Cosy Riverstick cottage is a lot bigger than you might think

YOU might peg this near-Kinsale property for a sweet little country cottage, and while it did start out like that, it's now a 195 sq m home.

 Extended by previous owners, it's gone from a two-up-two-down house to a four-bed, with a lovely sitting room with feature brick wall in the original house, as well as a downstairs bedroom (currently a home office).

 Overhead is the main en suite bedroom and walk-in wardrobe.

The rear extension hosts two more bedrooms and the main living space: an open-plan kitchen-dining-cum-lounge, with cosy wood burning stove and French doors to a patio.

It's a bright, spacious home, in the countryside with views to prove it, but well-connected. 

Riverstick village a five minute drive away, and from there, a new West Cork Connects bus runs to UCC and MTU daily on its way to Cork City and to Kinsale. Innishannon, Bandon and Cork Airport are with a 10 minute radius. Bishopstown and Wilton are 15 minutes by car. 

Selling the Shanavally, Ballymartle house is Ron Krueger of Engel & Voelkers and he highlights the terrific site size - 1.2 acres of mature garden with large lawn areas, patios, plenty of parking - and scope to expand further.

“It’s a gorgeous site. The garden is a great opportunity for any gardening enthusiast. And there’s potential too for further extension, subject to planning consent”, he says.

Enquiries to date include overseas buyers interested in the cottage as a holiday home, but with the intention of retiring there eventually. Families in the area trading up are enquiring too.

The guide is €575,000.

VERDICT: Cosy home on fine site, with bucolic views, Not too remote.