County Donegal
Perched on the scenic slopes above Donegal town, this secluded contemporary cottage has everything for an ideal family retreat, including a Japanese hot-tub, sensational veranda and dedicated children’s play area.
Donegal, with its abundance of mountains, lakes and beaches remains one of Ireland’s most under exploited Counties. A gem on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Ivory beams and oriental flavours
At the heart of this spacious stone cottage, and extending southwards, is a large luminous living room. Glazed on three sides, a complete wall of bi-fold doors can concertina to integrate a raised and sheltered timber veranda that enjoys exceptional views of the Eske valley.
AT A GLANCE
- Sleeps
Up to 10 guests
From €2,600 per week (off season) - Bedrooms
Two Doubles & One Twin bedroom
Master is ensuite with shower
One mezzanine bedroom with huge bed
One Twin Kids room with Family Bathroom - Other Rooms
Sitting room, Dining room, Kitchen
Living room den
Japanese Hot-Tub shower room
Utility room - Features
Covered terrace with bi-fold doors
Comprehensive Children’s playground
Ceramic Green Egg charcoal Barbeque
Two wood burning stoves - Contempo
Large retractable screen
with integrated TV projector
Flat screen TV, DVD player, WiFi internet
Good Cell phone reception - Restrictions
Sorry, pets are not permitted
For the digitally dextrous, there is a baby grand piano; perhaps less conspicuous is the remotely operated screen that unfurls from ceiling, with video projector linked to sky and Netflix.
Separated by stylish dual-aspect log burning stove, the dining area is furnished with folksy refectory mode table and benches.
Off to the side, the impressive and eclectic kitchen stretches along through the original cottage, an abundant mixture of the most contemporary of gadgets, often couched in retro rustic styling.
Facilities & Ameneties
Kitchen Appliances
• Gas range with 2 ovens and 6 rings
• Full height Fridge
• Full height Freezer
• Dishwasher
• Toaster
• Nespresso coffee machine
• Blender
• Rice steamer
Utility Appliances
• Washing machine
• Spin-dryer
• Iron
Bedrooms
• Sizes – Two double beds, two single beds
• One 10ft Super-wide bed (4)
• Two single beds with two kids Trundle beds underneath
• 2 Hairdryers
Tech & Entertainment
• Wi-Fi Internet
• Sky sports, Spotify and Netflix
• DVD player
• Large retractable screen
• With integrated TV projector
• Flat-screen TV
Other
• Comprehensive Children’s outdoor play area
• Indoor Japanese Hot-tub with shower
• Good selection of books and games
Beyond the kitchen, there’s a cosy sitting room. Still with the cottage ambience – a stone slab floor and a wood-burning stove, it’s a more intimate TV den.
A small entrance lobby opens to the front, while ahead lies a charming twin bedroom.
In the attic space above, a delightfully quirky bedroom hosts an unusually wide bed that could happily accommodate four. Accessed by stairs from the bedroom below, the room overlooks the spaces below, mezzanine-style, through a glazed wall at one end.
The far end of the cottage is a more recent addition. There is a chic and well-appointed utility / laundry room to the rear, and a uniquely serendipitous bathroom with wooden Japanese hot-tub and overhead shower.
At the far end, in its own grey steel clad structure, the master bedroom floats above the cottage.
From the central free standing bed, the unique view through the grand picture fame window is a delight to wake up to.
The two bedrooms are served by a generous and radiant bathroom just off the TV den, featuring a double ended slipper bath and walk in rain shower.
The landing in the loft space above, is extended by views of the kitchen through more glazed voids formed by the chalky roof trusses.
To one side of the landing there is a twin bedroom with two single beds, which have additional pull out trundle beds underneath – primarily intended for kids.
Opposite, there is a discreet attic double bedroom with a typical confining ceiling, to one side.
An elegant ensuite with walk in shower and exotic basin adjoins it to the rear.
