Sneem Secret Harbour is a superb luxury hideaway overlooking the sea in the exclusive area of Oysterbed & Parknasilla, close to Sneem village in the 'kingdom' of Kerry on the magical Wild Atlantic Way.
Very special, very private, very beautiful and almost secret.....if you are looking for tranquility, privacy, comfort and space, and the ultimate escape, this 'little piece of heaven' is the perfect place.
The panoramic sea and mountain views are simply spectacular and the maze of tracks winding through the 7 acres surrounding the house offer wonderful walks and hours of exploration for everyone.
Whatever your interests, the area offers a fantastic choice of exhilarating and fun activities to suit all ages and levels of experience: kayaking, snorkelling, diving, coasteering, hiking, hill walking, cycling, horse riding, angling, golfing, painting, bird watching, whale & dolphin watching, photography, nature and wildlife....or simply relaxing. There are few other places where you can enjoy the outdoors in such visually stunning and dramatic scenery, from dazzling lakes with dramatic mountain backdrops to hidden valleys and panoramic ocean views.
The house is in pristine condition with all high quality furniture and appliances. The interior is fresh and contemporary with a palette of colours, plants, pictures and furnishings that is rich, warm, welcoming and wonderfully relaxing. The amazing views wrap around the house and can be enjoyed from every window.....sea, ebbing tides, changing weather fronts, panoramic mountains, glorious sunsets, starry skies, moonlit waters, extensive gardens and native woodland which is home to lots of wildlife.
The south-facing kitchen, dining, living room and conservatory are flooded with sunlight that streams through large floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. These exit onto a paved patio with dining furniture. A highly efficient geothermal system provides comfortable and cosy under floor heating throughout and the stylish wood burning stove adds that bit of extra magic on chilly nights. WiFi is freely available in the house.
Further details
Highest quality bed linen, lots of soft white towels, good supply of all kitchen essentials, a generous welcome hamper, firewood for the stove, books, games, art materials are all provided.
WiFi is available throughout the house.
Extra supply of fresh bed linen and towels is provided for multi week rentals.
The usual time of occupation is 5:00 pm on arrival day and no later than 10:00 a.m. on the day of departure. If possible on the day, these times may be altered on request.
Saturday is the standard changeover day, particularly during high season. However, alternative arrangements may sometimes be possible - please contact to discuss.
Further details indoors
The interior is modern and contemporary with a palette of colours, plants, pictures and furnishings that is warm, welcoming and wonderfully relaxing. The house has all high quality furniture and top of the range appliances, and is superbly equipped. The interior is bright and spacious, designed to provide maximum pleasure and comfort as you relax and enjoy the stunning views of the changing tides, evening sunsets, sea and mountains, and observe the variety of wildlife that regularly visits the grounds (we provide binoculars and wellingtons for your convenience).
This is a house for all seasons. Sunshine and brightness stream through the large floor-to-ceiling windows and doors in the conservatory, living room and kitchen/dining area. All these conveniently open on to the south facing sun patio for relaxation during the summer.
The eco-friendly and highly efficient geothermal system provides under floor heating throughout the house. All floors are tiled for maximum heating efficiency and the effect underfoot is luxurious. For added relaxation and romantic evenings, the contemporary wood-burning stove in the living room provides that extra little bit of charm, comfort and cosiness (firewood provided for your convenience).
High quality blinds are fitted on all windows and doors giving complete privacy. These very discreet blinds don't ever interfere with the wonderful views and with the addition of blackout blinds in the bedrooms, are totally effective in eliminating all day light in the bedrooms, guaranteeing a great night's sleep or a welcome afternoon nap after your flight.
ENSUITE BEDROOMS:
The 3 large ensuite bedrooms are spacious and bright, beautifully decorated and have lots of storage.
Bedroom 1 - Ground Floor with Superking bed (6ft-180 cm), ensuite bathroom with large bath and overhead shower.
Bedrooms 2 & 3 - First Floor with 1 King bed (5ft-153cm) and 1 Single Bed (3ft-90cm) in each room, both with ensuite bathrooms and walk-in showers.
