Georgian house near mountains has spectacular informal gardens

Glenleigh, a medium-sized Georgian house at Clogheen, Co Tipperary, which has one of the most spectacular informal gardens in Munster, is expected to make in the region of £695,000 when sold by private treaty through joint agents Ganly Walters and Michael Daniels. It stands on 34 acres beside the lovely rural village of Clogheen.

Over the years, many people have come to see Glenleigh's 12-acre garden which is sheltered by Scots pines, oaks and beeches at the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains. With a mountain brook and a stream running through it, this is a perfect setting for water-loving plants such as Candelabra primula, Irises and Arums. A wonderful collection of rhododendrons and azaleas spill in colourful profusion over much of the site.

There is also a bog garden based on the rich black peaty soil, a secret garden, a wild garden and - most important of all - a vegetable garden with a superb collection of herbs and soft fruit trees.

The house is within a five-minute walk of Clogheen village and is approached by a winding driveway which passes over a stone bridge.

Along the way, excavation work on developing a trout lake has virtually been completed and by the time the first visitors are shown around, the water from the mountain stream will probably have been released into the new lake.

The sale follows the death of Mrs Gypsy Calder-Potts, who with her late husband, Edgar, spent 27 years cultivating an amazing collection of specimen trees and plants in a most peaceful and pleasant mountain setting.

The two-storey house, completely focused on what are now colourful and mature gardens, has three large reception rooms and five bedrooms, all showing signs of having been a comfortable family home.

However, from the moment one walks into the large entrance hall it is fairly obvious that the house needs to be redecorated and upgraded. Nevertheless, it seems to be structurally sound and all the period detail has been carefully preserved.

Bright and airy, the house would suit a family seeking peace or a busy executive wanting a comfortable retreat.

There is a particularly fine drawingroom with a projecting bay window overlooking the central area of the gardens.

An excellent library on the opposite side of the hall comes with attractive fitted pine bookshelves and a wood-burning stove. The diningroom also has superb views over the gardens.

There is a comfortable kitchen at the rear, with an oil-fired Aga cooker. Upstairs there are five fine bedrooms, the largest of which has an en suite bathroom.