Ireland

Barry

Dear All,
Many thanks again for another wonderful peaceful break at Hillside Cottage in Ballycotton. As usual the cottage was comfortable, spotless and well equipped. We love cooking and everything needed was there. We were catching the mackerel this year and were able to cook them on your great gas BBQ. So peaceful in the garden. The weather was great this year and when there was a slight chill we were using the fire in the evening with peat and fire logs - such a bonus. Hope to be back again next year.

Hillside Cottage

United Kingdom

Family from Watchfield, United Kingdom

We had a wonderful stay at Hillside Cottage. It was cozy and comortable, and perfect for the three of us (myself, my sister and my niece). We checked out all the pubs and bar food in Ballycotton during our two weeks there and found every one of them to be excellent.  The cliff walk was spectacular, and not to be missed.  Also be sure to go visit the Lifeboat Shop.  At the end of the day we loved going "home" to a cup of tea made in our own kitchen and warming our toes by the fireplace.

 From San Diego, USA

I have nothin but good things to say about this place. Just beautiful!

4 of us came to Ireland for a wedding which was held in the church pretty much next door. It was perfect for everything we needed it for. Very comfortable and cosy. We will be coming back very soon!

 From Harrow, United Kingdom

We have stayed at Hillside Cottage before and will be booking again for next year. The cottage was spotless again and there is absolutely everything that could be needed. We are avid cooks and love the well kitted out kitchen and the BBQ is a bonus. We were unable to make use of it this year as the weather was inclement and the fish were not being caught but we did enjoy the lovely quiet sunshine in the mornings, in the garden with our coffee and no more noise than the BUMBLEBEEs buzzing in the floral borders. We didnt need the heating this year and only used the lounge fire in the evenings. We cant recommend this cottage enough for a great bolthole for exploring the area. There is plenty of linen and bedding stored if needed. Just a note - There is a short cut from the chapel next door down to the main street. We went to the local at the bottom of the road to the left (Schooner ?) and had the most amazing meal. It was huge though - be warned. The village store has everything. We recommend the Clonikilty Sausages and Black pudding.We highly recommend this cottage. Ruth, Walter and Rita.

 From Watchfield, United Kingdom

A great place to stay, fantastic views and very comfortable. Great value.

 From Greystones, Ireland

As ever brilliant to be back in Ballycotton in Hillside Cottage tthe cosiest,, sweetest cottage.  The views are as stunning as ever and such a lovely place to stay in Cork.  There is everything you need in the cottage, very well equipped.  Great location and lots tyo see in the area.  Kinsale is always worth the visit and  the beaches and cliff walks are  beeautiful.  We will be back.

 From Easkey, Ireland

Lovely Cottage.  Fantastic views from double bedroom and kitchen.  Great to relax in front of the open fire in the evening or take a short stroll to the local hosteleries.  The cottage is very clean and comfortable with a very well equiped kitchen.  Very well located in a quiet area but only a short walk to the shop, restaurants and pubs.

 From Cork, Ireland

The property had everything needed and more than expected. Perhaps a BBQ would have been good but we had brought our own. We are avid cooks and absolutely everything needed was there. We did, unfortunately,  manage to leave behing a favourite fry pan and splash guard, which we had brought with us. Enjoy using it. The view out of the kitchen window is spectacular and we even saw a Dolphin in the Bay. The mackerel were in and we were catching, BBQing and eating within the hour. What a wonderful experience. The beds are very comfortable and the whole cottage is beautifully furnished and so homely. We cant recommend this cottage any higher than we have. We would gladly recommend this property to anyone we know or otherwise, who wants a lovely quiet time away in a lovely popular area of Cork County. There is a lovely restaurant in the village with a wide range of prices - head down to the harbour, its on the right. Think on this - the bumble bees were the loudest noise we heard in the mornings, in the garden - the odd morning you will get called to chapel but the bell is not at all loud. Note - intermittent mobile signal and no wifi. For wifi dro p into Carphone Warehouse in Midleton and buy a wireless dongle if you have to work whilst on holiday. They were extremely helpful to me as I had to keep in contact with my office on a daily basis. Enjoy this wonderful cottage and the surrounding area. We are seriously considering booking the cottage again, soon.

