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The Old White Cottage

(Ref. 1004044)

Shillelagh, County Wicklow Show on map

4.6

Sykes rating

  • 4 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (39)
  • lovely (26)
  • john (22)
  • stay (21)
  • well (18)
  • our (17)

48 Customer Reviews

  • "Lovely cottage situated in a nice quiet location."

    There was a welcome basket upon arrival. The cottage was clean with plenty of cleaning bits and bobs in the cupboards in case you've forgotten anything. Owner was available if you needed anything (we didn't) Great base to explore the surrounding area, plenty of places and attractions to visit that are a short distance drive. Hope to visit again, thank you!

    Dear Eileen, thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay and the beautiful surroundings of our area. John and Jacinta Property Owner

    Reviewed by Eileen5.0Sep 2024

  • "I was very happy with the Old White Cottage."

    It was well equipped and very comfortable. I enjoyed my stay there and would highly recommend it. Set in a very peaceful rural location but central for touring Co Wicklow and beyond.

    Reviewed by James5.0Aug 2024

  • "A lovely welcome gift of wine, cheese and chocolate."

    Absolutely every provision catered for. Spacious. Very private setting. Good laundry facilities. Games and books. Good WiFi.

    Reviewed by June5.0Aug 2024

  • "Thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the cottage, everything we needed was available, ..."

    Thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the cottage, everything we needed was available, Dani and Trae very kindly made us delicious cookies and the welcome pack was much appreciated

    Dear Mary Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your stay at the cottage and we hope to welcome you back again soon. John,Jacinta, Trae and Dan. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Mary Louise5.0May 2024

  • "A beautiful cottage in a quiet and remote location, perfect for a relaxing break away."

    We were very grateful for the welcome gifts and extra little provisions that made the stay more convenient, such as washing up liquid, bin bags, cleaning cloths, hand wash etc really useful when travelling light and we were especially grateful for the cookies, they were delish! The cottage has everything you might need (apart from washing machine), it was comfortable and really so peaceful. The cottage is surrounded by trees but if they weren't there you can see fields and hills for miles all around you. We used the cottage as a base and planned to have day trips out but after a couple of late nights we couldn't be bothered to travel too far (giants causeway took us about 5 1/2 hours one way with stops - it was a long driving day round trip). We took a trip to Aardmore and saw basking sharks and on the last day stayed around Shillelagh, had a drink at The Dying Cow and a short walk in a nearby forest. It was a beautiful trip. We will return, I would recommend the Old White Cottage as a relaxing break if you don't want to explore too far or don't mind driving. For our next visit we will probably travel on each day to see as much as possible. I wanted to see the west coast but we just couldn't face another 8+ hours in the car round trip. We had beautiful weather while there (and had packed for all types of rain but not sun), it was a proper sun trap sat on the bench out the back. I've seen other comments about making more of the outside and yes more could be done, there are lots of well manicured gardens in Ireland as you travel round but it was also beautiful just to sit in a natural environment.

    Reviewed by Donna4.4May 2024

  • "We really enjoyed our stay at the old white cottage in Shillelagh."

    We know the area very well and found it an ideal base for our holiday. In addition it was very well appointed, comfortable beds and bedding, very warm and cosy with central heating and a log burner. There was even a welcome basket with wine, cheese and crackers and a visit from the caretaking couple to check that there were no problems. I would have no problem recommending a stay here.

    Reviewed by Kate4.7Apr 2024

  • "A lovely cottage very cosy and clean with all the facilities one would need for a nice few days away from the city."

    We enjoyed our stay thanks

    Reviewed by Petra5.0Oct 2023

  • "The cottage was absolutely lovely and had many more amenities than we had expected."

    The inside is cosy and charming and some local friends said it had been "done up" very well. We enjoyed our stay immensely despite a quirky shower which has now been fixed. John, our host, was very responsive to our needs and requests and must be commended for his good cheer and helpfulness.

    Reviewed by Ann4.4Oct 2023

  • "This countryside cottage and its owner, John, are really charming."

    It has enough space for four and offers one double and a twin bedroom. The little living room was perfect for enjoying the evening near the fireplace, and if you know that the hot water needs to be switched on and takes a while to be ready, you'll also manage the shower. ;) John did his best to make our stay nearly perfect, and the recommendations of the surroundings are worth a mint. Tomnafinnog oak forest and some nice hiking loops are within a distance of 15 min. If someone likes chocolate and afternoon tea, have a trip to the Chocolate Garden (Ratherwood - 15 min drive), and the Glendalough National Park is ~ 1 hour away. So, it is a wonderful place to start a journey in Wicklow County.

