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something different
The great escape: Eco-friendly West Cork hideaway with its own secret passage for €530k
Honeycomb House is packed with unusual features.
TUCKED AWAY ON an impressive 60 acres of grounds in West Cork, Honeycomb House is a truly remarkable property.
Set within the Derryduff Estate, four-bed Honeycomb House includes one-bed Honeypot Annex, and is on the market for €530,000 through Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill.
Both properties are carbon neutral and benefit from an abundance of energy efficient features, including geothermal underfloor heating, in-wall heating and window glazing which reflects infrared heat back into the house.
The 2,400 sq ft residence is nestled among 60 acres of low hill terrain, including 20 acres which are planted with native forestry, making for a highly private and secluded place to call ‘home’.
The grounds are rich in variety, with a multitude of planted garden areas, seating areas, vegetable plots and natural habitats, while fresh water is sourced from a mountain spring.
Complementing its surroundings, the house is constructed in a timber frame and the external walls are clad in wood over the insulation.
Honeycomb House is a one-of-a-kind property, and features a colourful and quirky interior that wouldn’t look out of place in a fairytale. The accommodation includes an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, which is arranged around a tree trunk in the centre. Another focal point of the room is the fireplace, which is part of a contoured hearth design.
A bright sunroom is accessed from the kitchen, while a bedroom and a TV room/bedroom complete the ground floor accommodation.
Moving upstairs, a spiral staircase with a chestnut tree trunk leads to the master bedroom and its adjoining lounge area. There’s a magnificent heart-shaped fireplace and a stained glass window in here, as well as access to a large balcony. At mezzanine level, there’s a double bedroom with panoramic views of the picturesque surroundings.
Moving to Honeypot Annex via a secret passageway on the ground floor, this area of the property works both on its own and as part of the main accommodation. The annex has a slightly more modern feel, and includes a spacious open plan kitchen and living area. A double bedroom and bathroom is also located at this level, while a gallery area at mezzanine level features a studio/home office.
With such a remote location as its address, Honeycomb House enjoys a great sense of serenity and solitude. For days you’re required to leave the 60 acres and go further afield, Ballylickey village is a 15-minute drive away, while Bantry can be reached in 20 minutes.
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