Prices at Four Directions Cottage Castletownbere from 252 euros

Four Directions Cottage, self catering cottage accommodation near Castletownbere, Beara overlooking Bantry Bay in Ireland on the Cork, Kerry border. Stretching out before you in one direction is the world-famous Bantry Bay and across the bay the Sheeps's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas. In another you have the eight mile long Bere Island creating 'the second largest safest natural harbour in the world'! Behind the house are the magnificent Cahir mountains, and finally, dawarfing everything else, is Hungry Hill, immortalized in Daphane Du Maurier's classic novel of the same name. Why stay at Four Directions Cottage? Simple! Stress-free relaxation. Get away from it all and chill out. Enjoy spectacular views along the Beara Peninsula (arguably the best in the country). Eat freshly caught fish from Castletownbere's fishermans' Co-op. Drive through breath-taking landscapes. Enjoy some relaxed golfing, do a little on or offshore fishing, slowly unwind walking along The Beara Way, or just potter around the numerous local art and craft shops in the area. Perfect! What's it got to offer? The cottage is fully equiped for self catering holidays for up to 4 people (two couples), including private parking for 2 cars, two double bedrooms (one mezzanine style), shower room, modern kitchen/dining area, comfortable sitting room with cosy woodburning stove, DVD and Video, an extensive library and private gardens. However, it is doubtful that you will find much time to enjoy it all as the surrounding country side has so much to offer you probably won't want to spend too much time inside. So how private is the Cottage? The 1.3 acres of private gardens are yours to enjoy, including an orchard (pick your own fruits and berries) a small wood and lawns bounded by extensive shrubs and gorse. You can even mow, weed, prune and dig at no extra charge should you so wish! Yes, but what's the area like? Liying directly in the path of the Gulf Stream, Bantry Bay enjoys a near Mediteranian climate with many flourishing species of sub-tropical plants and fauna. Off shore in Glengarriff there is an island you can visit with unique Italianate gardens featuring a collection of plants and trees not usually found north of the south of France and all at exhibition quality because of the more favourable weather conditions. Activities? With all the sheltered water and open countryside available there is a whole range of local watersports, fishing (on and off shore), horse riding and excellent walking and cycling for you to sample should you be unable to surpress the urge to do some outdoor/exercise activities. And local amenities? Castletownbere is 5 mins away and is a major fishing port. The fishing fleets moor up in the habour and bring ashore their catch of mainly white fish which you can buy fresh at the dockside fishermans' co-op. There are also many local shell fish operators who also supply the co-op. The town has an eclectic selection of shops including super markets, health foods, arts and crafts, fine local butchers and pubs (such as MacCarthy's Bar as featured in, and on the front cover of the best-selling book of the same name by Pete MacCarthy). In addition, in the town square, you can buy German Crepes, with a bewildering selection of fillings, cooked freshly while you wait and even fresh fish and chips from the Italian 'Mama Mia's', illustrating the cosmopolitan nature of the local community