Raheen (I160), Waterville, Co. Kerry

This beautifully restored traditional Kerry Farmhouse is a perfect hideaway for friends and families seeking a relaxing holiday in County Kerry. Set on its own, it has panoramic views of mountains all round, and over Lough Currane to the sea at Ballinskelligs Bay. Crystal clear lake-water swimming, hill walking and trekking are on the doorstep. Waterville, 5.6 kms/3.5 miles away, boasts one of Ireland's top rated golf links and a club-house restaurant with sea views to die for. Sandy beaches, scuba diving and horse-riding opportunities are easy to reach. At Derrynane (10 miles) are still more beautiful beaches as well as the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell (Irish politician and statesman) which is usually open to visitors. Further west are the surfing waves of St. Finan's Bay (18 miles) and the high Kerry cliffs for hiking, watching gannets diving, more birdwatching and enjoying the incredible coastal views. If the sea is sufficiently calm, a boat trip from Port Magee to Skellig St. Michael to see thousands of puffins and climb the steep steps to the beehive huts at the top is a 'must'. The house itself is sympathetically renovated to combine a traditional feel with up-to-date facilities. Downstairs: a large comfortably furnished sitting room has exposed ceiling beams, a stone-feature fireplace, windows all round and two deep sofas and easy chairs to relax in after a long walk. The 'ante' room leading into it provides a separate area for games and cards and laptops. The long farmhouse style table in the spacious dining room/sun-room is perfect for lingering over meals and has a piano for a musical evening. The kitchen/breakfast room is very well equipped with everything needed for meals at home. Upstairs: the large king-size bedroom has views looking west towards Waterville, a smaller double bedroom looks over the lake and a good-sized twin bedroom has the ensuite bathroom. A separate 'family' shower/WC bathroom is for sharing. Also upstairs is a study/TV room/playroom with a huge round window looking up at the hill behind. Outside: the small patio (patio chairs provided) and enclosed grass area at the back offer a space where small children can play or coffee lovers can sit in the morning sun. To the west side of the western shed is the perfect spot to watch sunsets, glass in hand seated on a long piece of granite straight out of the ground. Beyond that the hills are there for roaming. Need to know Living areas Sitting room with ante room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, and upstairs TV/playroom/study Kitchen Range cooker, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave Bedrooms 3 bedrooms: 1 king/super-king bed, 1 double, 2 singles. Bedlinen provided Bathrooms/WCs 1 ensuite shower, bath and WC, 1 shared shower and WC, 1 downstairs bath and WC, 1 downstairs separate shower. Towels provided Special Features Beautiful views over lake and mountains with glimpses of the sea in the distance Immediate access to freshwater lake swimming and hill walking TV (for DVD use only), WiFi, Bluetooth, Radio Enclosed lawn area Private parking Nearby activities Lake swimming, walking/hiking, coastal walks, golf, fishing, cycling, pony-trekking/horse riding, sea swimming, water-sports, surfing, windsurfing, bird watching How far to ...? Beach 5kms/3.5 miles; pub 5kms/3.5 miles; shops 5kms/3.5 miles; restaurants 5kms/3.5 miles Price FROM €892 per week See www.shamrockcottages.co.uk for current availability and further details. Under cottage no I160