Bedroom 3 opens on to a large deck area giving panoramic views.
In addition, there is a guest toilet in the entrance hall.
KITCHEN:
The contemporary designer kitchen has top of the range integrated appliances (at eye level for extra convenience) and is designed to create a very user friendly work space. It is a beautiful white and grey kitchen, superbly equipped with a fantastic stock and selection of high quality crockery, cutlery, glassware and equipment, to ensure that our guests' cooking experience is hassle free and successful, whether its burgers and beans or lobster and steak that's on the menu!
LIVING ROOM:
A wonderfully bright, spacious room with comfortable modern leather suite, smart TV, Sky multi channel. We provide a large selection of books and for all tastes. Doors open on to the south-facing sun patio that overlooks a small pond and the extensive grounds surrounding the house. The contemporary wood burning stove is a lovely feature in this room and the walls are covered with stunning photographs of local scenery and original art works by Irish artists.
CONSERVATORY:
Two sets of glass glass doors lead from the living room into the conservatory. This is a beautiful room, full of sunshine and brightness, where you can relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the stunning panorama of ever changing views - the tides, evening sunsets, changing weather fronts, Sneem Rowing team heading out the bay for training, the glorious array of colours from the natural pink and purple heather, orange montbretia, purple foxglove, right yellow furze, and holly and rowan with their red and orange berries. Binoculars are provided for a closer look at any passing wildlife. You will sometimes spot the otters or indeed the majestic White Tailed Eagles that have been re-introduced into Ireland after an absence of 100 years.
UTILITY ROOM:
The utility room has a Fridge Freezer, Washing Machine, Condensing Dryer, Iron/Ironing Board and a large selection of books and games and extra storage.
Further details outdoors
Sneem Secret Harbour is the only house on our 7-acre site and is located on a lovely quiet, picturesque boreen, in the area of Oysterbed that has only a handful of privately owned houses, giving an atmosphere of calm tranquility all year round. The house and gardens sit on an elevated site and provide truly spectacular 360* views. The variety of scenery is stunning with un-interrupted views of the mountains and the sea. Sitting in the conservatory and watching the tides changing or the weather coming in over the mountains, the sun setting or the moon shining over the water....is almost an activity in itself!
The traditional stone exterior blends beautifully into the surrounding 'pink' stone that is a natural feature of the area, and which creates a backdrop to the gardens and extended grounds that are full of lots and lots of trees, shrubs and luscious evergreens....oak, ash, birch, rowan, chestnut, bamboo, willow, holly, heathers, laurel, rhododendron, ferns, flaxes - these all provide a spectacle of colour at different times of the year and are home to a wonderful selection of wildlife (all kinds of birds, rabbits, hares, otters....which you can observe, sometimes up very close! and especially first thing in the morning - a paradise for bird-watchers and nature lovers. There is a maze of tracks running through the grounds which provide lovely walks and lots of exploration!
The kitchen, dining area, living room and conservatory all conveniently open onto the south facing patio that runs along the entire rear of the house and enjoys sunshine all day. Patio furniture is provided so that you can take full advantage of the fine weather.
Bedroom 3 opens on to a large first floor deck which can be accessed also by means of an outside stairway at the rear of the house. Up here you can enjoy peace and quietness along with the spectacular views of the grounds and surrounding sea and mountains. This deck area is totally private - a perfect place for reading or painting, enjoying a coffee in the morning sunshine or a cool glass of wine in the evening.
Oysterbed Harbour, with its sailing yachts and fishing boats, a variety of wildlife and magical scenery, is less than a 10 minute stroll from the house. This is an idyllic spot for a swim or some relaxed fishing, or to just sit and watch for the seals and dolphins and enjoy the silence! Take a walk down early in the morning and you're sure to meet some of the local fishermen and, if you fancy some fresh fish for dinner, they will be happy to include your order in their daily catch (depending on what's in season - crabs, prawns, lobster during the summer). It is advisable to give them a couple of days notice.....!
