Entire home

Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay

Photo gallery for Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay

Exterior
Living area
Living area
Dining
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Durrus, Cork
  • Bantry Bay
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Bantry House
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Schull Harbour
    ‪27 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds and 1 Crib

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay

A charming old stone farmhouse nestled in a rocky hillside with views over Dumanus Bay. Cotton's Cottage has been in our family for about 50 years and is restored as a comfortable holiday home with typical cottage characteristics (traditional low ceilings and steep narrow stairs which give it a cosy atmosphere!)
A leafy lane leads to the fishing and farming village of Ahakista which lies at the centre of the Sheep's Head peninsular with its 200km walking route.
The real charm of the cottage is its tranquility and beautiful setting. For those looking for more activity there is something for the gourmet, the golfer, the cyclist, the surfer, the fisherman, the sailor, the gardener....in particular, the walker.

The ground floor has a sitting room with original inglenook fireplace leading to a semi open plan kitchen. In the next room there is a dining room with a utility area and shower room at the back and a back door.
Up to the first floor there are 2 staircases with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom each side. On one side there is a double room, a twin room and a bathroom and on the other side there are 2 twin rooms and a bathroom.
There are bay views from 3 of the 4 bedrooms. Please note one of the staircases is original, steep and narrow.
Heating is by panel heaters, paying for what you use.

Outsider there is a terrace overlooking the view and a garden leading down to a stream. The garden is semi enclosed.

Property manager

Charlie Cotton
Premier Host

Languages

English, French

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Ahakista

Located in Ahakista, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. Bere Island Heritage Centre and Catherine Hammond Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Kilravock Garden and Whyte Bookshop. Schull Planetarium and Issie's Handmade Chocolate are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with sailing and surfing/body boarding nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and cycling.
Map
Durrus, Cork

What's nearby

  • Bantry Bay - 14 min drive - 14.6 km
  • Bantry House - 19 min drive - 19.8 km
  • Schull Harbour - 27 min drive - 26.3 km
  • Garnish Island - 35 min drive - 38.5 km
  • Mizen Head - 39 min drive - 41.9 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Arundels by the Pier - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Eileens Bar - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The old creamery - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Gateway Café - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Heron Gallery Café - ‬9 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Dunmanus Bay and within 9 miles (15 km) of Kilravock Garden and Bantry Bay. Wolfe Tone Square and Bantry House are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 43 out of 59 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 59 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 59 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 59 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 59 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Anna O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfectly cosy
Exactly as described, cosy and well equipped (dryer in humid winter was a real plus). Bedrooms were great with comfy beds and spacious dining room. The fireplace worked really well.We had a lovely week in this magical place in west cork!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great trip
Thanks to Margaret and Annette for a lovely stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Don F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great base for exploring the Sheepshead
The cottage is very spacious, and comfortable, located close to wonderful walks and drives. Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Daragh R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Winter weekend break
Lovely property full of character.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Glen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great family break
Our second year staying here. Can’t recommend enough, beautiful cottage, great location. We’ll be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Matthias G.

A lovely place to relax
We spent a very relaxing week in this lovely cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Jan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We will come back
Ideally suited both as a cozy retreat and as a base for hiking or exploring the coast from Beara to Baltimore.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Isabelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our Christmas hideway.
The cottage is warm and cosy and located on the main hiking trails. It is a perfect location for hikers and the little village of Ahakista is lovely for swimming also. We had a great time, looking forward to experiencing it again in the summer as the landscape is breathtaking.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Craig S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
New Year's Eve at Charlie's
Had a wonderful stay on the Sheepshead Peninsula. Great walks and – naturally – pubs: Eileen's at Kilcrohane; Arundels by the Pier at Akhahista, where we celebrated our friend's birthday and partied on New Year's Eve; and Ma Murphy's in Bantry. The food at Arundels was delicious. We would love to come back and visit during the spring and summer and go to the Tin Pub, which is just down the road from the cottage.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mr
A beautiful quaint Irish cottage with fireplace, you couldn’t ask for more.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sheer bliss
We stepped back in time to a gentler pace of life in this idyllic cottage in a breathtakingly beautiful area. We had a warm welcome in the local bars and wonderful walks in the hills. Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nathan D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Ahakista
A great location on the sheep head peninsula! The traditional home is a perfect fit for a true Ireland experience. It is well maintained and very accommodating. The nearby pubs and people are a delight and there is excellent hiking and beautiful scenery all around! Very close to the hustle and bustle of Bantry and far enough a way to experience a country side of life as well. I would go back again and again to this lovely home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mr Terry Barry
It was absolutely brilliant on all fronts. Margaret and Anette were fantastic in setting the place up and being helpful with any requests. The owner Charlie Cotton was also brilliant in helping us. We loved our 3 week stay here. It was even better than our earlier 3 week stay at the Blairscove cottage at Dunmanus Pier prior to crossing Dunmanus Bay to Ahakista.
Stayed 21 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karl G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Secluded farmhouse full of character
We spent 3 nights in Ahakista and felt the property was exactly how described - a rustic farmhouse full of character and nicely restored. It’s is very spacious and as we went in February as soon as open fire got going very cosy. Two things to bear in mind - we went with our dog thinking we’d hike and walk everywhere but dogs are not allowed on sheep’s head. The other is everything is closed off season so cafés , restaurants, shops etc are very limited. We had decided to revisit glengariff woods , schull , Barleycove, crookhaven all within 40 minute drive.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Olive O.