    Reviewed by Constantin5.0Oct 2023

  • "Loved our stay."

    Found the cottage clean and kitchen very well stocked. Beautiful remote, relaxing area. Owner was lovely and welcoming. One thing however was that the shower pressure wasn’t great and alternated between a trickle and a gush constantly. We managed as the water was warm but it was the only thing that let the comfort down slightly. I would also think there is a lot of potential to add value to the outside- tidy the area, provide a couple of recliners maybe as it is beautiful when the sun is out!

    Reviewed by Alison4.4Aug 2023

  • "Cosy cottage in lovely landscape"

    Reviewed by Susanne4.1Jul 2023

  • "John couldn’t have been more helpful but there were a few issues with the ..."

    John couldn’t have been more helpful but there were a few issues with the property very disappointed with the outside

    Reviewed by Margaret2.8Jun 2023

  • "The cottage was in a good location , the heating works well but the shower was hit and miss."

    On our arrival John the owner showed us around the place. We noticed a very strong smell of damp. We unpacked our things and then went to get some shopping as there was nothing in the property except toilet paper and kitchen paper, no hand wash or washing up liquid etc and it was a bank holiday weekend. We had just had a six hour journey. We put the shopping away but we spent 2 hours cleaning the place there was earwigs in the fridge the oven was filthy there was used dog dishes in a bottom drawer with dog food still in them. The next day we got up to find all the food in the fridge on the turn ,the door had not been fitted correctly so I contacted the owner .I showed him the problem and we made a quick fix .John is a nice person and did offer to refund our loss for the food but that did not happen . The place needs a really deep clean it is a real pity we had to end our three weeks tour of Ireland in this property ,All our clothes smelt terribly of damp we did manage to wash some of them before our return home but any left in the double bed room drawer pick up the smell of damp after just a few hours.We stayed in two other cottages in Ireland, both being very good with nice little welcoming gifts.Here there was slugs woodlice spiders and earwigs in abundance we would not stay here again Sorry John.

    Reviewed by Graham1.6Apr 2023

  • "A few DIY things need sorting."

    John was a very good host. Would stay there again.

    Reviewed by Brenda4.7Mar 2023

  • "Very pleasant place as so as host is"

    Reviewed by Damian5.0Mar 2023

  • "I had a really lovely stay for New Year's at The Old White Cottage."

    John very kindly dropped in a bottle of prosecco and homemade brownies, so nice! I loved the cosy sitting room and the stove, which keeps the place lovely and warm. Bed was really comfortable. I loved the location, it was so peaceful. Just a 5 minute drive down to Shillelagh for anything you might need. Just a 10 minute drive to a lovely walk in Tomnafinnoge Woods. Thanks for a great, dog-friendly break!

    Reviewed by Sinead4.7Dec 2022

  • "Nice cottage , well equipped"

    Reviewed by Astrid4.1Dec 2022

  • "We had a few challenges during our stay, getting the water to run and trying to figure out the rather complicated grill, but John was very helpful and came over promptly to resolve things."

    It might be helpful for other guests to have an info sheet explaining the well-water system and the grill. But everything else was great. The mattresses on the twin bed were especially comfortable, and the cottage had good-quality furnishings, crockery, bedding and towels. My feedback for Sykes: I only booked this cottage because it was one of the few places I could find that had low levels of wireless radiation, with no smart meter, no nearby cell towers and a private router on which the WiFi could be switched off. It would be helpful for the countless other electro-sensitive people if you added this information to the property listing. There are several EMF networks in Ireland, including https://es-ireland.com/, and they are always looking for places where those affected by EMFs can stay. I did not like the Sykes policy of zero refunds, and we were unable to avail of the holiday insurance you provide to Brits, since we reside in France. This should be changed to accommodate others who book with you, and refunds for exceptional personal circumstances should be allowed.

    Reviewed by Olga4.1Oct 2022

  • "A beautiful remote cottage, very quiet and ideal for relaxing, and in reach of some really beautiful areas and attractions."

    Great choice of programmes on the TV including Netflix and Amazon Prime if you have a membership. John was very helpful and brought a lovely welcome hamper when we arrived. He also wiped our personal Netflix details from the television when we forgot to do so before leaving.

    Reviewed by Andy4.4Sep 2022

  • "We spent a lovely, relaxing week at the Old White Cottage."

    John is a very generous host with a wealth of local knowledge and was able to give us useful tips about where to visit when he met us on our arrival. The cottage has a very comfortable, homely feel, with a well-equipped kitchen which was perfect for leisurely brunches, and the cooker was such a pleasure to use, we decided to make some evening meals too. The kitchen also has a great table for board games, and the sitting room is cosy and comfy with a pretty wood burner. The cottage is in a rural, private setting and it was such a pleasure to relax at the table and bench outside, enjoying the tranquillity of the beautiful countryside. There were pubs serving food a short drive away, and a good take-away nearby too. We had lovely walks through ancient woodland and visited some beautiful gardens, including Altamont and Hardymount, and we loved Delta Sensory Gardens in Carlow Town, which was like discovering an oasis on an industrial estate! There was plenty to do and a week turned out to be not long enough for all the walks and visits we’d planned. The Old White Cottage was a great base for the area and a wonderful place to unwind in the evenings. We’re looking forward to a return trip to the cottage very soon to tick off more on our to-do list.

    Reviewed by Simon5.0Aug 2022

  • "Character cottage brought up to very comfortable standard, with multitude or tasteful personal touches."

    Bedding of high end hotel quality. Location is rural and tranquil, with both mature trees and a large natural meadow. Most dog friendly. Owners very attentive and engaged in their guests' wellbeing.

    Reviewed by Bernt Martin4.7Jul 2022

  • "This was our second time staying here and we had a lovely week."

    The cottage is very comfortable, well equipped and clean. It is in a beautiful quiet rural setting and there are many interesting places to visit in the area. A lot of good walks nearby too. John the owner is very welcoming and helpful.

    Reviewed by Patrick5.0Jul 2022

  • "Lovely peaceful location clean comfy cottage perfect for a relaxing break would highly recommend"

    Reviewed by Michael4.7Jun 2022

  • "Great situation for getting to some lovely locations and places to visit."

    It is such a pretty cottage which gave us lots of joy when we returned at the end of the day. Being set back off the road and amongst trees with a lovely view of the hills made this cottage really special. Being on one level also had lots of advantages particularly as one us is recovering from a hip operation. The spacious kitchen, comfortable bedroom and cosy lounge were appreciated too! The supplies of cleaning products, toilet paper and logs for the stove were also generous. However, previous guests had made reference to generous welcome/starter packs and even home baking, so we felt a bit 'cheated' not to receive one (although there was a bottle of wine in the fridge). The cottage was reasonably clean on arriving but we needed to clean the fridge out as this must have been missed. The property has its quirks so we were thankful the owner called around on the first evening. However, some things clearly need attention such as the shower doors and shower, knobs coming off in your hand when opening cupboards or drawers, better access to the freezer, washing machine and drier (which are in an outhouse with uneven access on first entering and a precarious and unsafely placed stone to be used to step up. Sitting out at the back was lovely but flakes of paint came off the picnic bench onto clothes and needs either replacement or re painted. We did have a very lovely stay, though which offered us some great memories.

    Reviewed by Kathleen3.8May 2022

  • "This cottage is of an extremely high standard in a beautiful location."

    John the owner went out of his way to make our stay the best. Thank you John for all your help.

    Reviewed by Andy5.0May 2022

  • "We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to John and his Wife for their help in so many ways."

    Maurice and Rosemary Kenny.

    Reviewed by Maurice5.0Apr 2022

  • "Enjoyed the week stay, John is a very nice person ."

    We will book a week later in the year. thank you John

    Reviewed by R5.0Apr 2022

  • "Beautiful cottage, well equipped and comfortable."

    We had a lovely stay Many thanks

    Reviewed by Avril4.7Feb 2022

  • "John & Jacinta are just lovely people."

    We stayed during storms Dudley and Eunice , there were power cuts across Wicklow and John brought extra firewood, bottles of wine and Jacinta sent home made scones and cakes as we hunkered down. The cottage is a wonderful space to stay in a rural area, the most well equipped kitchen we have ever seen in a holiday home and the comfiest beds. We would book again without hesitation.

    Reviewed by Steven5.0Feb 2022

  • "Lovely relaxing stay in this well maintained cottage"

    Reviewed by John3.8Jan 2022

  • "From the first moment we got in contact with john , he has been amazingly helpful, from collecting us to the wonderful welcoming pack and the fantastic insight to the local area."

    He has been great start to finish, not to mention the cottage itself is perfect. We couldnt reccomend highly enough.

    Reviewed by John5.0Nov 2021

  • "John the owner was very helpful & provided a lot of information regarding the cottage & the area"

    Reviewed by Phil3.4Nov 2021

  • "Super cottage in a lovely position - fuss free arrival and friendly owner - the comfiest bed we've EVER slept in - please tell us what brand it is!"

    A peaceful stay in a cosy well equipped cottage. Thank you!

