Southwest

Popular

Dunowen Cottage, Clonakilty, Co.Cork.
Georgian Cottage, 3 bedrooms, sleeps 5.

The coast of West Cork is one of the most spectacular in all of Ireland.  There are numerous unspoiled sandy beaches, coves and harbours. It is also a wonderful place for birds. The Clonakilty Estuary hosts a large number of duck and waders from August to early Spring, including the Curlew, Bar tailed Godwit, Lapwing and Cormorants. Early summer we are visited by Swallows, Warblers, Purple Heron and Scops Owl. There are forest, cliff and beach walks.  The Inchidoney Spa offers exotic health and beauty treatments. There is an Equestrian Centre, fishing, golf courses, a tennis court and enchanting Gardens. For gourmet lovers, there is a Clonakilty  market every Thursday selling local produce, cheeses, bread and organic vegetables. Clonakilty has the world famous Twohig’s, known for it’s black pudding. Castletownsend has the West Cork Woodcock Smokery (a favourite of Rick Stein’s), doing a beautiful selection of smoked wild fish, from herrings to salmon. Colin Barnes does a 3 hour boat trip to see the dolphins and whales. Carbery’s is a traditional Irish sweater factory in Clonakilty featuring hand loomed garments.

The Cottage and immediate area: Ardfield is 6 miles outside of Clonakilty on the coast. Dunowen is a 17th Century house situated in a beautiful old stone walled orchard.  It is surrounded by tall trees and gardens. There is a sun room entranceway, one single and one double room downstairs and another double bedroom upstairs overlooking the orchard.  It has a small but cosy living room with an open fire, TV and stereo.
The kitchen and dining room are open and fully equipped with a fridge, microwave, gas stove and crockery.  All the bed linen and towels are supplied.  There is also excellent central heating.  A five minute walk from the house is Sand’s Cove, a secluded beach flanked by high cliffs. Red Strand, a sandy beach is a 15 minute walk. O’Mahony’s, the local pub, shop and post office is a two minute drive up the road in the centre of Ardfield, whose owner, Ellen has the best ’pour’.