Cosy
Great break away. Plenty space for all of us (Family of 5 and a dog) all very happy. Enough firewood left for our first night which was welcomed. Plenty to do in the area, lovely walks. The kids loved the small beach down by the tin shed. The tin shed was closed for the season but Arundels open and very pleasant. Plenty to do in the area. A visit to mizen head a must and Barleycove beech was just amazing. Went to Crookhaven for lunch and our little doggie was welcomed into the pub. Went to garnish island which I feel would have been amazing in the spring and summer when the plants would be seen in all their glory. Unfortunately some of the island was closed due to storm damage but the ferry over was special, we saw plenty of seals. The cottage was welcoming after a day of activities. Easy space to prepare meals and dining room offered a space where we discussed our days and plan the next. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017

4/10 Poor

matt s.

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Superb location good house for summer months .. expensive to heat
We loved that we had great access to lovely walking trails but felt on return the house was always cold . The sting of having to pay per unit of electricity was something I hadn’t expected when booking . No central heating but electric storage type heaters and immersion for water is not a very efficient use of electricity. The main let down for me was that I booked it expecting it to have a TV!!!! There is a small extremely old portable type tv in a locker that plays dvds .. ! This needs to be removed from amenities as it’s misleading . The owners might look into putting a cleaner burning stove in the big fireplace as I struggled with the air quality being asthmatic. I understand it’s an old house And it has some lovely charm but a few changes would make a world of difference. Access to beach is 750m not 200m . This also needs to be changed on amenities .
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Klaudia K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tolle Unterkunft
Wer Nostalgie mag, ist bei dieser Unterkunft genau richtig. Tolles Haus in super Lage. Wir haben unseren Aufenthalt sehr genossen. Gerne wieder
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

ANGELA M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 14 nights in May 2024

4/10 Poor

Elisabeth F.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Margita H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charmantes Cottage
Wir ware für eine Hochzeit aif Sheepshead. Das Cottage war genau richtig für uns. Das Haus hat alles was man für einen Urlaub in Irland braucht.
Stayed 14 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Herbert B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very authenic
Fast wie ein Museum der offene Kamin. Sehr authentisch. Sehr schon ist der Steinkreis nur ein paar hundert Meter entfernt. Die Elektro - Installationen sind gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber ok.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Jürgen W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Neat Stone Cottage
Quiet and scenic location, it offers relaxation and recreation. Also beautiful walks are possible. Very nice contact Ruhig und landschaftlich herrlich gelegen, bietet es Entspannung und Erholung. Auch schöne Wandern sind möglich. Sehr netter Kontakt
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexander P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Alles bestens
Gemütlich, großzügig, tolle Lage, alles bestens.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

April S., Fort Gratiot, Michigan, USA

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming cottage
Our stay in the cottage was what I had hoped for. I loved waking up to cows mooing! Unfortunately my husband nearly had a nervous breakdown dealing with the roads.
Stayed 27 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bridget O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful week
We had a wonderfully peaceful week in this cottage. Loved the location and the view from the front.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Charlie Cotton

Host profile image
Cotton's Cottage, an old farmhouse, was acquired in the 1960's by my parents and now 4 generations of the Cotton family have enjoyed holidays there, particularly appreciating the peaceful and tranquil setting.
It holds a special place for our family today as it was where I proposed to my wife and where, by coincidence, we twice discovered we were expecting a child. It has been lovely to see the children grow up, visit on their own as young adults and then return with future generations.

Why they chose this property

The south west of Ireland is special for the fingers of land pushing out towards the Atlantic and the sheltered bays they create. We are at the centre of the Sheep's Head peninsular which overlooks Dunmanus Bay and on the other side of the hill, Bantry Bay. The Cottage is an old farmhouse which has been restored as a holiday home, nestling into the rocky hillside.
The Sheep's Head Way, a 200km walking route, passes the end of the lane.

What makes this property unique

The peace and tranquility at this cosy Cottage never fails to soothe. You can just sit and look at the water in Dunmanus Bay, every time the view looks different and special or walk a little bit of the Sheep's Head Way, the 200km walking route which passes your door.
As Seamus Heaney wrote of this area 'water and ground in their extremity' or as we say in the family 'next stop america....

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests