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something different
Days by the lake, evenings in the gazebo: Light-filled country house in glorious west Cork
Abbey Farmhouse in Skibbereen is on sale for €845,000.
FOR ANYONE WITH a penchant for fresh, local produce, wild Atlantic coastlines, and summers spent hiking, biking and enjoying pints in one of west Cork’s many charming villages, Abbey Farmhouse is an eye-catching proposition.
What makes this property really unique is the small lake centerpiece that’s accessed by bridge. On it sits a gazebo that’s even hooked up to electricity.
A period home sitting on about 2.7 acres, Abbey Farmhouse is just a mile from the busy town of Skibbereen – home to country markets and Olympic rowers.
The house enjoys great privacy seeing as it’s surrounded with gardens that also benefit from sunny south west views over the Ilen Valley.
Spread over two floors, upon entering you’re greeted by eye-catching vaulted ceilings. Off the hall lies the drawing room with dual aspect – look out for views of the front garden and lake, look up and you see a double height beamed ceiling.
There’s also a stone surround raised fireplace, oak hardwood flooring and double doors that lead to the courtyard area, which was recently refurbished in Yorkshire sandstone.
On to the kitchen and you’ll find modern units and appliances along with a solid fuel Dover stove, for the perfect combo of old and new.
Just off the kitchen is the sitting room with an open fireplace, but the ground floor doesn’t end here. A western wing attached to the house includes a TV room, a bedroom with an en suite bathroom, a garden room with an access door to the yard, and a bedroom suite on the first floor.
Two of the bedrooms at Abbey Farmhouse are downstairs, and a trip upstairs will lead you to two more. Here you’ll also find a generously-sized family bathroom with a walk-in shower.
A big draw for any potential buyer is that the house has been recently re-roofed, re-plumbed and re-wired. Add this to the oil fire central heating, solid fuel stoves and double glazed windows and funds for any renovation work may not need to be too high.
For those with green fingers, the grounds are laid out in lawn, formal gardens, a vegetable garden and a greenhouse that has its own electricity and water supply.
There are also outbuildings and a barn, which have their own access and provide ample storage. An insulated store would make an ideal studio or recreational space.
Cork city is 1.5 hours away, making this a great option for the hybrid worker who wants a unique home in one of the most picturesque places in Ireland.
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