THE BEST COTTAGE on the DINGLE PENINSULA
Our favorite STONE COTTAGE
located between Clogher Head and Clogher Beach
on the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula
in a tiny village called Ghraig (Graigue).
I have consolidated the pictures from our last FOUR trips,
April of 2008, October of 2009, November 2010, and April 2011.
(We never travel during the summer so there are no pictures from that time of year)
This page has more pictures of the cottage than any of the main travelogue pages.
Press here to return to 2012 write-up.
Press here to return to 2011 write-up.
Press here to return to 2010 write-up.
Press here to return to 2009 write-up.
Press here to return to 2008 write-up.
Press here to return to personal picture menu.
The SPECTACULAR VIEW
Panoramic view taken from the patio (stitched together using Adobe Photoshop):
Panoramic sunset taken from the patio (stitched together using Adobe Photoshop):
LOCATION OF THE STONE COTTAGE
Location of the cottage in Graigue (pronounced groig) northwest of Dingle:
Close-up location of the cottage with respect to the shoreline:
Description of Stone Cottage
We call this the PHILOMENAL Cottage
an intentional misspelling because the cottage, and its owner Philomena, are both
PHENOMENAL!
The stone cottage we have stayed in for the past four years has all the comfort, conveniences, and charm we require plus its LOCATION is ideal for exploring all the things this area has to offer. It is truly PERFECT in every respect and is one of the best parts of our trips!
First of all, it’s huge! There are FOUR BEDROOMS and they ALL HAVE AN ATTACHED (en-suite) BATH with a toilet, sink, shower and a heated towel bar (with several big, soft, thirsty towels)!
The master bedroom, upstairs, has a QUEEN bed with a very comfortable mattress, a spectacular view of the coastline, and a large sitting area. The bedroom on the ground floor (nice if you have trouble with stairs) also has a QUEEN size bed; the third bedroom, upstairs, has a DOUBLE bed; and the forth, also upstairs, has TWO TWIN beds.
In addition to the FOUR EN-SUITE BATHROOMS, there is a POWDER ROOM on the ground floor. The master bath had a large tub, which we did not use, and a hair dryer which we did.
The kitchen is very big and modern with a FULL SIZE refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher and was well stocked with pots, pans, utensils, knives, cutting boards, bowls, dishes, glasses, silverware, and linens. There was a 12-cup electric coffee machine, an electric kettle, and a toaster.
The living-dining area has TWO HUGE PICTURE WINDOWS LOOKING OUT ON SYBIL HEAD AND THE THREE SISTERS! This I think was the cottage’s most unique and spectacular feature. The furniture was very comfortable – we all spent many afternoons napping in the living room which is testament to that – and the coffee table was large enough for all the maps and books we were constantly referencing. There is a working fireplace in the living room visible also from the dining room.
Off the living-dining area is a large PATIO, also with a view of the shoreline, and with a picnic table that will seat 8. The house is surrounded by pastures and there were sheep grazing there almost every day.
In a room under the patio are a FULL SIZE WASHER AND DRYER. Having a washer and dryer means we can pack light and do laundry half way through the week.
Although we did not use them, there is a radio/CD player, TV, DVD player, bicycle, and charcoal grill.
The cottage looks EXACTLY like the photos on the website and is immaculate. There are windows everywhere and many skylights so it’s bright and cheery. The parking area is also huge and will hold 4 cars if necessary, a boon when there is no street-side parking. Also, because every bedroom has an attached (en-suite) bathroom, three adult couples can share the cottage! (Four, if one doesn’t mind (or prefers) sleeping in separate beds.)
The first time we went inside, in April 2008, the sun was streaming in through the large picture windows overlooking Sybil Head and Irish folk music wafted from the CD player in the living room. It couldn’t have been a more inviting welcome. Since our first visit, in 2008, I have taken additional pictures every year which I add to this page so that you can see how well maintained it is. The most recent pictures are always first.
The photos below were taken in
APRIL
Every photo will take you to the cottage website.
The exterior (taken at 3:00 p.m. in April) was all stone, a requirement for us:
The foyer has a slate floor; the stairs were carpeted in 2009:
To the right of the foyer is the living-dining area. There is seating for 7 in the living area (8 if you squeeze 4 onto the sofa) and seating for 8 in the dining area. The furniture is very comfortable – we all spent many afternoons napping in the living room which is testament to that – and the coffee table was large enough for all the maps and books we were constantly referencing.
The living room:
The dining room with seating for 8:
The fireplace, visible from both the living and dining rooms:
Off the living-dining area is a large PATIO with a picnic table that will seat 8. The house is surrounded by pastures and there were sheep grazing there almost every day. Most of the pictures below were taken while standing on the patio.
