When we decided to vacation in Ireland, I asked my wife, "Do you want to stay primarily in the cities or out in the country?" She said, "Definitely country." We spent two nights in Ireland, and the rest of our 9 day vacation at Sandmount. Once we arrived on site, we loved it! It looks exactly like the photos, so there was no surprise.
You will be within 1-2 hours of stunning beauty: Dursey Island, Killarney National Park, the magical Healy Pass (which we drove on a misty day), and Mizen Head. I think it's important to be a confident driver if you rent a car, as driving the R roads throughout Ireland is not for the faint of heart as they are quite narrow and windy, and trucks and buses take them at the speed limit, which I found to be higher than would be posted in the US.
The property itself is stunning. It has walking path through very interesting forest. It's within a 5 minute walk to Bantry Bay and a rocky beach. The kitchen is great for cooks, with a beautiful 6 burner stove and large oven. The seating in both the living room and solarium are very comfortable. The view out of the solarium is serene. Everything was just so charming. If you want a good taste of what rural living in Ireland is like, I believe this property is a great example.
Having full sized washing machine and dryer were extremely handy, although the dryer was very slow to dry. The tankless water heater put out very hot water, but if both showers are running at the same time, one person might not get as much hot water as the other. The beds were comfortable enough: you’re in Ireland, so you won’t want to waste too many hours lying in bed. The internet provided was fast enough to stream Netflix.
Castletownbere is within a 10 minute drive, and there is a well-stocked grocery store, a great pub, and good seafood restaurant.
John was very prompt and friendly via email. He provided a helpful info sheet, which included a history of the property. Anne was very kind to check in on us on our first and last days. We are grateful for their gracious hospitality. Check in and check out couldn't have been easier.
Sandmount fulfilled and exceeded our expectations. My wife and I hope to go back again someday.