Co. Waterford., Ireland

 
FLEXIBLE TRAVELLER    Open to all offers.
 
THE AREA    My house is in a quiet rural location, but it's only 20 minutes from:
* a very large city (Waterford),
* one of Ireland's best beach resorts (Tramore, 20 min),
* great mountain hiking (Comeraghs, 20 min),
* Waterford Crystal tour,
* mini-railway (2 min), 
* exceptional walking in secluded areas.

In the village there are 3 shops, 3 restaurants, 2 pubs, playground -- all 3 min drive.
 
THE HOUSE    Four big bedrooms, main bedroom is en-suite, satellite TV, theatre sound system, free broadband, use of computer, cordless phones. Stove in the living room.
 
Conservatory and spacious patio, picnic bench. Raised garden at the back with spectacular views, fully sheltered and facing the sun. Two bikes.

Use of new car.
 
The Family: Don is a secondary teacher.Imelda is a teacher. We have four adult children, all now away.
 
Airports: Cork airport 2 hours. Dublin airport 2.5 hours.
 
Waterford city is in the ‘Sunny South-East’ of Ireland. About 50% more sun than the west coast. It is Ireland's fifth city.
 
SCENERY: We are about 15 k from the coast. Spectacular coastal scenery, including lighthouses, sea-arches and cliff-walks. Two major mountain ranges nearby.
 
HORSES & EQUESTRIAN CENTRE: There is a livery (horses B & B) opposite the house. There is an equestrian centre 5 k away. Book horse-rides and lessons. 
 
THE VILLAGE: 2 km away.  2 pubs, Chinese restaurant, diner, 3 supermarkets, children’s playground.  
 
WALKS: From the house. Fantastic views. Many off-road and many quiet side-roads.
Local forests (5 k). Cars are not allowed, so walk in comfort.
 
MANORS & WALKS   
Ireland’s largest landed estate (Curraghmore 5 k) has a river, pheasants, and a manor house. Free access to the extensive grounds. Google it.
 
A second similar landed estate (Mount Congreve 5 k) with a big manor house. World-renowned gardens. Google it.
 
CHILDREN PLAYING: Playground in the village. Sports pitch nearby, free access. 
 
THE CITY: 12 km by motorway. Shopping, dining, pubs, etc.
 
NARROW-GAUGE RAILWAY: Ireland’s only narrow-gauge railway starts 1 k from the house and runs along the river valley into the edge of the city. A 15 k round trip. Runs most of the year.
 
MOUNTAINS: Comeragh mountains, 3,000 feet peaks, (20 min). Knockmaeldown Mountains, 25 k further west.
 
SEA-SIDE RESORT & QUIETER BEACHES   
Tramore is Ireland’s most popular seaside resort (10 k). Beach, indoor and outdoor amusements, indoor heated swimming pool, boating lake. The heated pool (Splashworld) is open all year. Google it.
 
There are also 4 secluded beaches nearby (20 min) for a quiet swim.
 
BOATING & FISHING: A nearby very big reservoir offers rowing boats and fly-fishing. Permits from the tourist office. 
 
SWIMMING POOLS: As well as the Splashworld heated pool in Tramore, there are two public indoor heated swimming pools (20 min), one in the city and one in a nearby town. Both have saunas, steam rooms and gyms.
 
GOLF: A pay-as-you-play golf course where membership is not necessary. This public course is one of the longest in Ireland.
 
CITY ATTRACTIONS
Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city. The best Viking and Norman city walls of any Irish city.
 
Reginald’s Tower is Ireland’s only Viking round tower in continuous use since 1000 a.d.
 
Waterford Crystal factory & shop is one of Ireland’s three most visited tourist sites.
 
Waterford Treasures is a child-friendly museum on local history. Interactive and multilingual. Appeals to adults and children.
 
People’s Park for strolls, coffee, children's play-park. 
 
Walking tours of Waterford city. Highly recommended.

River Cruises: A  few hours cruise up-river and back. Several options.

OTHER AREAS TO VISIT
DUBLIN 2 HOURS AWAY: Inexpensive train to Dublin (2.30 mins one way). Arrive in Dublin 10.00 a.m., leave 6.30 p.m. See all the best-known sights. Google Irish Rail.
 
COUNTY WATERFORD
Tramore: Ireland’s premier beach holiday resort. All the amusements, indoor and outdoor. Great beach walk around the sand dunes. Splashworld for a wet day. Child-oriented indoor pool with wave-machines, water-slides etc.
 
Dungarvan: 40 km west. A fishing town in scenic surroundings. Typical small Irish county town. Colligan Woods are 8 k north of it  – noted for lovely wood walks and river walks.
 
Ardmore: 15 km west of Dungarvan. Famous anti-Viking round tower and lovely cliff walks. World-famous Cliff House Hotel for excellent (but expensive) dining. Stunning hotel.
 
The Waterford Show in Waterford’s City Hall. A genuine taste of Irish traditional singing and dancing. Strong performers. Summer only.
 
COUNTY WEXFORD 30 min...
 
Ballyhack Castle: a small but worthy Crusader castle.
 
Duncannon Fort: a defence against the Spanish Armada. Guided tours.
 
Ferrycarrig Heritage Park: entertaining introduction to ancient Irish history. Stone-age huts, cooking sites etc. All accurate, and fun for kids.
 
The Dunbrody Famine Ship: Replica of Famine coffin-ships
 
Hook Lighthouse & Peninsula: The oldest operating lighthouses in Europe. Guided tours, craft shop, tea rooms. Outstanding coastal erosion features. Loftus Hall is a famous haunted manor house nearby (Google it).
 
John F Kennedy Arboretum/Park: a huge natural park with playground, arboretum, walks, coffee shop.
 
Tintern Abbey: is a sister abbey of Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey in Wales. Sometimes guided tours, forest walks, tea rooms.
 
KILKENNY CITY: Always popular. 45 min on motorway. Very atmospheric. Kilkenny Castle is superb.