Lovely, quiet, perfectly placed

Guest: Larry Hunter (Denver, CO USA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 12/18/07

I rented this cottage for a month to finish a book I was working on. It has lovely views, is walking distance to the beach and there are great hill walks through the Burren right out your door. Mary, the owner, lives a short walk away, and was a great and thoughtful hostess. There's a typical pub a short walk away, but shop the farmers' market in Ballyvaughn or the supermarket in Ennistimon and cook up a storm in the beautiful new kitchen. There is another cottage next door and a few others on the road, but this a quiet spot, with more cows and horses around than people. The place is brand new, and tastefully appointed. Of course, the weather in this part of Ireland involves a lot of rain, so be prepared for that.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children.

Fanore cottage review

Guest: Sheena (Columbus, Ohio, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10 Review Submitted: 08/07/10

Fabulous property, fabulous location. The house (it really seems too big to be called a cottage!) is very spacious, well equipped, and comfortable, with views of the sea from the bedroom and dining room. Half an hour's walk will get you to the top of the hill at the back of the house, and onto the beautiful Burren Way footpath. The coast road will get you (by car) to Ballyvaughan or Doolin and of course points inland. Fanore itself is small and quiet, with very friendly village shop. There are several interesting and scenic areas of the coast nearby. We went with two teenage sons (19 and 17) and had a great time. Take wetsuits if you like surfing (it's the main thing going on at the local beach, and there are two boards at the house). The Bird of Prey Centre near Ballyvaughan was another hit for us. We took the boat trip to the Cliffs of Moher from Doolin, but beware of choppy seas if you are inclined to get seasick! Doolin itself is very touristy. We enjoyed the traditional music at Gus O'Connor's pub - which it's famous for - but there are many other places that you can hear traditional music, so look around. Lisdoonvarna is another attractive little town, and we recommend Curtin's Roadside Ravern, downhill from the main street. We also highly recommend the small, bustling, attractive town of Ennistimon, for shopping (it has the nearest supermarket of any size), cashpoint, and good places to eat, including French crepes as well as excellent Irish cooking at the place opposite Eugene's in the middle of town. We toured south to Kilrush, where we have relatives. It's a great town and we recommend Crotty's Pub there. Other people highly recommended the town of Galway, which we didn't get to. Connemara is also in driving distance, if you like touring by car.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Beautiful house in stunning location

Guest: BarrysTeaLover (Livermore, California)
Date of Stay: 07/18/09 Review Submitted: 08/09/09

We just returned from our trip to Ireland, and spent one week in beautiful Fanore. This "cottage" was a luxurious yet cozy and comfortable house. Beautiful rooms, excellent bathroom and shower facilities, large master bedroom with its own fireplace and sitting area from which you can gaze out to sea, and a gourmet kitchen (plus the occasional cow that peers into the kitchen window). The house is very spacious. Each room has dramatic views of the ocean, the village, or the hills above Fanore (or all three!). Fanore is a tiny but sweet little village. It made a great base for reaching Doolin, Ballyvaughn, Ennis, Ennistymon and the rest of the Burren. Charming Lisdoonvarna is just up and over the hill on a very scenic drive --reachable in minutes. Can't say enough about how helpful and accommodating the owner was. We would return here in a heartbeat.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, families with young children.

Guest: Martin & Nathalie Driscoll (South Florida)
Date of Stay: 10/30/07 Review Submitted: 10/30/07

We found a peaceful, enchanting, romantic getaway where we could breathe cool fresh air, and feel the wind blowing, and enjoy all that nature has to offer when we stayed at this blissful seaside stone cottage. Located in the Burren (ancient geologic & botanical wonder of the world left by the Ice Age-cracked, strange limestone for miles) &1 hr. from the Shannon Airport. This property has two identical newly built stone cottages next to each other on a hill facing Galway Bay. The cottage is lined with large windows with panoramic views in every direction. I spent most of our vacation knitting a baby sweater on an overstuffed couch in the masters sitting area next to a gas fireplace, gazing out at the bay and Aran Islands with my 7 mo old daughter. Hours spent watching my husband, 8, & 10 yr olds play soccer or walking down the hill through the meadows to the rocky shoreline, to the sandy Fanore Beach (surf school and rentals.) Even ate the kids’ Mackeral caught at Blackhead Point near lighthouse up the road! Gourmand ready kitchen! Professional gas stove/oven range. Oversized pedestal tub. The living room has another gas fireplace, satellite tv, board games, binoculars, tour guide books, maps...everything. Walk down tiny country road, admire the farm animals & unique flora on way to the village pub. Favorite was eating mussels & drinking a pint of Guinness out front, under blue, sunny skies, under a big umbrella overlooking the beautiful bay! Occasional car drives down coastal road. Across the street is a nice Trattoria (romantic dinner) and a tiny grocery store that gives great tide/fishing reports. Drive all the way up small road for surprise of a forest and views! Ennistymon (awesome fresh fish market) or Ballyvaughn (cute gift shop behind Sparks Supermarket)--10 min away. Closest is Doolin-world famous music & catch ferry to mystical Aran Islands (must see but confirm printed schedules!) Great seafood restaurant, The Lazy Lobster (small & cozy.) Small perfume shop/factory in the Burren. Personal walking tour to explain all the unique fauna and geology of the Burren-magical area so take time to enjoy. Rock climbing. Sunsets--golden and spectacular. Listened to IELyric, Ireland's national classic station most of the time. Night skies clear/crisp & Milky Way seen every night. Howling winds, but on quiet nights, ocean heard. We were lucky enough to

