Our house is located in the very south of Ireland, 35 kilometres from Cork City, overlooking the sea.  Ballycotton is a small, quiet and scenic fishing village with a population of about 300. There are clean, unspoilt and safe sandy beaches close by, cliff walks with little inlets for picnics and plenty of good fishing. See www.ballycotton.ie

It is a home away from home for us.  Downstairs there is a large, well equipped, kitchen with dining area, a utility room with washing machine and dryer, a large sitting room and a toilet. Upstairs there are 4 bedrooms and a bathroom.  The main bedroom is ensuite. In total we have 3 double beds and one single bed. The village has a tennis court, a pitch and putt course and an extensive marshy bird sanctuary for the bird lover. There is a church, a shop, a very nice hotel www.thebayviewhotel.com good restaurants and a number of pubs.

Midleton, where the famous Jameson whiskey distillery is located (https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-IE/visit-us/jameson-distillery-midleton), is a very good shopping town and only 15 minutes drive away.  The farmers' market held here every Saturday morning should not be missed.

The Lonely Planet travel guide of 2010 named Cork as one of the top 10 cities to visit! In its 2012 edition it states "everything good about Ireland can be found in County Cork". Ballycotton was named as one of Europe's 'secret villages' by the National Geographic in 2018 for its remote beauty and history - and the jewel of the village is the stunning cliff walk.

We are less than 5 minutes drive from the world famous Ballymaloe Cookery School and gardens (www.cookingisfun.ie) and about the same to Ballymaloe house and restaurant.

The surrounding area is well known for its good food.  Fishing boats land their catch at the pier several times a week. Visit Ballycotton Seafood shops, near Ladysbridge and Midleton to buy some fresh fish. Ballycotton produces the best potatoes in the world!

See the pottery ranges made nearby, based down a leafy lane a few minutes drive away - their potters use traditional techniques that have existed for over 250 years in the local area.

Ballycotton is an ideal location for making day trips to West Cork and to East Cork.  The lovely Blackwater valley is within easy reach.  If you are interested in golf there are a number of good golf courses within  a 25 minute drive.

We have done 20 house swaps so far.  We have exchanged with families in Finland, Switzerland, France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, England and Germany.  All of them have been really great experiences and we have met wonderful people.

We look forward to hearing from you.