Castlehaven House

Built as a parish rectory more than 200 years ago, this substantial three storey holiday home retains all of its original charm while integrating liberal concessions to modern comforts.

The interior is simply stated – solid white walls, and authentic wooden floor boards stained black. Paneled shutters and roller blinds are all that frame the bright latticed sash windows throughout.

There are white marble open fireplaces in the two living rooms. An east facing bay in the larger one has stunning views across Castlehaven Bay through French doors that step down to a furnished terrace and stone barbeque.

Piano enthusiasts will appreciate the vintage John Broadwood, the world’s first piano manufacturer. The furniture mainly observes a wicker theme, offset by occasional vintage cabinets and chairs, as in the dining room.

A matching pair of leather wingback chairs off the reception hall are inviting to pass some time with a coffee and the papers. The adjoining billiard room, has a dartboard, and for the less competitive, a wall full of books.

Less formal meals can be taken tepenyaki style in the kitchen on stools around the central cooking island.

Room sizes throughout this home are generous, and all the bedrooms enjoy awesome views of the landscaped gardens, ‘The Stags’ and the sheltered bay. There is ample built in wardrobe space in each.

There is also a large sauna and walk through rainfall shower tower in the basement for complete pampering. The four fully tiled ensuite bathrooms are spacious, bright and well appointed.

A cobbled yard of beach stones and rough stone walled outbuildings, lead to a greenhouse laden with vegetables that spans its southern walls.

The garden consists of a generous 20 acres of rambling lawns, hedges, and woodland fern glade pathways, leading down to the pebble beach and pier.

There is an historic, if very small, holy well known as Saint Barrahane’s Well, within the grounds. The saint appears in a stained glass window in Castletownsend.

The house is equipped with everything you would expect from a luxury home – from Sauna to WiFi to barbeque, clothes dryer to microwave, piano, billiards, darts, books, games, DVDs. If you have a particular requirement, be sure to tell us.

• Catch a wave at Barleycove beach
• Cross the bridge to Mizen
• Fish off the Fastnet
• Roaring Water Bay by boat
• Catch up on history
• Great music on Sherkin Island
• Whale watching with Colin
• Dine locally at Mary Ann’s
• Play a round at Skibbereen
• A bowl of mussels in Bantry

• Trek a pony in Schull
• Cycle around Sheeps Head
• Go moonlight kayaking
• Yoga at an Sanctoir
• Dive off Baltimore

Annual festivals a-plenty include Traditional Irish music Festival, Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival, Skibbereen Food Festival, Cape Clear Storytelling, and many sailing events including Calves Week

The deep sheltered waters of Castlehaven Bay was the scene of the sinking of a small Spanish Armada in 1602 that subsequently led to a game-changing event in Irish history known as the Flight of the Earls.

West Cork is renowned for its long jagged peninsulas and deep bays – the last point of land visible to travellers from Great Britain and Ireland as they headed for America.

The climate is very mild, with moist Atlantic breezes warmed by the Gulf Stream that sweeps across from the Caribbean. Semi-tropical plants and palm trees are common in this region. Fuchsia abound and have become the unofficial emblem of West Cork.

Baltimore is perhaps Irelands most southern town. A 30 minute drive away, it is the terminal for ferries to Clear and Sherkin Islands. The town has a long tradition of wooden boat building.
Between 1880 and 1926 Baltimore was the largest fishing port in the country and 78 fishing vessels were registered locally.br By 1907, after the North Pier had been built, the fleet was so numerous that you could, it was said, walk to Sherkin across the decks of the boats! At one stage there were seven trains every day out of Baltimore, all carrying fish for the American market.

The Fastnet rock lies 19km to the south of Baltimore. Its lighthouse flashes once every five seconds, and has a range of 27 nautical miles.

Every second August, Rolex sponsor a yacht race from the Isle of Wight (UK) to the Fastnet and back, a distance of 700 miles. In 2013 the last boat to cross the line, a 101 year old gaff yawl, took 6 days, 6 hours, 31 minutes and 27 seconds to complete the course. In 1985, the lighthouse was struck by a rogue wave measuring about 157 feet (48 m) in height.

Cape Clear island is Ireland’s most southerly, and has a population of 120 Irish speaking persons. It’s a 45 minute boat trip from Baltimore or Schull. The island is 3 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. The islands remote location, coupled with its proximity to the continental shelf, makes it the foremost centre for bird watching in Ireland, boasting Ireland’s only manned observatory. Whale, leatherback turtle, sun fish and shark are spotted every year – dolphins constantly.