The patio and the SPECTACULAR view from the living dining area (taken in April):
The living-dining area has TWO HUGE PICTURE WINDOWS LOOKING OUT ON SYBIL HEAD AND THE THREE SISTERS! This I think was the cottage’s most unique and spectacular feature.
The SPECTACULAR view from the living dining area:
Daytime:
Overcast and rainy days:
Evening sunsets:
Rainbows:
November’s winter storm!
Location of the cottage with respect to the coastline:
The kitchen is very big and modern with a FULL SIZE refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher and was well stocked with pots, pans, utensils, knives, cutting boards, bowls, dishes, glasses, silverware, and linens. There was a 12-cup electric coffee machine, an electric kettle, and a toaster.
The kitchen is huge with full size appliances:
The kitchen is open into the dining room and has a door into the foyer (great for carrying in groceries):
The powder room, to the left of the front door:
There are FOUR (4) BEDROOMS and they ALL HAVE AN ATTACHED (en-suite) BATH with a toilet, sink, shower and a heated towel bar (with several big, soft, thirsty towels)! One of the larger bedrooms is on the ground floor which is nice if you have trouble with stairs.
The master bedroom, upstairs, has a QUEEN bed with a very comfortable mattress, a spectacular view of the coastline, and a large sitting area. (I mention this first – can you tell what’s important to me?) The bedroom on the ground floor also has a QUEEN size bed; the third bedroom, upstairs, has a DOUBLE bed; and the forth, also upstairs, has TWO TWIN beds.
The water pressure in the showers is nice and strong.
The bedroom on the ground floor, next to the powder room (this is NOT the master suite):
The bathroom attached to this bedroom:
The upstairs landing:
The master bedroom, upstairs:
The master bathroom (the water pressure in the shower is nice and strong!):
A second bedroom upstairs:
The bathroom attached to this bedroom:
A third bedroom upstairs:
The bathroom attached to this bedroom:
The view from the front door
(Imagine what this looks like in the summer and fall, when everything is green!):
The school house across the street (as seen from the parking area):
The back yard, and pathway to the utility room:
In the utility room, under the patio, are a full size washer and dryer. Having a washer and dryer means we can pack lightly and do laundry half way through the week.
The laundry (utility) room, below the patio:
There is yet ANOTHER yard behind the house, and a door to it from the dining room. The parking area extends around the side of the house (along the road) all the way to this back yard. In the field beyond this yard you can see a shepherd is using a dog to move his sheep from one pasture to another.
The photos below were taken in
OCTOBER of 2009.
A GORGEOUS shot of our cottage, with the three sisters in the background
and fuchsia blooming along the road:
The road north to Clogher Beach and Ballyferriter:
The road south to Clogher Head:
The fields behind the cottage where sheep are normally grazing.
There are no sheep there in this photo because they had been
herded into the shed, another treat for you, if you happen to be
looking out when they are moved from one field to the other::
One of the ponies, in the field behind the house, looking for a handout:
Some photos of the area around the cottage
taken in APRIL 2011.
These are all walking distance from the cottage.
The cottage seen from Clogher Head, 115 meters high
The hills behind the cottage are 234 and 260 meters high.
The old volcano, to the right, is 165 meters high.
The cottage, and the coastline, seen from the top of the hills behind it:
The cottage seen from Clogher Beach:
The cottage seen from an Drom, during a storm (with the volcano in the background):
Phil’s and Alec’s other cottages:
The official address for this cottage is:
Graigue or Ghraig (name of village)
Ballyferriter or Baile an Fheirteuraigh (name of parish)
Dingle or An Daingean
County Kerry, Ireland
Press here for link to the cottage website (a new window will open).
The rent for the cottage does not include oil and electricity. Those utilities are extra and payable on departure. The utilities for the entire week, in April, October, and November when you need to have the heat on, is under 100 Euros, which we thought was VERY reasonable. There is a 50 Euro charge if you leave the place a mess or if you damage anything. Excluding sheets and towels, we always leave the cottage the way we found it.
Press here to return to 2012 write-up.
Press here to return to 2011 write-up.
Press here to return to 2010 write-up.
Press here to return to 2009 write-up.
Press here to return to 2008 write-up.
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OOAKFolk, Inc., and artist Barbara Healy are not affiliated in any way with the original manufacturers of
the dolls pictured in this site. No photograph, text or graphic on this site may be copied without written
permission from Barbara Healy. Copyright © 2004 OOAKFolk, Inc.
Last Revised: April 4, 2013
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