    Reviewed by Janet5.0Oct 2021

  • "The cottage was located in a quiet and peaceful location where often the only sound was birdsong."

    Clean, comfortable and well equipped. Helpful host who replied promptly to any query. Accessible to the whole of Wicklow and Wexford.

    Reviewed by Pauline5.0Aug 2021

  • "We spent a lovely week at the Old White Cottage in August 2021."

    The cottage is beautiful, quaint and well equipped. Jacinta and John are lovely hosts, the homemade welcome treats were a lovely surprise. The cottage is very peaceful, perfect for a relaxing break and an ideal base for exploring the area.

    Reviewed by Claire5.0Aug 2021

  • "Quaint little cottage in private setting with lots to do in immediate area We had a lovely relaxing time"

    Reviewed by Mary5.0Jun 2021

  • "We had a brilliant time at "The Old White Cottage" - it's simply perfect for a relaxing holiday!"

    The cottage is lovely and well-equipped. It has that special home feeling while surrounded by nature. Our doggie loved the big, enclosed garden! :) John was very friendly, welcoming and helpful - always available on phone as well, e.g. for directions. The family left a welcome gift and note to us which was an extra, very nice touch! We definitely recommend the place and will return! Thanks again!

    Reviewed by Adrienn5.0Jun 2021

  • "We were met by our lovely hosts John and Jacinta on arrival and they made us feel so welcome after our long journey."

    Everything was perfect.

    Reviewed by Damien5.0Sep 2020

  • "The hosts were excellent."

    The gave us great information about the local area. Left us a really nice welcoming basket with all kinds of nice treats. Lovely people.

    Reviewed by Jack4.1Aug 2020

  • "Fantastic little cottage with everything in the house that you need."

    The cottage was situated in a lovely quiet location with lots to do and see locally. The hosts were fantastic and so helpful. Would definitely recommend this cottage for a lovely relaxing holiday

    Reviewed by Mona5.0Aug 2020

  • "Beautiful cottage with excellent facilities set in idyllic surroundings."

    Hosts were very welcoming and helpful. Thoroughly recommend as a base for exploring Wicklow/Wexford.

    Reviewed by Hilary5.0Jul 2020

  • "Beautiful Cottage would totally recommend."

    ..it was fantastic!! We had such a great stay at The Old White Cottage. On our arrival when we got inside the cottage we were met with a lovely surprise of a welcome hamper filled with lots of lovely goodies and even a card to welcome us. Then John and Jacinta arrived with cupcakes (so delicious by the way...) it was such a lovely gesture. The cottage had everything we needed and very clean. Loads of lovely personal touches around which made is so cosy and comfortable. My 4 and 6 year old girls had a brilliant time playing outside in the garden and were so delighted with their room they asked could we live here forever. John and Jacinta were very friendly and so helpful. It has for sure been the best self catering accommodation we have stayed in so far :-)

    Reviewed by Denise5.0Jul 2020

  • "This was a fantastic property, warm, clean, extremely friendly host."

    Very welcoming. We will definitely be going back!!

    Reviewed by Eoghan5.0Jul 2020

  • "A brilliant stay in the cottage!"

    Everything we could ask for was there, the kitchen was well equipped - which was great as we love to cook so was a home away from home! We didn't eat out as it was just so easy to cook for ourselves! Very clean, which was great as I felt comfortable allowing my baby to play on the floor without having to worry! Little touches throughout like lavender on the towels, lovely smelling hand wash, just made the place a touch above! John was very helpful, showing us how everything worked and where everything was (shower, first aid box, washer and dryer etc.!) We had great contact with John prior to our arrival and during our stay, he even attended once when we needed some assistance with the heating! A lovely log burner in the living room - we didn't use as the central heating was sufficient enough for us. John's wife had baked some scones, which were delightful, along with the jam! And a lovely welcome hamper and a card was given along with cold milk in the fridge! A fabulous first holiday for us as a family, and will last in our memories forever, and hopefully we'll be back to make some more!

    Reviewed by Martha5.0Feb 2020

  • "The cottage is very clean and comfortable."

    It is set in 2 acres of contained land and is in a lovely rural location. My wife and I spent 22 nights there and we loved every minute of been there. We will definitely go back. John and Jacinta were very friendly and welcoming -providing us with freshly baked scones each Saturday. They also provided an excellent welcome hamper.

    Reviewed by Paul5.0Jan 2020

  • "We had a wonderful week at this beautiful cottage."

    The owners were fantastic & caring they had excellent knowledge of the area & explained what we wanted to know. In my opinion the photos don't do it justice this is a top class facility. It has everything to hand & everything in the cottage oozes quality. The owners should be applauded to the care & attention to detail they've made with the cottage. The grounds are large & well kept & kept are dog well entertained.

