Entire home

Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay

Cottage in Ahakista with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay

Exterior
Living area
Living area
Dining
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.4 out of 10, Loved by Guests
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Durrus, Cork
  • Place, Dunmanus Bay
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Killarney National Park
  • Place, Ross Castle

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Twin Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Twin Beds and 1 Crib

Bedroom 4

2 Twin Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 3

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay

A charming old stone farmhouse nestled in a rocky hillside with views over Dumanus Bay. Cotton's Cottage has been in our family for about 50 years and is restored as a comfortable holiday home with typical cottage characteristics (traditional low ceilings and steep narrow stairs which give it a cosy atmosphere!)
A leafy lane leads to the fishing and farming village of Ahakista which lies at the centre of the Sheep's Head peninsular with its 200km walking route.
The real charm of the cottage is its tranquility and beautiful setting. For those looking for more activity there is something for the gourmet, the golfer, the cyclist, the surfer, the fisherman, the sailor, the gardener....in particular, the walker.

The ground floor has a sitting room with original inglenook fireplace leading to a semi open plan kitchen. In the next room there is a dining room with a utility area and shower room at the back and a back door.
Up to the first floor there are 2 staircases with 2 bedrooms and a bathroom each side. On one side there is a double room, a twin room and a bathroom and on the other side there are 2 twin rooms and a bathroom.
There are bay views from 3 of the 4 bedrooms. Please note one of the staircases is original, steep and narrow.
Heating is by panel heaters, paying for what you use.

Outsider there is a terrace overlooking the view and a garden leading down to a stream. The garden is semi enclosed.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly
Outdoor Space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Property # 6856803ha

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Ahakista

Located in Ahakista, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. Bere Island Heritage Centre and Catherine Hammond Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Kilravock Garden and Whyte Bookshop. Schull Planetarium and Issie's Handmade Chocolate are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with sailing and surfing/body boarding nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and cycling.
Map
Durrus, Cork

What's nearby

  • Dunmanus Bay - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Bantry Bay - 14 min drive - 14.9 km
  • Bantry House - 25 min drive - 23.1 km
  • Barleycove Beach - 46 min drive - 46.5 km
  • Garnish Island - 49 min drive - 45.1 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Blairs Cove House & Restaurant - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Arundels By The Pier - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Cent’anni - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Sheeps Head Inn - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Murphys Restaurant Castletownbere - ‬42 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Charming old cottage overlooking Dunmanus Bay located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Dunmanus Bay and within 9 mi (15 km) of Kilravock Garden and Bantry Bay. Wolfe Tone Square and Bantry House are also within 12 mi (20 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 72 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 72 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 72 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 72 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 72 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bill B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Iconic house with a great view!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Glen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, for exploring the peninsula and surrounding area.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Fiona B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

Great locationWonderful
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tyler S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding and Beautiful

Perfect location to use as a launching pad to see the area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

lesli g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It could do with another shower in one of the bathrooms
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great trip

Thanks to Margaret and Annette for a lovely stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anna O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfectly cosy

Exactly as described, cosy and well equipped (dryer in humid winter was a real plus). Bedrooms were great with comfy beds and spacious dining room. The fireplace worked really well.We had a lovely week in this magical place in west cork!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Don F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great base for exploring the Sheepshead

The cottage is very spacious, and comfortable, located close to wonderful walks and drives. Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Matthias G.

A lovely place to relax

We spent a very relaxing week in this lovely cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

Daragh R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter weekend break

Lovely property full of character.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Glen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great family break

Our second year staying here. Can’t recommend enough, beautiful cottage, great location. We’ll be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robin T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We spent the most amazing two weeks in this beautiful cottage this August. From the moment we arrived, everything felt like home. The place was spotlessly clean, the fire was laid and ready to light, and the view over the bay was absolutely spectacular.The garden was huge - plenty of space for our six-year-old twins and our energetic West Highland terrier to run around and enjoy themselves. There was more than enough parking for two large cars, and some of the most incredible walks you could imagine, the moment you leave the property.There were so many highlights, it’s hard to choose just a few! Among our favourites were the fantastic, well-equipped kitchen - it had everything we needed to make amazing meals every night. The two bathrooms and an additional shower meant everyone could get ready at the same time with no waiting around, and the large dining table could easily seat up to eight people for dinner. The two cozy sofas by the fire were perfect for snuggling up on the one rainy day we had (out of the whole two weeks!).To top it all off, the Tin Pub down by the sea was just a ten-minute walk away - a wonderful spot for a pint while looking out over the bay.We can’t wait to go back to this cottage - it was absolutely perfect. We couldn’t fault a thing!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We will come back

Ideally suited both as a cozy retreat and as a base for hiking or exploring the coast from Beara to Baltimore.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Isabelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our Christmas hideway.

