Rural living near urban life

Just 12 kilometres south of Cork city is the satellite town of Carrigaline. It is an area that has experienced rapid growth over the last decade and, despite the downturn, the population has increased as evidenced by new school builds at various stages of completion in the town.

Close to the town, Cork city and the growing industrial hub of Ringaskiddy, Bramble Cottage offers rural living without compromising on work-life accessibility. This mid-1990s family home comes with generous dimensions in the living rooms and bedrooms, sizeable gardens and the reassurance of a property that has been well loved and maintained.

Here and there the interior style may need refreshing, but there are a host of options for arranging the rooms to suit either a family or an individual. The layout can easily accommodate a home office or alternatively a fifth bedroom.

The master bedroom in particular is unusually large, coming in at 31ft by 15ft, while the smallest of the four-bedrooms is a roomy 12ft by 10ft.

Some areas of the house have hardwood maple flooring, Victorian-style fireplaces and recessed lighting. A rugged Stanley range in the kitchen heats the central heating and the water. The property comes with its own deep bore well, so water charges are nicely sidestepped.

The fine mature garden, planted over the last 15 years, extends to almost two-thirds of an acre, and was something of a labour of love for the owner.

With more of the emphasis on shrubs than flowers, you will find Korean pines, strawberries, beech trees and lilacs, as well as a 35-ft polytunnel with grape vines and a fine-sized outdoor shed. While the garden is in need of some pruning, it is not overbearing in terms of the maintenance workload.

One of the big draws with Bramble Cottage is its proximity to some of the best beaches and swimming spots Cork has to offer, with Nohoval Cove just three kilometres away. Calming views from the house also extend to Newfoundland Bay and the picture-postcard Cork coastline.