Stewards Cottage

A magical setting of Ancient Oak and Beech

County Waterford

This elfin cottage cloistered above the woods – just one of three – on an historic Tay valley demesne, introduces unique opportunities for exploring the beaches and headlands of Ireland’s Copper Coast, hill-walking in the Comeragh Mountains, or just rambling around a magnificent estate.

Comfortable, Compact and Cherished

Most of the rooms radiate from the warm entrance lobby in this practical and cosy cottage. The sitting room is gracious and informal with built in units of alabaster shelving around an open log hearth. Contemporary patio doors encourage you out to a sheltered gravel terrace.

The bright kitchen, doubling as a dining room, occupies one end of the house. Modelled in a simple rustic style with a wood burning stove – though the cottage is never cold, there’s lots of fuel available from the estate.

For occasional reading, bridge games, or Monopoly there is the green room, across the tiles of the entrance lobby.

Terracotta red cabinets and vibrant parrot blinds bring strong accents of colour to the ivory white interior.

The utility room and boot lobby are off one side of the kitchen while cottage stairs rise from the other end to a dreamy double bedroom in the loft. Understated, with traditional furniture and floral fabrics, typical of the restrained decor throughout this home.

The house is equipped with everything you would expect from a five star home. An Eco friendly air source heat pump provides the central heating. If you have a particular requirement, be sure to tell us…

Facilities & Ameneties

Kitchen Appliances

• Electric Oven
• 4 ring electric induction Hob
• Fridge
• Wine Cooler
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Coffee machine
• Toaster

Utility Appliances

• Washing machine
• Clothes Dryer
• Iron

Bedrooms

• 1 Super King Size bed (180cm)
• 2 single beds
• Hair dryer

Tech & Entertainment

• Good Wi-Fi Internet
• Mobile phone coverage is patchy
• Flat screen smart TV
• with Sky Sports
• DVD player

Other stuff

• Good selection of books
• Good selection of board games
• Some DVD movies
• Bicycles available (book in advance)
• Babies High Chair

A second cobalt-coloured twin bedroom, with views beyond the rolling fields, lies opposite the bathroom to the left of the main entrance.

Outside

The house occupies an elevated site with its own entrance on the historic Woodhouse Estate which ranges for 340 acres West Stradbally village and is bisected by the meandering river Tay. 156 acres of woodland comprising of more than 150,000 trees – some dating back to the mid 18th century – are waiting to be explored either by foot or on cycle tracks.

The owners retain the eponymous Georgian mansion at the centre of this private estate, but visitors are free to enjoy the elegant walled garden, impeccably reproduced Victorian glasshouse, and paddocks of grazing red deer.

Stradbally Cove with its sheltered sandy beach is across the road from the East gates.
Please enquire about fishing rights or other activities on the estate.

Restrictions

Smoking – No, sorry!
Parties – The owners regret Stag, Hen, Wedding or 21st parties are not admissible.
Children – Parts of the property may not suitable for young children, please check with us.

Provisional Booking Form

This Home is normally only let by the week, except in low season as follows:
Mid-week bookings run from Monday PM till Friday AM – 4 nights
Weekend breaks run from Friday PM till Monday AM – 3 nights
Important – A Week’s booking runs from Saturday to Saturday

Please note: Easter Dates are at high season rates -€1,200

Christmas 5 night stay from Thursday 23rd December to Tuesday 28th December.
-€930

New Year 5 night stay from Wednesday 29th December to Monday 3rd January.
-€930

October 23rd to 30th at High Season’s Rates:
-€1,200

May to September	€1,200 per week	Weekend €600	Mid-week €600
October to April	€1,075 per week	Weekend €500	Mid-week €500

Select your Dates

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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 have just arrived back

…from our lovely break in the south.
We wish to extend our sincere thanks to you, the Thompson family and all of the team at Woodhouse Estate for such a fabulous stay.
Stewards Cottage was beautiful, exceptionally well equipped and immaculate (congratulations to your cleaning staff). The estate is fabulous (even in the rain) and playhouse was a real hit with our children!
We hope to get a chance to stay with you again soon.

Helena and Alan, August 2020

We had an amazing time in Stradbally earlier this month.

It was our first time using the website and while it obviously all looked very high spec, we were pleasantly astounded by just how nice it was. And also, how helpful June and Ted were and were always on hand if we had any questions.
The cottage was both homely and elegant and was a pleasure to stay in and come back to after a day out and about.
We will definitely be in touch again for Steward’s cottage and others. Thank you for helping us to have such a lovely holiday.

Shane & Jenny, July 2020

We had a fabulous week in Stradbally…

Cathy gave us a very warm welcome when we arrived. The cottage was very comfortable & lovely touches like fresh flowers & freshly baked scones on the table – well what more can you ask for.
We were blown away by the whole estate, I don’t believe there is enough focus on that on the website. It was a wonderful surprise to discover the beautiful surroundings and particularly the walled garden. Stunning! The location is just second to none & we spent the week exploring all the lovely beaches & coves along the copper coast. We can’t wait to return to stay in the gatekeepers cottage next time!