The cottage is warm and cosy and located on the main hiking trails. It is a perfect location for hikers and the little village of Ahakista is lovely for swimming also. We had a great time, looking forward to experiencing it again in the summer as the landscape is breathtaking.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Craig S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New Year's Eve at Charlie's

Had a wonderful stay on the Sheepshead Peninsula. Great walks and – naturally – pubs: Eileen's at Kilcrohane; Arundels by the Pier at Akhahista, where we celebrated our friend's birthday and partied on New Year's Eve; and Ma Murphy's in Bantry. The food at Arundels was delicious. We would love to come back and visit during the spring and summer and go to the Tin Pub, which is just down the road from the cottage.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

Carol w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

A bit tired

The property is a lovely old cottage. It has a beautiful position, great views, peaceful ,lovely garden. Plenty of space. Unfortunately a few small things let it down. The bed in main bedroom was so uncomfy, the springs were poking through. The curtains looked like they had been made of old sheets. The sofas need changing and the ceiling needs to be painted white to make it more inviting. Also need a new ironing board. Just need a bit of money spent on it to make it a great property.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sheer bliss

We stepped back in time to a gentler pace of life in this idyllic cottage in a breathtakingly beautiful area. We had a warm welcome in the local bars and wonderful walks in the hills. Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mr

A beautiful quaint Irish cottage with fireplace, you couldn’t ask for more.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nathan D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Ahakista

A great location on the sheep head peninsula! The traditional home is a perfect fit for a true Ireland experience. It is well maintained and very accommodating. The nearby pubs and people are a delight and there is excellent hiking and beautiful scenery all around! Very close to the hustle and bustle of Bantry and far enough a way to experience a country side of life as well. I would go back again and again to this lovely home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mr Terry Barry

It was absolutely brilliant on all fronts. Margaret and Anette were fantastic in setting the place up and being helpful with any requests. The owner Charlie Cotton was also brilliant in helping us. We loved our 3 week stay here. It was even better than our earlier 3 week stay at the Blairscove cottage at Dunmanus Pier prior to crossing Dunmanus Bay to Ahakista.
Stayed 21 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karl G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Secluded farmhouse full of character

We spent 3 nights in Ahakista and felt the property was exactly how described - a rustic farmhouse full of character and nicely restored. It’s is very spacious and as we went in February as soon as open fire got going very cosy. Two things to bear in mind - we went with our dog thinking we’d hike and walk everywhere but dogs are not allowed on sheep’s head. The other is everything is closed off season so cafés , restaurants, shops etc are very limited. We had decided to revisit glengariff woods , schull , Barleycove, crookhaven all within 40 minute drive.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Olive O.

Cosy

Great break away. Plenty space for all of us (Family of 5 and a dog) all very happy. Enough firewood left for our first night which was welcomed. Plenty to do in the area, lovely walks. The kids loved the small beach down by the tin shed. The tin shed was closed for the season but Arundels open and very pleasant. Plenty to do in the area. A visit to mizen head a must and Barleycove beech was just amazing. Went to Crookhaven for lunch and our little doggie was welcomed into the pub. Went to garnish island which I feel would have been amazing in the spring and summer when the plants would be seen in all their glory. Unfortunately some of the island was closed due to storm damage but the ferry over was special, we saw plenty of seals. The cottage was welcoming after a day of activities. Easy space to prepare meals and dining room offered a space where we discussed our days and plan the next. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017

4/10 Poor

matt s.

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Superb location good house for summer months .. expensive to heat

We loved that we had great access to lovely walking trails but felt on return the house was always cold . The sting of having to pay per unit of electricity was something I hadn’t expected when booking . No central heating but electric storage type heaters and immersion for water is not a very efficient use of electricity. The main let down for me was that I booked it expecting it to have a TV!!!! There is a small extremely old portable type tv in a locker that plays dvds .. ! This needs to be removed from amenities as it’s misleading . The owners might look into putting a cleaner burning stove in the big fireplace as I struggled with the air quality being asthmatic. I understand it’s an old house And it has some lovely charm but a few changes would make a world of difference. Access to beach is 750m not 200m . This also needs to be changed on amenities .
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claudia N.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Margaret war sehr freundlich. Schlüsselübergabe und Ausstattung bestens. Cottage urig, tolle Lage im Grünen mit Meerblick.Kleines Feuer im Kamin war optisch schön, strahlte aber keine Wärme ab bzw. nur Rauch. Daher ist im Herbst die Elektro-Heizung erforderlich. Elektro-Kosten sind extra zu zahlen. Sauberkeit des Geschirrs, des Herdes und im Bad ließen zu wünschen übrig. Dusche über Boiler blieb an den letzten zwei Tagen kalt, obwohl in den Waschbecken heißes Wasser anlag - Ursache unklar.
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Achim K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Sehr schönes kleines Cottage in sehr ruhiger Lage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Charlie Cotton

Host profile image
Cotton's Cottage, an old farmhouse, was acquired in the 1960's by my parents and now 4 generations of the Cotton family have enjoyed holidays there, particularly appreciating the peaceful and tranquil setting.
It holds a special place for our family today as it was where I proposed to my wife and where, by coincidence, we twice discovered we were expecting a child. It has been lovely to see the children grow up, visit on their own as young adults and then return with future generations.

Why they chose this property

The south west of Ireland is special for the fingers of land pushing out towards the Atlantic and the sheltered bays they create. We are at the centre of the Sheep's Head peninsular which overlooks Dunmanus Bay and on the other side of the hill, Bantry Bay. The Cottage is an old farmhouse which has been restored as a holiday home, nestling into the rocky hillside.
The Sheep's Head Way, a 200km walking route, passes the end of the lane.

What makes this property unique

The peace and tranquility at this cosy Cottage never fails to soothe. You can just sit and look at the water in Dunmanus Bay, every time the view looks different and special or walk a little bit of the Sheep's Head Way, the 200km walking route which passes your door.
As Seamus Heaney wrote of this area 'water and ground in their extremity' or as we say in the family 'next stop america....

Languages:

English, French

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