This was the perfect home base for exploring the East Coast of Ireland.  Owners Margaret and Barry were great - made me feel very welcome.  The website pictures are very accurate, but dont do the real thing justice.  Beautiful view of the bay - enjoyed sitting on the terrace, watching the tides.  The double bed is fantastic - I slept very well.  The store in Ballycotton is very well stocked, with just about anything you may need.  The satellite tv was a nice addition.  I cant say enough good things about Hillside Cottage - would definitely recommend to anyone, looking for an authentic Irish self catering experience.

 From Houston, USA

A sweet little cottage, ideally positioned within short walking (if uphill!) distance of shop (one shop only in village but well stocked), pubs, restaurants and RC church (cottage is next but one to the church in fact), yet in a very peaceful location and with a fabulous view of the bay from the back bedroom, kitchen and garden.

A little bit stressful finding the cottage as the landmark given in the directions at which to turn (the Garda Station) is not visible until you are past the turn!  Also, the name on the cottage consisted of just a typed sheet in the frosted window which is not really visible to a passing car and which had fallen down on the day we arrived!  Probably best to park and locate on foot.  However, it is well worth any effort to find Hillside Cottage.  

Perfect for 2 or for a couple and one child (the fourth bed can then be used for the suitcases as there is really nowhere else to put them).  A bit too small for 4 adults, or for very tall or large people.

Very clean and well equipped.  No tumble drier but a line in the garden and pegs.  TV/DVD player (a bit tricky to use if youre not very technically minded!).  There is also a radio/CD player and even some nice CDs.

Hillside Cottage is an ideal base for walkers and birdwatchers. The Atlantic Cliff Walk (turn R just before the harbour) is a must but not for the unfit or the very overweight as the concrete stiles are extremely narrow.  In Ballycotton itself, swimming is off the rocks only (and a very steep climb down - certainly not suitable for children) but sandy beaches within a short drive in Garryvoe and a bit further on in Youghal.  Garryvoe beach a bit exposed and can be windy/cool but its a clean, Blueflag beach with Lifeguard in season and the sand is firm so perfect for a bracing walk!  And do not leave Garryvoe without first buying a loaf of the nicest brown bread youve ever tasted in the little shop beside the hotel at the entrance to the carpark - made by Maureen OShea I was told and only €3 for a good sized loaf.

Good range of places to eat in/near the village, to suit every pocket, from Skinnys Diner to Ballymaloe House (which was a bit too much for us @ €75 a head, albeit for a 6 course meal).  Skinnys Diner dont do takeouts but Waves do and Waves also has a range of delicious homemade cakes and does handcut homemade chips (but not always - its worth asking for them).  Waves is well worth a visit too for their exhibition of the work of local artists/photographers which changes monthly and pictures are available for purchase at reasonable prices.  Very friendly staff everywhere especially in Waves and in the Schooner Bar next door which does a very nice meal, if you dont mind the TV on while you eat.  Nautilus restaurant in the Inn by the Harbour is nice but quite pricey for what you get and the bar there was not to our taste at all (noisy clientele and stale smell).  Didnt eat in the Bayview Hotel restaurant as it was expensive but if you fancied dressing up for dinner it would be a place to go from where you could walk back and not as expensive as Ballymaloe House 3kms away.  Short cut from harbour &amp; shop end of village back to cottage via the Church steps (80 odd!).  

Lots of places to visit within a short driving distance of Ballycotton - Midleton, Cobh, Fota Wildlife Park, Fota House and Gardens (but beware the public toilets beside Fota House - they are disgusting), Ballymaloe cookery school, farm shop and gardens, Ballymaloe House, gift shop (heaven for cooks!) and restaurant, Jack OPatsys pottery and coffee shop and Shanagarry Design Centre.  For something to do on rainy days or with bored children,  Cork city and Youghal have cinema, bowling alley etc.  We found the staff in the Tourist Offices in both places to be particularly friendly and helpful and enjoyed our visits there.

Barry

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