Julie & Robin Brammar, August 2016

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We stayed at Stewart’s cottage in Woodhouse.

We had a fabulous holiday. The Cottage was only beautiful.
We needed nothing…
Everything was provided.The Cottage was and the care and attention to detail was exceptional.
The grounds and walled garden were spectacular.

Well done to everyone.
-Susan, 2021

We returned from Stewards Cottage last Sunday

after spending 4 nights in what can only be described as an absolutely wonderful and truly magical place to stay. June welcomed us and guided us through the cottage and the grounds. The cottage itself was excellent with everything you could possibly need but also beautifully decorated giving it a homely and welcoming feel. It is perfectly located to discover the copper coast, cycle the greenway and enjoy the culinary delights of the surrounding towns and villages.
The hidden surprise and treasure was Woodhouse and the grounds of Woodhouse. It was a privilege to be afforded to stay in such a wonderful place, roam the grounds, enjoy the walled garden, fish in the river, stroll the cove, for the kids to play in the place house and to learn of the history of Woodhouse in the museum. In this I discovered an ancestry connection with my maternal grandmother to the owners of Woodhouse in the 1700’s. Marianna kindly spent time with me going through the family history and we are going to stay in touch to delve further into the family connection.
We will definitely be returning to Woodhouse and we most certainly will be using UIH for all our staycations. I have already recommended both Woodhouse and UIH to family and friends. Thank you for all your assistance.

Caroline Long, August 2020

Out & About

This stretch of Southern Coastline known as the Copper Coast, just buzzes with undiscovered gems We just can’t list them all, so here are a few of our favourites…

For unique ways to experience the hidden gems on the Copper Coast we recommend you contact Waterford Camino Tours

Here are some of our favourites…

Paddle around in Kayaks
Munch a lunch in the Tannery
Music and a pint at the Local
Trek a pony on the Copper Coast
Golf the Gold Coast links
Cycle a stretch of the Waterford Greenway
Catch something serious in the ocean
Hill walk the Comeraghs
Sample some glass with class
Visit Reginald’s Viking tower

The Locality

The tranquil village of Stradbally – Gold Medal Winner in the Tidy Towns 2019 awards – is a short walk out of the estate, and has a grocery shop and a couple of pubs, but for a full range of shops, Dungarvan is a 15 minute drive along the coast and is your best bet.

Above Stradbally, there is the substantial ruin of the largest medieval church in rural Ireland. It contains a fortified presbytery, probably built for protection during the disputes between the Powers and Fitzgeralds, whose boundary lands ran through the area.

Mahon Falls is a dramatic 80m waterfall nestled in the Comeragh Mountains surrounded by breathtaking scenery. There is a car park near Lemybrien 15 minutes away from the house with a not too strenuous hike thereafter, so don’t miss it.

Road Bowling is a traditional and popular local sport that requires hours of practice and technique to master. 28oz steel balls are rolled in turn for just over a mile along bendy roads from Fenor to Annestown.

photo – euheritagedays

About half an hour away, the magnificent Lismore Castle with its long and distinguished history, has splendid gardens open to the public during the summer months, and compelling cultural events are held in the town throughout the year.

They’re mad about cycling in Dungarvan, and it was here that the first cycling club in Ireland was founded in 1869. The local club went on to win the first ever bike race in the British Isles. They still have the cup to prove it.
Here too you will find King John’s Castle, an Anglo-Norman fortification ( 1185) would have originally been entered by drawbridge. It is undergoing reconstruction but there are guided tours, an audio-visual show and exhibitions during the summer season.

This region known as the Copper Coast gets its name from the copper mines that were active in the 19th century. It is a sometimes stormy shoreline that has more than its fair share of ship wrecks.

Tramore is about 35 minutes away, and is a popular resort for tourists in the summer. It has a 5km beach, sand dunes looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, and a well deserved reputation for surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Clonea Strand is much closer; one of the finest blue flag beaches in the region, and also has a growing reputation as a good surfing beach.

Waterford, about 45 minutes away, is Ireland’s oldest city. Originally a Viking settlement, it is now a major port with much to see and do. Glass, or crystal, was manufactured in the city from 1783 until early 2009, when the factory there was eventually shut down. There is a great annual Viking marathon in June.

How to get there – Car advised…

By Air: Flights to Cork Airport, Waterford or Dublin.
Cork Airport – approx 1.5 hours from house.
Dublin Airport – approx 2.5 hours from house.
Waterford Airport – approx 1 hours from house.

By Sea: Ferry crossings from Pembroke/Fishguard to Rosslare.
Stena Express – 120 mins (summer only from Fishguard)
Rosslare Port is approx 1.5 hours from house
Dublin City Port/Holyhead has a fast crossing and is approx 2.5 hours from house