On the waterfront: from Lough Dan to Dalkey, by lake and by sea

Co Wicklow: €1.85mWhether it's a cottage by a hidden lake in the Wicklow hills or suburban houses by the sea, homes by water command top prices

Generations of walkers know Lough Dan, not far from Roundwood in the Wicklow mountains: from the main road, the lake nestles in a valley close by Garech Browne's Luggala estate on neighbouring Lough Tay.

It's a scenic protected area with little room for new development, but a property on the private lake now for sale has potential for expansion.

A traditional two-bedroom cottage overlooking Lough Dan is one of two lots being sold through agent Colliers Jackson-Stops for over €1.5 million. A second lot, comprising a right of way to one plot of land and another plot on the lakeshore add up to around another three-quarters of an acre: it is for sale with a price tag of €350,000.

The 50sq m (538sq ft) cottage, rebuilt three years ago, has a livingroom/kitchen, bedroom, shower room and an open loft bedroom.

It comes with an original stone barn which has a right of way to the lakeshore and private access to the lake.

New owners would almost certainly not get permission to build on the land on the lakeshore - Wicklow planning regulations are very strict on lakeside developments.

But there is potential to expand the existing cottage, subject to planning. The current owners are retaining part of their land.

You would however get permission to temporarily park a caravan on the lakshore site.

There is very little development on the lake, which lies close to the Wicklow Way.

The Irish Scouts organisation, scouting Ireland, has a campsite on the lake, and there is a guest-house overlookign the lake catering for hillwalkers.

In the 19th century, there was a mine nearby and a mining village, the remains of which at one end of the lake.

Bray: €1.25m

One of the Victorian townhouses on the promenade in Bray has come on the market asking €1.25 million through H J Byrne.

Number 2 Fontenoy Terrace on Strand Road is a pretty two-storey house just a few doors away from the Bray Head Hotel, a stone's throw from the pebbled beach.

It's a four-bedroom house with valuable off-street parking as well as a long front garden, and a split level town garden behind.

The total floor area is 139sq m (1,500sq ft) which includes two reception rooms - a big bright livingroom overlooking the sea, and a morningroom to the rear. Both are well-proportioned rooms with original fireplaces.

The kitchen-cum-diningroom is warmed by a Rayburn cooker while the units are antiqued pine. Light filters through a tall sash window that gives a views over the back garden.

The first of the bedrooms is on the return, between the ground and first floors, where there is also a small study that could be converted to an en suite bathroom. The three remaining bedrooms are upstairs leading off a bright landing.

New owners can leave the car behind as the Dart and shops are within easy reach while there is access to Bray Head and its cliff walk close by.

Dalkey: €1.1m

A three-bedroom apartment with spectacular sea views over Dalkey Sound has just come on the market through Douglas Newman Good at €1.1 million. Number 4, Berwick Hall on Coliemore Road is a spacious 84sq m (900sq ft) apartment on the first floor of the building which looks out over Dalkey Island and catches the sun all day long from its three different balconies.

Berwick House is a small scheme of just six apartments built in the mid-1990s. Resales are relatively rare, which is understandable given its terrific location. It's an ideal trade-down home with plenty of living space and designated parking.

The apartment is centred on a superb 21ft livingroom with French doors opening onto a balcony that looks directly out to sea and over Jim Sheridan's ultra modern seafront house, which is on the market at €8 million.

There is a second balcony leading off this room, and this connects to the kitchen, a good-sized room with space for a table and chairs. The third balcony is a sizeable one leading off a double bedroom at the back of the scheme.

The main bedroom has an en suite shower room and there's a family bathroom that, like the bedrooms, has built-in storage.