Bungalow on 0.8 acres with lake to the front and beach to the rear

HOWTH: €4MA HOUSE with its own lake, albeit a small one, is not something usually associated with a property in Howth. But while homes in the Dublin coastal suburb enjoy proximity to the sea, spectacular cliff walks and a picturesque harbour, The Lake House, 6 Claremont Road, Howth, Co Dublin, goes one further and has a small lake to its front and the joys of direct access to Burrow Beach to the rear.

Claremont Road is secluded and very leafy. The Lake House was built by the vendor 25 years ago on land beside what had been the family home for 30 years before that. The vendor, with the knowledge of 55 years living on Claremont Road behind her, says: "It hasn't changed, not really, and the beach hasn't changed at all, although I do think people come out to Howth more these days from the city. There are eels and fish, such as mullet, in the lake and the land around the house goes down to the high water mark."

The lake has had quite a place in Howth's history. Time was, in a period up to the mid-20th century, when it was known as Higgy's Pond and filled with boats every winter. This had to do with FW Higginsbottom, founder member of Howth Motor Yacht club and the "entertaining little club" he ran at the time.

The Lake House is a bungalow with 173sq m (1,862sq ft), five bedrooms, two reception rooms and kitchen/livingroom. In need of updating, it is on a site of 0.8 acres which includes the lake, access to Burrow Beach, gardens with old rose bushes and mature trees lining a gravelled driveway to the front entrance. The price is €4m and Sherry FitzGerald is looking after the private treaty sale.

A new owner will most likely extend or redevelop The Lake House in which, in traditional single-storey bungalow style, the bedrooms are off a longish corridor. Two have nice lake views and one is en suite.

The kitchen/livingroom has three windows overlooking the lake as well as a glass door giving similar views. A sittingroom with white tiled floor has extensive lake and garden views as well as a white tiled fireplace. The sunroom doubles as a storage area and main entrance.

The Lake House, 6 Claremont Road, Howth, Co Dublin

Five-bed on 0.8 acres with a lake to the front and beach to the rear.

Agent: Sherry FitzGerald