Our comfortable home is located in a small village on the coast in West Cork, directly across from the village shop, and within walking distance of two pubs. Although we're in the middle of the village, the house is very quiet - most of the rooms face away from the street and toward beautiful southern views of gardens and the sea. There are 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a separate TV room with a sleep sofa, dining room, and well equipped kitchen with lots of counter space. The living room is very large, and there's also a small study with a fireplace. Outside the kitchen door are herb gardens and a detached art studio. When the weather is fine, you can enjoy eating on the patio, and if there's a bit of rain, have a fire in one of the two fireplaces and snuggle up with a cup of tea.

We just love this area. The landscape is spectacularly beautiful, the people are friendly, and there's lots to see and do nearby. You can visit stone circles and standing stones, beautiful harbors for sailing, kayaking, whale watching or taking a ferry to one of the nearby islands. Skibbereen, about a 10 minutes away, has many good restaurants, a small museum, an 18 hole golf course, and shops of all kinds. You can find just about anything you need there.

If you like to walk, there are beautiful trails and quiet country roads - we've made up maps of some of our favorite routes which you'll find in the house. Take day trips to Drombeg Circle, Gougane Barra, Baltimore and the islands, Mizen Head, Sheepshead or Beara Peninsulas. Cork City is just over an hour away, as is Cobh, with its museum which tells the story of Irish emigration.

Take a look at our website for more photos, information and links to some of these places:

http://easthouseireland.com/

For summer 2013 we're looking for a non-simultaneous swap in Ireland. We'd like to find a place for June 29-July 6, and our house will be available in late August.

For a long time we've been wanting to explore other parts of Ireland - maybe a long weekend swap? Other parts of Europe are also appealing, as are many places in the US and Canada.

We are an American couple, now retired and spending much of our time at our home in Ireland. Mike's interests are boats and reading, and Lee loves gardening, painting in the studio, and any kind of project. We have no pets and are non smokers.

We have 2 daughters - one in Portland, OR, and one in Brooklyn, NY. Plans are made for this summer, but we'd be interested in future exchanges in those places.

English (UK)