the top of the property with plenty of space to paint or write.

Check in : the owner generally likes to meet and greet all the guests staying and will hand over the key. The key is just posted through the door on leaving. Check in is after 4pm and until 10 pm. Checkout is 12 pm .

Cork airport is 40 minutes away. Rental cars are available there. A local link bus runs from Kinsale to Kilbrittain but a car rental would be preferable. Ferries from France arrive in Ringaskiddy port in the summer and from the UK into Rosslare port in Wexford 3 hours drive away. Dublin is 3.5 hours drive away. The access is the front door to the street and the owner will meet and greet with key handover.

All inclusive except for heating in the winter

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