Candlewick Cottage

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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. An elegant ensuite with walk in shower and exotic basin adjoins it to the rear.

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.

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

• 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

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.

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.

Only half an hour away, Killybegs is home to Ireland’s largest off-shore trawler fleet, so it’s not surprising that

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.

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.