Outside
At the end of an exclusive leafy laneway, the cottage is not visible from the narrow road that winds up across the Bluestack Mountains, enjoying stunning views of Donegal Bay and the Eske valley on its way.
Across the broad paved area immediately surrounding the cottage, there is a magical and prodigious children’s playground, just packed with excitement for young ones, from Wendy house to countersunk trampoline.
Provisional Booking Form
This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday
Public Holidays are at high season rates unless otherwise stated.
2023 Holiday Breaks
| Easter weekend | Friday 7th April to Monday 10th April | € 3,100 |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween | Friday 27th October to Wednesday 1st November | € 3,100 |
| Christmas break | Saturday 23rd to Thursday 28th December | € 3,100 |
| New Year break | Saturday 30th to Tuesday 2nd January | € 3,100 |
A refundable breakages deposit of €600 is payable with the rental amount will be refunded within seven days of departure, provided all is in order.
Rates Table
| Per week | |
|---|---|
| October to April | € 2,800 |
| May to September | € 3,100 min 7 nights |
Select your Dates
AVAILABLE – BOOKED
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- Please note all booking requests are subject to 24 hour approval.
- Once your provisional booking has been placed, the UIH team will verify it, answer any specific queries you may have, and request a deposit to lock in your dates.
- Please note if your provisional booking is not confirmed and the deposit paid within 3 days it will expire.
- If your preferred dates are not available, click here to review alternate options.
- For additional information please contact us on +353 85 860 0027
Restrictions
Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag or Hen parties are not admissible.
Important – No Pets are allowed on this property
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | |||||
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
Reviews
Just wanted to drop you a quick line…
to say a massive thank you for sharing your exquisite home with us.We could have happily spent weeks there! It had everything we needed for an enjoyable stay and really was very well suited to our family, made all the better by your attention to detail and the little extras…the DVDs, children’s books (Poo Bum being the favouite! lol)
The house was pristine and so well presented and stocked. Thank you for all the preparation you put in for us coming..labeling the lights, the wine and cordial, the divine soap (loved it so much that we ordered some for our own house), the fluffly towels,travel cot, high chair etc. all adding to a pleasurable, hassle free stay.
The girls used the circular wooden bathtub every night and loved it so much I had bother getting them out of it and the two little twin beds were perfect for our two oldest girls. We wrapped up well and got out to the play park despite of the rain and watched Willy Wonka on the projector screen in the evening.
Glad we went away when we did as I’m sure we’ll be on lock down here soon!
Once again, huge thanks for everything and we will certainly be recommending Candlewick Cottage to others. We might even get back for a weekend in the summer if and when the weather improves.
Michelle and Niall McCullagh, March 2020
We never got anything lined up with the caterers. I had a difficult time coordinating with Feasta but it turned out that she was in London on a family vacation.
You are going to laugh but we discovered Kavanaghs Super Value ten minutes from our home and fell in love with the ready made dinners. They were all delicious and so easy. I’ve never found anything of that quality in America. We had lunch out every day on one of our adventures and it would have been too difficult to go out again for dinner with our grandkids.
The house was so comfortable that we just enjoyed spending time together and Pierce and Georgie loved the playground.
Thank you again. We can’t wait to return to Ireland soon.
Alice USA, October 2021
Our stay was wonderful.
WE loved the house and its surroundings. We really had an amazing time and we recommended the house and your company to many of our friends.
We would hope to go back there in the future.
Fabrice Rousseau October 2021
I just wanted to let you know…
that we’ve spent a week at your wonderful property and it really is something special. The house is simply stunning with every comfort a weary person could need. We all feel energized after our stay. Gerry has been very helpful. He’s a lovely man. I particularly enjoyed rambling the roads nearby. It’s so peaceful. Coming from Dublin there is a certain tension around the whole covid situation and we felt we could relax here in this beautiful property. To be honest I don’t want to leave. I’ll be walking out the door leaving the house the way we found it. One small thing I need to report. I’ve misplaced the soda stream lid from the bottle. I’ve searched everywhere for it. Even going through the refuse bins! But it’s disappeared into thin air. Apologies about this. I hope perhaps the handover crew might discover where it’s hidden. You’ve got an exceptional property here. I just wanted to commend you and your husband on it. It’s a rare find
Susan and Eugene, July 2020
Out & About
Wild mountains and churning oceans, fine food and hospitality, just some of the attractions of Donegal.