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Martin & Nathalie Driscoll (South Florida)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/30/07

We found a peaceful, enchanting, romantic getaway where we could breathe cool fresh air, and feel the wind blowing, and enjoy all that nature has to offer when we stayed at this blissful seaside stone cottage. Located in the Burren (ancient geologic & botanical wonder of the world left by the Ice Age- cracked, strange limestone for miles) &1 hr. from the Shannon Airport. This property has two identical newly built stone cottages next to each other on a hill facing Galway Bay. The cottage is lined with large windows with panoramic views in every direction. I spent most of our vacation knitting a baby sweater on an overstuffed couch in the masters sitting area next to a gas fireplace, gazing out at the bay and Aran Islands with my 7 mo old daughter. Hours spent watching my husband, 8, & 10 yr olds play soccer or walking down the hill through the meadows to the rocky shoreline, to the sandy Fanore Beach (surf school and rentals.) Even ate the kids’ Mackeral caught at Blackhead Point near lighthouse up the road! Gourmand ready kitchen! Professional gas stove/oven range. Oversized pedestal tub. The living room has another gas fireplace, satellite tv, board games, binoculars, tour guide books, maps...everything. Walk down tiny country road, admire the farm animals & unique flora on way to the village pub. Favorite was eating mussels & drinking a pint of Guinness out front, under blue, sunny skies, under a big umbrella overlooking the beautiful bay! Occasional car drives down coastal road. Across the street is a nice Trattoria (romantic dinner) and a tiny grocery store that gives great tide/fishing reports. Drive all the way up small road for surprise of a forest and views! Ennistymon (awesome fresh fish market) or Ballyvaughn (cute gift shop behind Sparks Supermarket)--10 min away. Closest is Doolin-world famous music & catch ferry to mystical Aran Islands (must see but confirm printed schedules!) Great seafood restaurant, The Lazy Lobster (small & cozy.) Small perfume shop/factory in the Burren. Personal walking tour to explain all the unique fauna and geology of the Burren-magical area so take time to enjoy. Rock climbing. Sunsets--golden and spectacular. Listened to IELyric, Ireland's national classic station most of the time. Night skies clear/crisp & Milky Way seen every night. Howling winds, but on quiet nights, ocean heard. We were lucky enough to have heard a news tip and saw the Space Shuttle fly over a few minutes after lift off near our home back in Florida! Best of all, we couldn't have asked for a nicer host & hostess. Mary & Gus (live in cottage nearby) were as sweet as they could be and so accommodating. Mary had a fully made crib ready for our daughter and even loaned us her niece's warm felt "joker's-style" hat. Plan to rent both cottages for a reunion someday soon.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Larry Hunter_HAC106381 (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 09/01/07 Review Submitted: 09/13/07

I spent a month in this cottage in July/August of 2007, working on writing a book. It was a perfect retreat: glorious views, easy walks to the shore or into the Burren, quiet and peaceful. The abundance of wildflowers and birds is remarkable. There are a few other cottages nearby, but mostly the neighbors are grazing horses and cows. Fanore itself is tiny, hardly more than a pub, but the nearby towns of Ballyvaughan and Enistymon had excellent shopping (great summer farmers' market on Saturdays in Ballyvaughan), and the cottage facilities, from the kitchen to bath were top notch. Mary was a wonderful hostess, happy to oblige any request as best she could. The cottage is quite large to be listed as a 1BR, with a second sleeping area in a loft. It's new construction of high quality, and stocked with everything you can imagine. Be aware that the weather on the coast of western Ireland is often rainy and cool, so bring warm clothes. While the nearby beach (walking distance from the cottage) is swimmable, the water is chilly even in summer -- the local surf school has wetsuits you can rent. Overall, a great choice for folks looking for comfort, beauty and quiet.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: David Wright_HAC101602 (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 08/01/07 Review Submitted: 08/16/07

This is a beautiful home in a beautiful little village. The views are spectacular. The immediate vicinity is quiet, but there are plenty of activities within driving distance. The owners were helpful and friendly.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Joni Morgan (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/26/07

OMG - what a beautiful house to stay in while visiting County Clare in Ireland. The owner was a delight to work with and offered many useful suggestions. It was hard to leave such a "five star" home to even venture out for daily activities. The gourmet kitchen was everyones favorite. Count on us for a definite return visit!!!!

Recommended for: