Idyllically set in 80 acres of gardens, fields and woodland, with views of the Mountains of Mourne to the south and Slieve Croob to the west, this gorgeous house is just three miles from Downpatrick and would make a wonderful base for experiencing the St Patrick Story and exploring this beautiful county.
Although a new build, Sally King and her husband wanted to enjoy all the benefits of a Georgian house while having the comfort of mod cons too - and not only have they been true to the spirit and elegant proportions of the classical Georgian country house, but the materials used have been carefully selected for authenticity and quality so it will age gracefully.
With high ceilings, hand-made plaster cornices, draught-proof sash windows, original Irish Georgian fireplaces and discreet under-floor heating, the well-proportioned reception rooms offer the best of both worlds, including WiFi.
The six bedrooms, which can all be twins or supersize doubles, are beautifully furnished with great attention to detail and every comfort you could wish for including electric blankets, flat-screen TV/radio, tea/coffee tray, hair-dryer, trouser press, iron and ironing board – and even a wind-up torch and shoe cleaning kit. L'Occitaine toiletries are a nice extra in the luxurious bathrooms, which all sport heated towel rails, fluffy towels and waffle dressing gowns.
Should you need entertainment during your stay, there’s a full size billiard table, also a guest sitting room with a wood-burning stove and comfy sofas where there’s 40" flat screen TV with DVD player, and an iPad dock. For relaxation in fine weather, there’s croquet, boules and lovely walks, also terraces with outdoor furniture where you can sit and enjoy the view over a wild life pond to the countryside beyond - and a conservatory offers an appealing option on chilly days.
The Kings take pride in sourcing the best local products for breakfast, which is served in the elegant dining room - sausages, bacon, eggs and smoked salmon all come from within a few miles, the honey is home-produced, and free-range/organic/Fair Trade products are used whenever possible. Sally’s jams are made with home grown fruit – and she even uses home grown lemons in her marmalade. An attractive card showing the provenance of all the food served sits proudly on the table.
Dinner is not offered but there are several restaurants in the area, and Sally will advise – and, with Belfast 25 minutes away and Downpatrick only a 5 minute drive, there is plenty of choice.
Any time of year would be lovely at Dunnanelly, but the entrance is perhaps most dramatic in spring, when over 36,000 daffodil bulbs planted along the driveway come into flower. Simply lovely.
