Welcome to Sneem Secret Harbour, a luxury self catering holiday home on the Ring of Kerry in the stunning location of Oysterbed, Sneem. Very special, very private, very beautiful, this is the ultimate escape in stunning surroundings, to enjoy the outdoors and to relax in the cafes, restaurants and great traditional Irish pubs in nearby Sneem village. This architect designed holiday home overlooks the sea and is surrounded by a backdrop of Ireland's highest mountain ranges. The Ring of Kerry is unsurpassed for its natural beauty and the house, sitting on a large, private, elevated site, takes full advantage of this beautiful scenery, providing breathtaking views of the sea and surrounding mountains. The house caters for a maximum of 6 guests in 3 spacious en-suite bedrooms with the highest quality furnishings. Large comfortable beds, crisp white bed linen, blackout blinds, touch lighting and soft white towels all provide ease, comfort and a great night's sleep. Eco-friendly geothermal under floor heating throughout and a contemporary wood burning stove in the living room provide the highest standard of comfort. Wifi is available throughout the house. Top of the range kitchen appliances and as much quality glassware, crockery, cutlery and equipment as you could ever need makes this a chef's dream kitchen. Extra large pots are provided for cooking crab and lobster that can be sourced, fresh from the sea, from the local fishermen at nearby Oysterbed Pier. Located just 3km from Sneem, this luxury accommodation is convenient to the pubs, restaurants, shops, butcher, bakery, pharmacy and other facilities in the village. There's lots of outdoor activities in the area - swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaking, boat trips, fishing, hill walking, cycling, golfing, horse riding, walking, bird watching, painting, sightseeing - all easily organised locally. For the odd rainy stay-at-home day! we provide a large selection of books, art materials and board games. We like to meet our guests on arrival and we take great care to personally ensure that you are arriving to a home that is supremely comfortable, superbly equipped, luxuriously relaxing and spotlessly clean so that you can make the very most of every moment of your stay and truly enjoy this 'little piece of heaven' that is Sneem Secret Harbour. HOUSE: Secret Harbour is located on a lovely little private boreen and sits on an elevated site overlooking the sea. It's the only house on our 7 acres of unspoilt natural countryside which is covered in red sandstone rock outcrops, with stands of oak, birch, willow, holly, rowan, rhododendron, furze, ferns and heathers. These provide glorious colour all year round and are home to a wonderful selection of wildlife that can be observed, especially early in the morning (binoculars are provided). A network of maintained tracks run through the grounds where you can stroll and enjoy the diverse nature and the wonderful views. The house exterior has a traditional stone finish while the interior is modern and contemporary with a palette of colours, plants, pictures and furnishings that is warm, welcoming and wonderfully relaxing. The house is superbly equipped and with constant care and attention to detail we try to ensure that our guests have everything necessary for a luxuriously comfortable and memorable stay. A paved patio, with furniture, runs along the entire rear of the house that is south facing and enjoys sunshine all day. There is a large first floor deck area that is accessed from one of the upstairs bedrooms. Views of the extensive grounds and the stunning surrounds can be enjoyed up here. This deck area is the perfect place for reading or painting, enjoying a coffee in the morning sunshine or a quiet relaxing drink in the evening. There is another deck/viewing area in the grounds that also provides spectacular sea and mountain views and is ideal for star-gazing. ACTIVITIES: For outdoors, the choices are super - swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing, canoeing, fishing, boat trips, hill walking, cycling, golfing, horse riding, hiking, bird watching, painting, sightseeing, all available in the area and easily organised....and for indoors, reading, painting, board games (all provided). Do let us know if you have a particular hobby or interest that you would like to do during your stay - we will be happy to advise you on the best local operators and provide contact details. WALKING and hiking are a huge part of the outdoors in this area. There is a fantastic choice and variety of walks and treks and never enough time! We can recommend some wonderful walks in the area and the Tourist Office in Sneem village provides information and maps of the area. The Kerry Way practically passes our door and at over 200 km, it is one of Ireland's longest signposted walking trails and also one of the most popular. It passes through some of the most beautiful and dramatic countryside and offers a spectacular choice of gentle or rugged routes - from beaches to mountains, short trails to 4 day treks! Sneem is surrounded by mountains and Ireland's highest peak, Carrantouhill (1039 meters) and the Macgillacuddy Reeks (visible from the deck) are within easy day-driving distance from the house. Further afield on the Dingle Peninsula is Mount Brandon, Ireland's second highest mountain. Qualified walking guides can be booked locally, on request. KAYAKING is available locally and Snorkelling and Diving are available in the area. Oysterbed Harbour, with its myriad of islands, is a truly magical place for these activities. The bay is sheltered and safe, and enjoys the benefits of the Gulf Stream with some wonderful wildlife - look out for the curious residents.....seals, herons, cormorants, oyster catchers and also the dolphins that regularly visit the harbour. We can recommend some local licensed operators for these activities. Remember also to look up and you may spot the White Tailed Eagles that have been re-introduced into Ireland after an absence of almost 100 years. These majestic birds are regular visitors flying directly over the house on their foraging route between Killarney National Park and Kenmare Bay. FISHING is very popular and Kerry is a paradise for anglers - freshwater or sea - you'll be spoiled for choice. If you ever thought of catching a salmon, then catch your first salmon while staying with us! We can recommend some local licensed operators who will advise and/or provide all you need - boat, rods, gear, licenses, ghillies, etc. for a perfect day on the water (full/half day of fishing or just sightseeing) PLACES: SNEEM (from the Irish word Snaidhm meaning ‘knot’) is called ‘The Knot in the Ring’. It is just 3 km from the house and is a lovely picturesque, relaxed and friendly village. Its north and south squares are divided by a bridge over the falls in the Sneem River which forms the focal point of the village and provides dramatic views especially when the river is in flood. Sneem has all the usual services of any small town or village along with lots of interesting shops, restaurants, cafes, 4 Star hotel and a wonderful selection of traditional Irish pubs. These serve great food at reasonable prices, have regular live traditional Irish music sessions and always a friendly welcome. Visit D. O'Shea's pub in the North Square where Gearbhan and Mary provide a very warm welcome, a great pint of Guinness and wonderful food that is served all day and can be enjoyed beside a roasting turf fire if the weather is cold, or in the sunshine on the deck overlooking the Sneem River. OYSTERBED PIER is only a short walk from the house. The scenery here is breathtaking and a stroll to the pier early in the morning, where you can sit and soak up the silence, is heavenly. It is also a lovely place for swimming. Chat to some of the local fishermen who fish almost daily from the pier, and from whom you can buy some lovely fresh fish. If you would like to take in a boat trip to explore the bay, go kayaking or try some sea angling, we can suggest some local licensed operators. PARKNASILLA 5-star Hotel and Spa, with its magnificent gardens, golf course and labyrinth of walks, is just 2km from the house. This is a nearby gem that you simply must visit. It is one of Europe's finest hotels and has a rich heritage dating back to 1692. George Bernard Shaw described it as a place that ‘does not belong to any world that you and I have ever worked or lived in. It is part of our dream world’. The word 'Parknasilla' comes from the Irish ‘Pairc na Saileac’, meaning ‘Field of the Willow Trees’. The marked pathways and tracks that wind through the hotel's extensive woodlands and islands are set amid spectacular, lush scenery. The walks are suitable for all ages, some only short routes and other taking up to 2 hours. Some, like the Fairy Path, are especially designed for children.