We arrived at Mandy's place at the beginning of a chilly Irish Winter and were welcomed with a warm hug and a home that had the fire already burning. The cottage is located in a stunning location and is quiet, peaceful and super romantic for couples.
The air is crisp and clean – and at times you can hear the waves crashing on the shores of the cliffs and beach close by – absolute heaven for those coming from the concrete jungles.
There is enough space to really relax as well as a lovely kitchen equipped with everything you need to cook your own meals. There is also a washing machine and detergent which was a great relief as hubby and I had been on the road for a few days and really needed to do some laundry.
The bathtub was my favorite, it's an old style one with four legs. There is no shower but rather a hand held hose you can attach to the bathtub tap if you need to wash your hair properly etc.
Here are some important things to know which I feel need to be clarified if you plan to visit:
1) Rural Ireland doesn't have street names and addresses like in big cities etc and sometimes Google Maps doesn't work. So it's important to know that the 'post box number' is what will get you to the cottage. As a city slicker this was a bit unusual for me and something I feel you need to prepare for if you plan to go outside the big city as at times SAT NAV also doesn't work.
2) If you plan to visit in Winter it's important to know that Mandy has a premium charge of €6 per hour for heating in addition to the nightly rate which is only for 6 hours of heating a day. She informs you of this on arrival. This is not really enough if you're used to 24 hour heating in your home during cold weather. I think it's important to know this before you book.
3) It's the same thing with firewood. We only had enough firewood for 1 night which we had to replenish ourselves after. Again this is an extra cost you need to be aware of if you'd like more or if you're staying in Winter as it is cold!!!!
4) Brekkie is minimal. There are dry cereals, milk, butter, jam and bread only. We arrived during the festive period so nothing was open. The closest grocery store is 15 mins drive away.
5) The double bed in the main room is on the smaller side. Also, it caves in the middle a bit, so not as comfy as it looked in the pics.
Overall, I really enjoyed staying here – Mandy is a kind and thoughtful host. She is a great communicator and also sent me tips and advice on the surrounding area and how to access the Cliffs of Moher – one of Ireland's natural wonders! She also advised us on local places to eat and shop. So as long as you're ok with the above – I highly recommend it!