    Reviewed by Barrie5.0Dec 2019

  • "Beautifully equipped cottage."

    Warm and cosy. The owners were very friendly and helpful when needed. Lovely welcome pack on arrival. Particularly enjoyed the beautiful kitchen and the luxurious bedding! Doubt it could have been bettered!

    Reviewed by Julia5.0Oct 2019

  • "A very comfortable clean cottage."

    All modern facilities. Modern very well equipped kitchen. Satellite TV with (pay account Netflix). Very clean throughout. Modern shower. 2 bedrooms. Ideally located for a walking holiday - Completed stretches of the Wicklow Way - Shillelagh to Clonegal - Glendalough - Tinahely Loop - Mount Leinster - Vartry Resevoir (Roundwood) etc. All walking maps available to download from Wicklow Tourism. - http://visitwicklow.ie/all-walks/

    Reviewed by Rory5.0Sep 2019

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Summary

  • All-ground-floor
  • Two bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x twin (zip/link, can be made into a double on request)
  • Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Sitting room with woodburning stove
  • Oil central heating with woodburning stove
  • Electric oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, books, games, DVDs and WiFi
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Fuel, power and starter pack for stove inc. in rent
  • Cot and highchair available
  • Ample off-road parking
  • Garden with lawn area and gravelled area with bench seating
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • One well-behaved pet welcome
  • Pub within 1.3 miles: shop within 2 miles
  • Please Note - Owner does not accept short breaks from April - September.

The property

Shillelagh 2.3 miles.

Resting within the countryside setting of County Wicklow (known as “The Garden of Ireland”), and a few miles from the quiet villages of Shillelagh, Clonegal and Carnew, is the idyllic, Old White Cottage.

The bustling and well-services towns of Gorey, Tullow and Bunclody are all within a half-hour drive.

This heart-warming retreat is ideal for a family of four seeking an action-packed holiday, with a magnitude of walks and bike trails awaiting you within the surrounding area.

Approached via an endearing country track, surrounded by a woodland setting, is where you will find this charming base, promising to be a relaxing getaway at any time of the year.

Be welcomed into the well-equipped kitchen, where you will be delighted by the country-style design boasting everything you could possibly need to cater your own delicious evening meals.

From here, step into the sitting room where a woodburning stove greets you and offers a gentle warmth during the winter evenings.

Look forward to relaxing on the sofa with your loved ones around and tuning into the TV to truly unwind, before heading to bed.

The interior is completed by two brightly-decorated bedrooms, comprising of a double and a twin, each complete with a refreshing colour palette, as well as ample storage and the feature fire place within the double bedroom, which adds charm.

During a balmy afternoon, look forward to spending time within the large garden, where the bench seating offers opportunities for a spot of alfresco dining or enjoying a glass of wine as the evening draws to a close.

If you can tear yourself away from the wonderful base, head to the village of Shillelagh, where you will find all the amenities you will require, including a bar, shops, and even a walking stick makers!

For those feeling adventurous, The Wicklow Way is nearby and offers an opportunity to explore the rolling countryside, endearing forests and upland lakes, and the nearby Tomnafinnoge Oak Wood offers more gentle strolls.

Further afield attractions include the majestic Wicklow Mountains and the cities of Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford.

The Old White Cottage is a quaint base for exploring with your loved ones.

About the location

SHILLELAGH, COUNTY WICKLOW

Tullow 10 miles; Gorey 16 miles.

The village of Shillelagh in County Wicklow is a seventeenth century 'planned estate' village, with appealing architecture including attractive terraced cottages and a courthouse with clock tower. The Shillelagh stick, a well-crafted blackthorne stick originally used as a fighting weapon but now often used as an ornamental or walking stick, originated just outside the village, and visitors can visit workshops to watch local craftsmen continuing to produce this piece of Wicklow history. For walkers, the Wicklow Way runs past the village, and the nearby Tomnafinnoge Oak Wood, one of the largest remaining oak woods in Ireland, makes a lovely spot for an autumn stroll. Coolattin Golf Club is just outside the village, while slightly further afield, the Wicklow Mountains, city of Dublin, and 'Ballykissangel' village of Avoca make superb destinations for an enjoyable day trip. The nearest beach and harbour is a 35 minute drive away at the seaside holiday resort of Courtown. Slightly further afield, you can enjoy the Blue Flag, world-class white sandy beaches at Brittan Bay (45 minutes) and Curraghclose (50 minutes). Both are well worth visiting, whatever the weather.

Please Note - Owner does not accept short breaks from April - September.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter