Go west: remote Irish hideaway with island and forest on for sale for £2.3m

As bolt holes go, this one is a cracker - and it could be yours for a mere £2.3m.

Nestled in a protected inlet of Kenmare Bay in County Kerry, south-west Ireland, the exclusive ocean-front retreat of Mermaid Isle features 4,000ft of private shoreline, a main house, natural harbour, guest cottage and forest.

Dolphins and seals, seabirds and otters are ever-present with dolphins playing in the sheltered inlets and seals basking on the rocks.

The barn-style main house has six bedrooms and three bathrooms and was built in 2001 from Californian Douglas Fir and features magnificent curved braces, medieval-style stuck frames and hand-cared oak pegs. Antique materials have been sourced from old churches and manor houses,
including French casement windows with stained glass from old churches,
reclaimed marble and limestone.

The light-filled, open-plan atrium is accessed via huge double doors and features Chinese slate tiling.

Off the atrium, the kitchen is charmingly rustic but, worry not, still features all mod cons, including stainless-steel range cooker, American-style fridge-freezer and dishwasher.

The west-wing sun room is currently used as a workshop-cum-studio - perfect for penning that bestselling novel.

If six bedrooms proves to be a bit of a squash and squeeze, don't forget you've always got the guest cottage. Hidden away in woodland, it offers exposed stone walls and stunning views from every window and was originally a fisherman's cottage.

Mermaid Isle is, say estate agents Engel & Volkers, 'a retreat for creative people and nature lovers and... those seeking a place to spark the imagination and reopen the senses. Enjoy the beauty of the scenery while reading a good book, enjoying a nice bottle of wine, take a bath in one of the two hot tubs overlooking the bay or simply relax during the sunset.'

You'll need to after shelling out your £2.3m.

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