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Luxury on the Wild Atlantic Way, West Cork.
Originally built in 1771 for Colonel George Sandes the house was famously the home for 30 years of Noel Redding, bass guitarist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Clonakilty music hero. Over the last number of years it has been lovingly renovated and restored to its former glory and with many reminders of its illustrious past still on view.
Dunowen House is in the unspoilt village of Ardfield, with secluded Sands Cove private beach 5 minutes walk from the door and close to magnificent Galley Head lighthouse. The bustling market town of Clonakilty is only 5km away, with Kinsale a 45 minute drive to the east and Bantry the same distance to the west.
Dunowen is perfectly located to explore all that magnificent West Cork has to offer including the...Luxury on the Wild Atlantic Way, West Cork.
Originally built in 1771 for Colonel George Sandes the house was famously the home for 30 years of Noel Redding, bass guitarist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Clonakilty music hero. Over the last number of years it has been lovingly renovated and restored to its former glory and with many reminders of its illustrious past still on view.
Dunowen House is in the unspoilt village of Ardfield, with secluded Sands Cove private beach 5 minutes walk from the door and close to magnificent Galley Head lighthouse. The bustling market town of Clonakilty is only 5km away, with Kinsale a 45 minute drive to the east and Bantry the same distance to the west.
Dunowen is perfectly located to explore all that magnificent West Cork has to offer including the Wild Atlantic Way, golfing, surfing, fishing, whale watching, birdwatching, horse riding, sailing, wind surfing and kayaking.
With over 5000 sq ft of living space the property offers 3 reception rooms, a fully fitted kitchen/dining area and a music/entertainment room. Upstairs there are 6 large bedrooms all with stunning en-suite bathrooms which will comfortably sleep 18 people but will also suit smaller groups.Bedroom 1 - 1 king 2 singlesBedroom 2 - 1 king (the bridal suite !!)Bedroom 3 - 1 superking 4 poster bedBedroom 4 - 1 king 1 singleBedroom 5 - 1 double 1 single (in annex)Bedroom 6 - 1 king 1 single.
New for 2016, additional 3 bed accommodation in newly renovated Orchard Cottage located in the walled garden on the grounds of Dunowen House. Cots are also available on request.Weekend rates are available (except for June July and August)And if you really want to spoil yourselves and take the 'self' out of self-catering and let us cook lunch or dinner - or to give you lessons on how to do so !!
House Rules
Pets not allowedKid friendlyNo smoking
Bedrooms
1 Super King5 Kings1 Double4 Singles1 Cot
Bathrooms
2 Half baths6 Attached (ensuite)
Meet the host
Kela H
Hosting since February 2011
Languages spoken: English
Response Time: Within a few hours
Interaction with guests: Owners Kela & Stephen Hodgins live in the renovated Coach House on the grounds of Dunowen House. Guests are welcomed on arrival, given a tour of Dunowen House and shown how everything works. Kela & Stephen are on hand for any queries, assistance or recommendations if required but far enough away that guests have complete privacy during their stay. Kela & Stephen also offer additional catering services, with Dinner Parties being most popular with guests. These must be booked in advance. Additional cleaning services can also be provided if required.
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I would give more stars if I could! This was my large family‘s fifth two-week stay since 2015. We book both the house and Orchard Cottage. Every visit to Dunowen House is reassuringly the same yet somehow better. This time a trip to Gougane Barra and hiking the Courtmacsherry Coast Loop were new to me and both were highlights of my trip. Locally, we enjoyed countless cups of the best coffee ever from The Fish Basket at Long Strand (I know that sounds weird as it's a fish and chip shop but trust me). We also loved the music at Fisher's Cross, shopping in Clonakilty, and the gorgeous local beaches. But as always, the best times were relaxing on the beautiful terrace in the mornings and spending the evenings with family and friends at Dunowen House. Kela and Steve are wonderful, thoughtful hosts and both houses were impeccable. We cannot wait to return!
Visited August 2024
Written 26 August 2024. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rwalsh2015
Cambridge, MA4 contributions
Once again, a prefect vacation spot!
This was our fourth stay at Dunowen House and it's always perfect! We were due to go in 2021 but couldn't (thank you Covid) so we were so thrilled to be back. We are a large family group and all the space (both inside and out) makes for a very comfortable stay.There's plenty of beaches, restaurants, markets, and music near Ardfield. New to me this trip was Warren Beach, Sheepshead Peninsula, Garnish Island, Bantry, and Union Hall.
But my favorite spot was the newly renovated terrace at Dunowen House. Luckily for us Ireland had some of the warmest weather in years while we were there and we spent hours relaxing on the terrace. Thanks again Kela and Steve!
Visited July 2022
Written 15 August 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ger Foley
Dublin, Ireland3 contributions
TRANQUILLITY
We came upon the Orchard Cottage accidently while googling a place to stay for the New Year. One look at the photos of the Cottage and I felt we were going to have a super break. On arrival we were greeted to freshly baked scones and the essentials in the fridge with the fire set and the cottage so cosy and warm. The décor just makes you feel so much at home. No detail was spared. It’s a spectacular place with some amazing places to visits, on the doorstep of some amazing beaches and great restaurants. We will return to finish off our tour of West Cork and once again enjoy the peace and tranquillity that Orchard Cottage offers. Thank you Kela and Stephen….
Visited December 2021
Written 7 January 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Emma Rice
1 contribution
Wonderful experience
My family and I had the pleasure of staying in the orchard cottage for a couple of days in early September. The house was exceptionally clean and Kela was very welcoming and helpful, delighting us with tasty treats upon our arrival. Highly recommended.
Visited September 2020
Written 2 October 2020. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nomad25895793892
1 contribution
Absolutely amazing!
We needed to find a spot to host a small family reunion on our recent trip to Ireland and Dunowen House proved to be the perfect choice. The house itself is stunning - beautifully designed but comfortable enough for little ones to run around in.
The surrounding countryside is lovely, with the beach right on the doorstep.
Kela and Stephen are excellent hosts, offering loads of suggestions and helpful hints, even providing us beach towels so our crazy Canadian family could take a January dip in the sea!
We were also happy we chose to have Kela and Stephen cater a 3 course birthday dinner for us onsite. The food was awesome, more than we could eat, with lots of choices for our vegan and vegetarians.
I really can’t say enough about the house, the area and our hosts at Dunowen. (If only I could give them more than 5 stars).
It really made our trip to Ireland magical - we’ll be back! ☘️
Visited January 2020
Written 19 January 2020. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
gch656612
Kildare, Ireland9 contributions
True 5 Star,
We had a magnificent four nights here bringing in the New Year.
West Cork is a special place and Dunowen House is an exceptional property nestling in a beautiful location, beaches and walks all around.
The House was warm and cosy and was presented to us in an impeccable state, no detail overlooked. The photographs represent the house accurately.
Kela and Stephen are a warm and accommodating couple, always ready to facilitate and advise. There is a super local pub with a restaurant one minute from the house which is a good spot to start off an evening.
West Cork is famous for it fresh produce from the land and sea and I can not think of a better spot to enjoy it and indulge.
We highly recommend Dunowen House and we will return.
Thank you very much Kela and Stephen for a magnificent venue, we loved it.
Visited December 2019
Written 4 January 2020. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Niall M
Crosshaven, Ireland5 contributions
50th Birthday Party Weekend
We had the most fantastic weekend at Dunowen house for my birthday. The rooms and bedrooms in the house are beautifully decorated and everyone had a lovely stay. All couples we able to relax in double rooms and we also rented out The Lodge on the grounds also, perfect for a mixture of friend/couples. There are two sitting rooms which work out great for a choice of quiet or party. An amazing venue !
Visited November 2019
Written 7 December 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Orla
2 contributions
Best Hen Party Ever
I can not recommend Dunowen House enough! From the moment we arrived to the moment we left we loved every second of it. The house is out of this world. Every room is beautifully decorated. It is so warm and cosy we didn’t want to leave. The dinner they provided was excellent and the brownies were delicious. I will definitely be back and would highly recommend it to anyone ❤️❤️❤️
Visited October 2019
Written 21 October 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TCollins
1 contribution
Amazing Hen Weekend!!!
We recently had my friends hen party at Dunowen House. We had the most amazing weekend!
From the minute we arrived it was more than we ever could have imagined! Keela even had fresh scones and jam for us.
The house itself is stunning and it's very clear the owners have an eye for interiors. Each room is very different and has its own charm. The bathrooms are done to such a high standard! I think all 20 of our guests had to have showers and baths just to try them out!!
We were so lucky to have fabulous sunny weather and were able to sit out on the terrace for breakfast. We also walked down to the cove which is right by the house.
Keela and Steven cooked for us on the Saturday night. Again our meal was so beautiful. The presentation was as good if not better than any restaurant. Service was excellent and they had the timing done perfectly. All of our guests have been talking about it since.
Keela gave us the number of a local taxi company who collected us the Saturday night . We went to Casey's bar which was brilliant, we didn't stop dancing all night!
We had the best weekend at Dunowen and I would highly recommend it for a luxurious hen. You will not be disappointed!! Our hen was absolutely blown away by the property and loved every minute of it. Hopefully we will return to Dunowen again in the future!
Visited September 2019
Written 25 September 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jet546528
We are absolutely delighted to hear you enjoyed your stay with us and that the Hen was so happy, especially when you had managed to keep the location a secret from her! Thank you so much for taking the time out to give us such fab feedback, it means so much to Stephen & I.
Best wishes for the wedding celebrations and hope to see you back at another time again.
Kela & Stephen ;-)
Written 1 October 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rwalsh2015
Cambridge, MA4 contributions
Perfect once again!
This was my family's third two-week stay in four years and it gets better every time! The property and grounds are impeccable and very well maintained. The newly renovated kitchen is beautiful and a joy to cook in. We rent the house and the cottage and both are lovely. The weather was great and we loved sitting out on the terrace almost every day and evening. On every visit we find new things to try. This trip's highlights include night time kayaking to see the bioluminescence on Lough Hyne, Baltimore and the ferry to Sherkin island, and the Classic Whiskey Tour at the nearby Clonakilty Distillery. Clonakilty is a great base to see so much of West Cork, and staying in Dunowen House makes it even more special. It's a wonderful house for a family vacation. We cannot wait to go back.
Visited July 2019
Written 13 August 2019. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jet546528
Thanks a million Ruth, it was great to see you all again this year. Love that you are still finding new things to do, each of those activities you booked are fantastic experiences and favourites of ours too. Looking forward to seeing you back again in 2021! Best wishes, Kela & Stephen x
Written 14 August 2019. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Whether you are seeking an activity filled break (fishing, sailing, surfing, horse riding, golfing) or just want to get away from it all and chill in a beautiful tranquil setting close to some amazing beach and cliff walks set amongst some of West Cork's most stunning scenery - Dunowen House offers everything. Set in 4 acres of landscaped gardens, with mature trees Dunowen offers total seclusion and privacy. Only 500 yards from Sands Cove beach and within easy reaching distance of Red Strand, Galley Head lighthouse and Long Strand the only problem you will have will be deciding which beach to or cove to visit. Vibrant Clonakilty town is 10 minutes drive & hosts numerous music festivals, traditional Irish pubs, shops and restaurants.
Getting around
A car is necessary when staying at Dunowen as there is no public transport to the house. There are local taxi services available for evening trips into Clonakilty or other nearby towns.
Access
Car required
How to get there
We are located 1 hours drive from Cork Airport and 40 minutes drive from Cork/Swansea ferry
100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
50% refund* if you cancel at least 4 weeks before check-in
No refund available once booking is confirmed
Notes from owner
PLEASE NOTE THE PRICES SHOWN ARE FOR RENTAL OF THE WHOLE HOUSE AND NOT PER PERSON PRICES.
Discounts on late availability (short notice) can be facilitated. October - April inclusive, for stays of more than 2 nights, additional metered standard electricity charges will apply.
About this property
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