Here are some of our favourites…
- Quick Bay tour on the Waterbus
- Links golf in Donegal
- A visit to the Craft Village
- A cliff top hike at Sliabh Liag
- Dinner at Harvey’s Point
- An Atlantic boat trip below the cliffs
- Learn to surf in Bundoran
- Get cycling around the coast
- Pub lunch in the town House
- Pop in to the Castle
- Gallop along Tullan Strand
- Catch your dinner in Logh Eske
The Locality
Donegal town, about ten minutes away by car, is the nearest centre for pretty much anything from groceries to fishing tackle. The centre of the town is known as The Diamond, and can get very busy in high season, with great pubs and live music.
photo Avramescu Marius
You can’t miss the recently restored Donegal Castle, built by Red Hugh O’Donnell in 1474, but there is also a charming harbour which you can reach along the Bank Walk beside the River Eske as it flows into the bay.
The town was invaded by the Vikings in the 8th century and they used it as a port – hence its Gaelic name Dun na nGall, which means ’Fort of the Foreigners’.
The county is renowned for its golden surfing beaches, such as Murvagh beach, and Rossnowlagh which is one of Europe’s finest. The European Surfing Championships have been held here on three occasions. Donegal Bay’s funnel-like shape encourages huge Atlantic rollers, occasionally as high as 7 metres (20 ft).
County Donegal is the largest in Ulster and the only one that is not in the UK.
Population decimated during the famine, still only about half of what it was in the mid-19th century.
Click here to find out more…
Only half an hour away, Killybegs is home to Ireland’s largest off-shore trawler fleet, so it’s not surprising that some of the best fresh fish food is to be found here. The town is famous for its tapestries and carpets, some of which were produced on the biggest carpet loom in the world at the Donegal Carpet Factory. The carpets, known as Donegals, are hand-knotted in the Turkish style.
The Blue Stack Mountains straddle the county and its scenic trails are popular with hill-walkers. The Blue Stack Way walk connects Donegal Town with the town of Ardara further north – a three day hike.
The stunning sea cliffs at Slieve League are worth a visit. At 600 metres high, they are nearly three times higher than the more famous Cliffs of Moher. A narrow twisting precipitous road will take you to the best viewing point at Bunglass.
photo Terry Stewart
Lough Eske is a small and placid lake only a few hundred metres from the cottage. It is popular with anglers in the summer months, and is has numerous forest paths around its shores and a fine hotel restaurant.
During the Second World War this area experienced a lot of airborne activity as sanctioned flying boats from Lough Erne in the UK flew missions out over the short Republican corridor into the Atlantic. It was a Catalina from Lough Erne that spotted the notorious German battleship Bismarck out in the Atlantic – and this led to her demise by the British Navy who had been in pursuit but had lost contact in heavy fog.
The word Éire remains crafted in white stones on headlands around Donegal, which acted as navigation aid for those flying above.
How to get there – Car advised..
By Air: Flights to Dublin, Donegal (regional), Belfast or Shannon airports.
Dublin Airport – approx 3 and a half an hours from the cottage.
Donegal Airport – approx 1 and a half an hours from the cottage
Belfast Airport – approx 2 and a half hours from the cottage.
Shannon Airport – just over 3 hours from the cottage.
By Sea: Ferry crossings
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and is about 3 and a half an hours from the cottage.
Rosslare Harbour for Ferries to South Wales is about 5 hours from the cottage.
Map
Gallery
