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Review submitted by Merrily from San Diego, California, USA (Submitted: 11 Jan 2013)
We had a wonderful stay at Hillside Cottage. It was cozy and comortable, and perfect for the three of us (myself, my sister and my niece). We checked out all the pubs and bar food in Ballycotton during our two weeks there and found every one of them to be excellent. The cliff walk was spectacular, and not to be missed. Also be sure to go visit the Lifeboat Shop. At the end of the day we loved going "home" to a cup of tea made in our own kitchen and warming our toes by the fireplace.
Review submitted by Jessica from London (Submitted: 24 Oct 2012)
I have nothin but good things to say about this place. Just beautiful!
4 of us came to Ireland for a wedding which was held in the church pretty much next door. It was perfect for everything we needed it for. Very comfortable and cosy. We will be coming back very soon!
Review submitted by Margaret from Penrith (Submitted: 24 Sep 2012)
We booked this cottage to combine a short holiday with taking our son to study at UCC. We loved the views from the cottage, the coastal village and found the local pub to be a friendly place. Very well equipped, everything we needed, thank you.
Review submitted by Ruth from Oxford (Submitted: 24 Aug 2012)
We have stayed at Hillside Cottage before and will be booking again for next year. The cottage was spotless again and there is absolutely everything that could be needed. We are avid cooks and love the well kitted out kitchen and the BBQ is a bonus. We were unable to make use of it this year as the weather was inclement and the fish were not being caught but we did enjoy the lovely quiet sunshine in the mornings, in the garden with our coffee and no more noise than the BUMBLEBEEs buzzing in the floral borders. We didnt need the heating this year and only used the lounge fire in the evenings. We cant recommend this cottage enough for a great bolthole for exploring the area. There is plenty of linen and bedding stored if needed. Just a note - There is a short cut from the chapel next door down to the main street. We went to the local at the bottom of the road to the left (Schooner ?) and had the most amazing meal. It was huge though - be warned. The village store has everything. We recommend the Clonikilty Sausages and Black pudding.We highly recommend this cottage. Ruth, Walter and Rita.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 18 Aug 2012)
Stan & Evelyn, The Netherlands Date 14 July 2012
Thanks for letting us stay in your lovely cottage. We will be back. Our girls had a great time here, they didnt want to leave.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 18 Aug 2012)
Review of Geraldine & Gary, Kent, UK Review made on 26 June 2012
We had absolutely loved our stay in Hillside cottage. It really feels homely and cosy. We are gonna miuss waking up to the view. The cottage is so nice we somtimes struggled to ear ourselves away.
Review not verified by RentalSystems* (Submitted: 18 Aug 2012)
Review Terry & Hailey from Texas, USA and Norway - 10 June 2012
Our travel agent found the wibsite on the net advertising Hillside Cottage. What a bit of good fortune. The cottage is cozy comfortable well equiped. Love the village and the people. Mike and his family at Schooner Bar befriended us and helped us learn and enjoy the Village. Weather not so nice. Walked the cliffs, wnt to Lismore (beautiful), had great meals here at Herring Gull and Hotel, in LIsmore atOBriens Chop House, and in Midleton at Farmgate. Enjoyed the experience very much.
I joined Terry on Friday and had a wonderful couple of days in Ballycotton. Wondeful place and village. Will come back.
Review submitted by Seamus from Greystones (Submitted: 17 Jun 2012)
A great place to stay, fantastic views and very comfortable. Great value.
Review submitted by Sue from Easkey (Submitted: 2 Apr 2012)
As ever brilliant to be back in Ballycotton in Hillside Cottage tthe cosiest,, sweetest cottage. The views are as stunning as ever and such a lovely place to stay in Cork. There is everything you need in the cottage, very well equipped. Great location and lots tyo see in the area. Kinsale is always worth the visit and the beaches and cliff walks are beeautiful. We will be back.
Review submitted by Catherine from Douglas (Submitted: 18 Feb 2012)
Lovely Cottage. Fantastic views from double bedroom and kitchen. Great to relax in front of the open fire in the evening or take a short stroll to the local hosteleries. The cottage is very clean and comfortable with a very well equiped kitchen. Very well located in a quiet area but only a short walk to the shop, restaurants and pubs.
Review submitted by Walter from Belfast (Submitted: 23 Aug 2011)
The property had everything needed and more than expected. Perhaps a BBQ would have been good but we had brought our own. We are avid cooks and absolutely everything needed was there. We did, unfortunately, manage to leave behing a favourite fry pan and splash guard, which we had brought with us. Enjoy using it. The view out of the kitchen window is spectacular and we even saw a Dolphin in the Bay. The mackerel were in and we were catching, BBQing and eating within the hour. What a wonderful experience. The beds are very comfortable and the whole cottage is beautifully furnished and so homely. We cant recommend this cottage any higher than we have. We would gladly recommend this property to anyone we know or otherwise, who wants a lovely quiet time away in a lovely popular area of Cork County. There is a lovely restaurant in the village with a wide range of prices - head down to the harbour, its on the right. Think on this - the bumble bees were the loudest noise we heard in the mornings, in the garden - the odd morning you will get called to chapel but the bell is not at all loud. Note - intermittent mobile signal and no wifi. For wifi dro p into Carphone Warehouse in Midleton and buy a wireless dongle if you have to work whilst on holiday. They were extremely helpful to me as I had to keep in contact with my office on a daily basis. Enjoy this wonderful cottage and the surrounding area. We are seriously considering booking the cottage again, soon.
Owner reply:
We have now gotten a gas BBQ
Review submitted by Sally from Houston Texas USA (Submitted: 3 May 2011)
This was the perfect home base for exploring the East Coast of Ireland. Owners Margaret and Barry were great - made me feel very welcome. The website pictures are very accurate, but dont do the real thing justice. Beautiful view of the bay - enjoyed sitting on the terrace, watching the tides. The double bed is fantastic - I slept very well. The store in Ballycotton is very well stocked, with just about anything you may need. The satellite tv was a nice addition. I cant say enough good things about Hillside Cottage - would definitely recommend to anyone, looking for an authentic Irish self catering experience.
Review submitted by Catherine from Shankill, Co. Dublin (Submitted: 14 Aug 2010)
A sweet little cottage, ideally positioned within short walking (if uphill!) distance of shop (one shop only in village but well stocked), pubs, restaurants and RC church (cottage is next but one to the church in fact), yet in a very peaceful location and with a fabulous view of the bay from the back bedroom, kitchen and garden.
A little bit stressful finding the cottage as the landmark given in the directions at which to turn (the Garda Station) is not visible until you are past the turn! Also, the name on the cottage consisted of just a typed sheet in the frosted window which is not really visible to a passing car and which had fallen down on the day we arrived! Probably best to park and locate on foot. However, it is well worth any effort to find Hillside Cottage.
Perfect for 2 or for a couple and one child (the fourth bed can then be used for the suitcases as there is really nowhere else to put them). A bit too small for 4 adults, or for very tall or large people.
Very clean and well equipped. No tumble drier but a line in the garden and pegs. TV/DVD player (a bit tricky to use if youre not very technically minded!). There is also a radio/CD player and even some nice CDs.
Hillside Cottage is an ideal base for walkers and birdwatchers. The Atlantic Cliff Walk (turn R just before the harbour) is a must but not for the unfit or the very overweight as the concrete stiles are extremely narrow. In Ballycotton itself, swimming is off the rocks only (and a very steep climb down - certainly not suitable for children) but sandy beaches within a short drive in Garryvoe and a bit further on in Youghal. Garryvoe beach a bit exposed and can be windy/cool but its a clean, Blueflag beach with Lifeguard in season and the sand is firm so perfect for a bracing walk! And do not leave Garryvoe without first buying a loaf of the nicest brown bread youve ever tasted in the little shop beside the hotel at the entrance to the carpark - made by Maureen OShea I was told and only €3 for a good sized loaf.
Good range of places to eat in/near the village, to suit every pocket, from Skinnys Diner to Ballymaloe House (which was a bit too much for us @ €75 a head, albeit for a 6 course meal). Skinnys Diner dont do takeouts but Waves do and Waves also has a range of delicious homemade cakes and does handcut homemade chips (but not always - its worth asking for them). Waves is well worth a visit too for their exhibition of the work of local artists/photographers which changes monthly and pictures are available for purchase at reasonable prices. Very friendly staff everywhere especially in Waves and in the Schooner Bar next door which does a very nice meal, if you dont mind the TV on while you eat. Nautilus restaurant in the Inn by the Harbour is nice but quite pricey for what you get and the bar there was not to our taste at all (noisy clientele and stale smell). Didnt eat in the Bayview Hotel restaurant as it was expensive but if you fancied dressing up for dinner it would be a place to go from where you could walk back and not as expensive as Ballymaloe House 3kms away. Short cut from harbour & shop end of village back to cottage via the Church steps (80 odd!).
Lots of places to visit within a short driving distance of Ballycotton - Midleton, Cobh, Fota Wildlife Park, Fota House and Gardens (but beware the public toilets beside Fota House - they are disgusting), Ballymaloe cookery school, farm shop and gardens, Ballymaloe House, gift shop (heaven for cooks!) and restaurant, Jack OPatsys pottery and coffee shop and Shanagarry Design Centre. For something to do on rainy days or with bored children, Cork city and Youghal have cinema, bowling alley etc. We found the staff in the Tourist Offices in both places to be particularly friendly and helpful and enjoyed our visits there.
Owner reply:
Thank you for your review. The directions letter has now been updated (the Garda Station recently moved) and a new sign has been ordered for the Front Gate.
Review submitted by veronique from fontenay sous bois (Submitted: 13 Jul 2010)
Very clean,character,comfortable,cosy.
Beautiful seaview.
Car needed.
Review submitted by Honora from Kilkenny (Submitted: 8 Jun 2010)
Great holiday cottage! It is exactly as described, great sea views, really clean, very well equipped - plenty of everything you need. Really homely - lots of pictures on wall, comfy couch, really comfy beds (hard to get out of some mornings!!). Theres a built in DVD in the telly - something we did not know beforehand! Its right in the village, just a stroll away from the pubs and eateries. We were very lucky with the weather but, had we had bad weather, we would have been more than happy to spend more time in the cottage. Great location also, Ballycotton is very cute and there is so much to do around the area, well worth a visit. We will be back at some stage!
Review submitted by Mandy from Hexham (Submitted: 4 Dec 2009)
Hillside Cottage is a delightful property. The views from the bedroom and kitchen across the bay are spectacular - especially in the storms! Calm days were even better........
Location wise it is perfectly placed for dro pping down the short hill to the pubs and also for walks along the coastline.
Its a well equipped, very cosy cottage we spent a very comfortable week in Ballycotton.
Review submitted by UNA from FALKIRK (Submitted: 20 Oct 2009)
Well equipped cosy cottage in the heart of the village with spectacular views of Ballycotton Bay.
Review submitted by Jo from Kibworth (Submitted: 16 Aug 2009)
The photos on the internet do not do this property justice. It was beautiful and clean with a fantastic view over the bay. We wouldnt hesitate to return. The people of ballycotten are very friendly and we had a great holliday!!!
Review submitted by Michael from Manchester (Submitted: 5 Aug 2009)
The property was in an excellent setting and was more than we expected. It was clean, had access to local facilities and the neighbours were exteremly friendly. I would recomend this to anybody visiting East Cork
Review submitted by Janet from Hereford (Submitted: 11 Jul 2009)
A cozy, well-maintained and fully equipped cottage. Everything was lovely and clean and all local amenities close by. With lots of walks nearby it is ideal for dog lovers. The locals made us very welcome and we shall be visiting again in the not too distant future.
Villarenters reply:
Review submitted by Lyn from Stokesley (Submitted: 2 Jun 2009)
We had a lovely time in Ballycotton - a warm and friendly village. The cottage is cosy and very quaint! We felt very relaxed and at home there. The views are magnificent. The owners couldnt do enough for us and were extremely accommodating! Will definitely be going back.
Review submitted by Catherine from Cork (Submitted: 10 May 2009)
Excellent cottage both warm and clean. The photographs do not do this property justice. The view from the double bedroom is magnificent in the morning, overlooking the Ballycotton Bay. Excellent food to be had in the village at the Schooner Bar.
Villarenters reply:
Review submitted by scott from sunderland (Submitted: 21 Apr 2009)
Cottage was just as I expected.My wife and I had a lovley time here the village is very nice and the pubs and people very friendly.
Very nice part of the world!!!!
Review submitted by p from London (Submitted: 7 Nov 2007)
Fantastic little cottage with great views of the bay from the kitchen and back bedroom.
we really enjoyed our stay in Ballycotton and if we were to return we would stay at Hillside Cottage again
Review submitted by Dawn from Hythe (Submitted: 11 Oct 2007)
superb, had a wonderful time in the cottage, it was very clean and well kept, very comfertable
Review submitted by Cristina from Barcelona ( Spain ) (Submitted: 4 Oct 2007)
The cottage was excellent, it has all you need to feel like home.The views from the kitchen are incredible and is really well conditioned. The only thing that needs a change is double bed for the rest, perfect!!
It´s really easy to find it and people from village very helpfull.
If you want to feel in peace, read, walk and forget the crazy city this is the place!
I hope you will enjoy it like us, kisses from Barcelona ( Spain). Cristina and Alberto
Owner reply:
The double bed has now been replaced 10/03/08
Review submitted by Heather from Loughborough (Submitted: 27 Aug 2007)
The cottage was well equipped and beautifully maintained. The view out the back over the bay was stunning.
We did not spend much time inside the cottage so do not know if the TV and music centre worked, as we were visiting family in the village.
The only possible drawback might be the hill up to the cottage for an older people if they had mobility problems and no car. My grandson who is disabled had no problems on his scooter.
Review submitted by Victoria from Chelmsford, Essex (Submitted: 17 Apr 2007)
What a wonderful find. We had an excellent short break in this beautiful cottage. Very traditional style, warm and cosy. Plenty of room for a family of four. Children loved the enclosed back garden. Views fantastic! We would love to return SOON
Review submitted by Lorna from Dublin (Submitted: 9 Mar 2007)
commnication couldn't have been easier -
welcoming & encouraging -
we'll be back -
Review submitted by Bob from HillsideCottage -Ballycotton (Submitted: 29 Oct 2006)
Great vews. A lovely fire to make the cottage cosy on a wet Irish autumn afternoon. A great location with easy access to Midleton and Cork. My wife, 9 year old daughter, mother in law and I had a wonderful 5 days.
Review submitted by Frank & Mary from Castleknock, Dublin (Submitted: 16 Aug 2006)
The property was well situated to take advantage of the countryside. It was well equipped and clean. The instructions were clear and contained a lot of useful local information.
Overall a very pleasant break in a beautiful part of the countryside.
Review submitted by Alva from Dublin & Munich (Submitted: 10 Jul 2006)
We had a wonderful time in this beautiful cottage and cannot praise it enough! Will definitely be going back again.
Review submitted by LD from UK (Submitted: 6 Jun 2006)
Great location, lovely views and on a quiet road.
Review submitted by Jennifer from Park Avenue, Chelmsford Essex (Submitted: 20 Mar 2006)
We had a very enjoyable week.
The cottage and location was excellent.
I booked the holiday as a present for my mum and when we arrived at the cottage flowers, chocolate and a card was left for my Mum. which was lovely.
Many thanks
Review submitted by Lynn from Hillview Cottage - Ballycotton (Submitted: 7 Mar 2006)
We loved the cottage - it was exactly what we hoped it would be.
Review submitted by claire from belfast (Submitted: 3 Oct 2005)
super week, thank you
Review submitted by Harry from Rugby (Submitted: 15 Sep 2005)
We found the cottage comfortable and very well equiped. The views from the cottage and garden were superb. The locals were very helpfull and friendly, the pub we turned into our local, The Blackbird, was different to your normal local, very interesting and very friendly. Only one complaint, a week was not long enough.
Review submitted by martyn from bangor county down (Submitted: 23 Aug 2005)
an excellent cottage with outstanding views so good i've booked again already!
Review submitted by Catherine from Waterford Ireland (Submitted: 18 Jul 2005)
We had a very enjoyable stay in Ballycotton. The cliff walk a must. The Grapefruit Resturant super along with the pubs. Very friendly and helpful people. A great time had by all.
Review submitted by Bill from Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Submitted: 20 Apr 2005)
I thoroughly enjoyed my one week stay in Ballycotton and surrounding towns, the land of my ancestors. "Mrs. O'Keefe's Cottage" on the hill was quaint, clean and centrally located. Everything is in walking distance in Ballycotton! As one local said to me, "Bill, you're in the best place in Ballycotton. You are betwixt the Church and the Pub. All you have to decided each morning is whether you want to go left or right!"
I will definitely return to this friendly place soon!
Review submitted by Tim from Castleford UK (Submitted: 8 Mar 2005)
Very clean and cosy cottage in a great location in the peaceful village of Ballycotton. Don't let the picture on the web site put you off. It is clean, quite sapcious, warm and well equiped. The view from the kitchen window is like a post card. Most people say it, but I mean it - we will be coming back again.
Review submitted by Fiona from Wateford, Ireland (Submitted: 1 Dec 2004)
Actually I do not think the pictures on the website do this property any justice because the property is a lot nicer than what the pictures showed. Really comfortable & cosy cottage with everything compact. Views were fantastic too. Will definitely return!
Review submitted by edward from hillside cottage (Submitted: 9 Nov 2004)
we had a very goood holiday,very clean.
excellent views,locals very friendly close to local pubs and shop,
will deal with again.thank you very much