Sandbrook House
A slow-burning mix of country luxury
Book this homeCounty Carlow
An inviting and elegant home, this substantial 300 year old Queen Anne style country house, set in twenty five acres of mature parkland, makes the perfect setting to share memorable family gatherings, celebrations or corporate retreats.
Within easy reach of Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford and the sunny south-east, Sandbrook House makes a totally unique escape.
Relaxed in character and style
As if the archetypically straight avenue isn’t classical enough, the gleaming white panelled entrance hall with its elaborate mouldings, and a guestbook touting entries from 1929, confirms you’re arriving somewhere slightly baroque and enduringly special.
There are four other lofty reception rooms spanning the core of Sandbrook House, and all of them ooze eclectic charm. In the sitting room, on the left, we find the TV and a contemporary wood-burning stove imbedded in the first of a series of white marble mantles.
Once a music room at the end of the house, the drawing room has a few reminders, including a baby grand piano. A majlis style daybed fills the arched bay window that extends onto a covered barbecue veranda.
AT A GLANCE
- Sleeps
Up to 23 guests
From €9,900 per week
Or €5,000 for a weekend - Bedrooms
Five double bedrooms
One ensuite with bath and shower
Two family quad bedrooms
One single bedroom - Bathrooms
Four plus shower room - Other Rooms
Entrance Hall
Drawing room, Sitting room, Library, Dining room
Kitchen, Catering kitchen
Laundry, Pantry, guest wc - Apartment
Open plan Living/kitchen/dining room
Double bedroom plus Twin
Family bathroom
Separate stairs - Features
Covered veranda with gas BBQ
Equine Livery boxes available - Contempo
3 Flat screen TVs, DVD player, WiFi internet
Sonos sound system ground floor & master suite
Good Cell phone reception - Availability
Weekly: Saturday to Saturday
Weekends: Friday to Monday
Midweek: Monday to Friday
Facilities & Ameneties
Kitchen Appliances
• Aga range, plus
• Multiple appliances and catering equipment
• Multiple laundry appliances
Bedrooms
• Sizes – Five double beds, one King-size and 11 single beds
• 3 Hairdryers
Tech & Entertainment
• Wi-Fi Internet
• 3 Flat-screen TVs
• DVD player
• Sonos sound system across ground floor & master suite
Other
• Huge selection of books
• Children’s high chair
• Livery stables available
• Gas Barbeque
• Croquet lawn
• Chef available
This covered terrace overlooking the croquet lawn, is furnished with a long rustic table, and accessed from both reception rooms, is equally perfect for afternoon tea, barbeques or sundowners.
The décor throughout is an idiosyncratic blend of antique furniture and contemporary art, with a smattering of collected memories from foreign travels.
Rugs from Iran thrown across traditional sisal carpets, while little brass men perch in precarious poses.
There is a comprehensive selection of books to be read, not all of them in the library at the other side of the hall.
Elegant and cosy, with another roaring fire in another classic white marble hearth.
A wireless Sonos sound system allows your favourite music to follow through the ground floor rooms, today’s essential companion when entertaining.
Beyond the library, there is a formal dining room. Resplendent gold walls, full length drapes, a blazing log fire, and a mahogany table surrounded by faux Chippendale chairs, before you even get to the starters…
The large family kitchen abuts on to the house at the rear, with a door onto the huge lawn which reveals uninterrupted views of Mount Leinster. It is country style, with tall windows, a four oven Aga range, and a substantial rustic table in the centre.
For more comprehensive cooking the adjacent catering kitchen has more of everything from freezers to microwaves.
There is also a separate pantry and a busy laundry room contiguous.
Bedrooms
There are five double bedrooms on the first floor each with its own unique character, and each with an idyllic pastoral view. The spacious master suite has a relaxed seating area, and an integral dressing room, with an ensuite embracing both slipper bath and walk-in shower.
Four shared bathrooms plus a shower room are distributed across the landing, and all the bedrooms have wash hand basins.
The dormer floor at the top of the house is given over to family accommodation. There are two large dorm style bedrooms, each with four single beds – ever popular with the younger ones! A single bedroom with ocular view separates them.
Floor Plans
Self-contained apartment
Annexed to one end of the first floor there is a separate and commodious apartment. It comes with its own open plan living area and kitchen, a double bedroom and a twin, and a family bathroom. It can also be accessed from a dedicated back stairs.
Outside
The house is sits on 25 acres, surrounded by paddocks and mature trees. The sunny south facing croquet lawn is overlooked by an exceptional all-weather veranda.
A number of the original out buildings are undergoing renovation. If you’re a horsey sort, you could bring a couple of animals to Sandbrook – the estate has its own stables and dry arena, and there’s plenty of riding space.
Restrictions
Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag, Hen, or 21st parties are not admissible.
Children – As with all traditional country properties we would urge caution with young children in an unfamiliar environment.
