Pools and fine views: Tuscany comes to Wexford

Two homes outside Wexford town, one with a pool and distant views of the Saltee Islands, the other by the Carrig River, have a Continental flavour. Kate McMorrow on a refurbished farmhouse on five acres, and a riverside guest-house.

Wexford town €825,000: A Victorian farmhouse near Wexford town with five acres, stables and a swimming pool could appeal to a family wanting to move away from city life.

Property Partners John Corish is quoting €825,000 by private treaty for Forest Lodge, Barntown, off the New Ross Road and a few miles from Wexford town.

The five-bedroom house has been completely renovated by the current owners, who installed the Mediterranean-style outdoor pool and entertainment area.

The decking came from the steps of the old cattle mart in nearby Tagmon. From here, you can glimpse the Saltee Islands across the rolling countryside.

Forest Lodge is believed to have been built by a Dublin industrialist for his ailing daughter, then passed into ownership of the Diocese of Ferns and housed the parish priest for decades.

The current owners have faithfully refurbished and restored the house over their 15-year stewardship, rewiring, plumbing, damp-proofing and installing new kitchen and bathrooms. The gardens have received much attention and the carefully clipped flowering shrubs are a delight.

A sun lounge enters into a chequer-tiled inner hall , with sittingroom and diningroom looking out to the front. The cast- iron and marble sittingroom fireplace is original.

There is also a family room with bookshelves which links with the diningroom.

A breakfastroom has a tiled floor and shelves for plates. The cherry kitchen installed a year ago has a satisfying country look, with its flagged floor and tall window.

Off this is a utility room and shower room.

Off the half-landing are a guest bedroom and the family bathroom.

Two good double bedrooms on the first floor have wash-hand basins and another two doubles are at the top of the house. All five bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and the largest room includes a walk-in dressingroom.

Outside, the grounds are divided into separate purposes, with well-tended lawns, rockeries and shrubberies, the pool area with flower beds and decking and a small orchard and paddocks.

A haggard with outbuildings includes two stables, tack room and open barns. Beyond this is the balance of land, laid out in two divisions. In another yard area at the side of the house are a car port, workshop and two lofted stables with slate roofs.

Ferrycarrig €900,000

A guest house on the outskirts of Wexford town has come the market with Sherry FitzGerald O'Leary, which is quoting an AMV of €900,000 prior to auction on November 2nd.

Picturesque, meticulously kept and with a long list of repeat guests, Ferrycarrig Lodge fronts onto the Carrig River on Ferrycarrig Road and has its own boat landing stage for jaunts down the river.

Six of the eight bedrooms are en suite and there is a two-bedroom owner's apartment at garden level.

Pitch pine, cut stone and cedarwood salvaged from the old bridge over the Slaney was used in the building of the lodge, which stands on .75 acres of sylvan gardens. The house is known locally as 'the house built from the old bridge'.

The front door opens to a wood-floored hallway and from there to a family room with cast-iron fireplace.

Another door leads to a huge sun room/breakfastroom with beamed ceiling and double doors to a dining terrace with river views.

The guest sittingroom has polished wood floorboards and an open fireplace.

A hall return leads to a large en suite guest bedroom opening to a decked terrace. Another two en suite bedoroms are on the ground floor. Off the first floor are five further bedrooms, three en suite, and a shower room. All are decorated in traditional country style to suit the surroundings. The owner's apartment beneath the verandah includes a kitchen, sittingroom, two bedrooms and shower room.

Part of the guest house's undoubted charm are its pretty gardens, protected by tall planting and with a path running down through flower beds to the Carrig, a tributary of the River Slaney.

The entrance to Ferrycarrig Lodge is via a tree-lined drive opening onto a broad forecourt with parking for guest cars.

While the guest house business is well-established and an ideal home income, Ferrycarrig Lodge would also serve as a substantial family home within reach of the town.