Pets – Well mannered and polite dogs are accepted downstairs only.
Provisional Booking Form
This Home is normally only let by the week, except as follows:
Mid-week bookings run from Tuesday PM till Friday AM – 3 nights
Weekend breaks run from Friday PM till Monday AM – 3 nights
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday.
Holidays’ Dates for 2023 are priced as following:
Easter Weekend 7th- 10th April 2023 – €9,900
Halloween 27th- 1st October 2023– €9,900
Christmas 23rd to the 28th Dec 2023 –€9,900
New Years’ 30th December 2023 to the 2nd January 2024 -€9,900
Important – A refundable breakages deposit of €600 is payable with the rent, this will be refunded within 7 days of depature, provided all is in order.
| All Year | €9,900 per week | Weekend €5,000 | Mid-week €4,800 |
|---|
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Your travel arrangements are important, so all provisional bookings are double checked with the owners to ensure that your plans do not conflict with theirs, this can take up to 24 hours, but we haven’t forgotten about you.!
Provisional bookings will be followed up by email, at which point we can answer specific queries you may have, verify your booking and request a deposit to confirm.
Please note that all unconfirmed provisional bookings will expire after 3 days.
If your preferred dates are not available, please click here to review all houses that match your dates.
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Reviews
We booked Sandbrook House…
for a special birthday celebration few days and we were blown away by the comfort, spaciousness and ambiance of the house. The interior of the house is both beautiful and practical. Perfect for our whole family – from 3 to 80 years old. It served the purpose so well with lovely reception rooms and cosy but generous kitchen for a family gathering.
We stayed in Winter so the house came into its own with lovely fires in the lounges and dining room. Not to mention the gorgeous Christmas tree in the entrance hall. Jackie the house manager was extremely helpful as was John the recommended chef who provided dinner for us.
All in all, we were so delighted with our choice of venue as were our guests who all want to return. I could go on and on – giant bath tubs, books and board games in the lounge, sonos system throughout the house. Quite simply lovely, relaxing place to spend a few days in the countryside and just an hour from Dublin.
Marjory Cleary, 2018
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Out & About
photo Adrian Farwell
Here are some of our favourites…
- Visit Huntingdon’sTemple of Isis
- Garden lovers check out Altamont
- Play a round at Mount Juliet
- Dine out at Sharoe
- A Lazy lunch at the Green Barn
- Sink a hole in one at Mount Wolseley
- Fish up some trout at Rathcon
- Try shooting at Coolattin
- Go racing at the Curragh
- Back a horse at Gowran
- Pick a winner at Punchestown
- Enjoy some Carlow culture
- Go paddling on the Barrow
- Browse quirky in the Old Yard
- Go golfing in Bunclody
- Stock up at Tinahely Farm Shop
Try one of the numerous local Festivals:
- Carlow Arts Festival in June
- Borris Festival of Writing & Ideas in June
- Kilkenomics in November
- Savour Kilkenny in October
The Locality
Carlow town was the country’s capital in the 1300’s but it’s probably best known as home of the nation’s 4th most popular Institute of Technology.
Just east of Carlow Town, Browne’s Hill Dolmen is regarded by many as one of the foremost prehistoric monuments in Ireland. Its burial chamber roof is certainly one of the heaviest in Europe at about 100 tons.
photo Kevin Higgins
Carlow Castle is a popular 13th century attraction. An attempt by a doctor in the 1800’s to convert the stone castle into an insane asylum destroyed most of the castle, however the two remaining towers demonstrate what an impressive construction it had been.
The vibrant medieval city of Kilkenny is a short drive, with its fine cathedral, and thirteenth-century Castle, which was principal residence of the Butler family for over 600 years, and well-known design and craft heritage. The city is renowned as an arts and crafts centre and is well served by restaurants and festivals.
photo Artur Koziol
A long-distance walking trail known as The Barrow Way which follows the original towpath of the river for 114 kilometres, and would take approximately 4 days to cover on foot, though cycling is permitted. It is one of Ireland’s most scenic long distance trails but remains largely undiscovered.
Click here for more information on Ireland’s Ancient East
As mentioned elsewhere, the region is spoiled for fine golf courses within a short distance of Sandbrook. If you enjoy a spot of leisurely fly fishing, Rathcon Lake is well stocked with top quality rainbow trout. The lake is designed so that 90% of the water is coverable from the bank. Rods and tackle are available for hire.
photo Mount Wolseley Resort
How to get there – Car advised…
By Air: Flights to Dublin, Belfast or Shannon airports.
Dublin Airport – about 1 and a half hours from the house.
Cork Airport – Just under 3 hours from the house.
Shannon Airport – under 2 and half hours from the house.
By Sea: Ferry crossings
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and about 1 and a half hours from the house.
Rosslare Harbour for Ferries to South Wales is about an hour from the house.
Map
Gallery
