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An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings

Cottage in Downings with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings

Quaint single-story house surrounded by lush greenery and a well-maintained lawn.
Property video
Enjoy a serene view of the surrounding landscape from the large window in this cozy retreat.
Cozy living area with a fireplace, comfortable sofa, and dining table.
Cozy room with a traditional stove, rustic brick wall, and wooden beam ceiling, featuring a comfortable seating area and personal touches.

Entire home

2 bedroomsSleeps 51399 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings

Cottage in Downings with kitchen and patio
This smoke-free cottage features laundry facilities and a garden. The cottage has 2 bedrooms and offers free WiFi and a DVD player. Guests can enjoy a fireplace, and other amenities include a kitchen with a fridge and an oven. Housekeeping is available on request.
Guest accommodation at this cottage offers fireplaces and DVD players. Rooms open to patios. Kitchens offer fridges, stovetops, microwaves and kitchenware and utensils.

Bathrooms include a shower and hairdryers. This Downings cottage provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Additionally, rooms include coffee/tea makers and an iron/ironing board. Housekeeping is provided on request.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

Property manager

William Laverty

Languages

English, German, Spanish

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • Up to 9 kg per pet

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the mountains
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Recycling
  • Unit size: 1,399 square feet

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  • Parking available
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total (up to 9 kg per pet)
Note from host: Pet on request

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Map
Downings, Co. Donegal

What's nearby

  • Sandy Hills Golf Course - 5 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Carrigart Riding Stables - 9 min drive - 7.8 km
  • Marble Hill Strand - 29 min drive - 30.5 km
  • Ards Forest Park - 36 min drive - 28.1 km
  • Horn Head - 41 min drive - 38.9 km

Getting around

  • Letterkenny (LTR-Letterkenny Airfield) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Harbour Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Shack - ‬28 min drive
  • ‪Singing Pub - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Patsy Dan's - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Goose And Gander - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) from Sandy Hills Golf Course and 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Carrigart Beach. Carrigart Riding Stables and Ashtree Stables are also within 12 miles (20 km).

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An Irish Idyll - traditional stonewall cottage nestled in hills above Downings Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 143 out of 159 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 159 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 159 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 159 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 159 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mel D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location and great wee cottage

Beautiful and secluded. We would definitely return! Quiet, clean, cosy, with incredible scenery and local beaches.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

A very private scenic home . A beautiful place for a quiet stay .
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Victor McKee

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Downings Retreat

Only a short break (3 nights), the house was exactly as described and located five minutes drive from the village of Downings, narrow roads but no passing traffic. Beautiful views from the garden across Sheephaven Bay to Marble Hill Strand and Dunfanaghy. The house is well equipped with everything you could need including a log burner for the colder days / evenings and ample supply of fuel at very reasonable cost. Dog friendly was a bonus, would definitely recommend for a short - or long-get away from it all break.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Thomas S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely rural retreat

Wonderful week in a true Irish cottage with a few modern conveniences (microwave, washer & dryer). Plus stunning views!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terry

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Loved this little rustic cabin. It actually had three bedrooms!! Views were fantastic. Great spot to explore this part of the country.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Common P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

September 2024

Loved the charm of the place. It is relatively remote, but the views are astounding, and all needs were met by the host and a near-by housekeeper.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful quiet getaway

Yet another great stay in this quiet, peaceful and beautiful cottage. All you could wish for in rural Donegal with views of the wild Atlantic quite literally on your doorstep.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage

We enjoyed our stay in the cottage
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquility framed in rugged beauty

Yet another relaxing stay in this beautiful cottage, set amongst Donegal's rolling hills and with the most spectacular views of the North Atlantic's dramatic coastline.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Willem & Lenneke B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

wonderful place!

It was difficult to reach the house, but once you had arrived you never wanted to leave: a dazzling view and no moment the same...the house itself had tasteful furnishings and colours and a good working stove. Also a good place to start walking (first to make a trip bij car to reach the starting point).
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Claire C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short break

Had the most relaxing few days at this beautiful cottage.Fantastic panoramic views. Cottage was well equipped, lovely fire and very comfortable all round. Everything you need for a relaxing break and a 5 -10 minute drive into Downings. William the owner was very helpful and made the booking process very easy. Would highly recommend and will definitely return☺️
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Judith M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Teachin

We had a wonderful week in this beautiful part of Donegal, loved the cottage and so grateful to Michael for sharing his lovely cottage and to Maryanne for all her help.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A little haven.

I loved everything about this cottage, it’s remoteness, the peace, the view, how quiet it is, and how it sits in the landscape, a beautiful part of Donegal. I would have no hesitation in going back. Both the owner, William, and Maryann the property manager were friendly and eager to help.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Denis S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it

Absolutely loved my stay. My wife, son, and my brother stayed for several days in February. The house was genuinely cozy--set a lovely fire in the parlor and electric heat in the bedrooms. Step out the door in the morning and you have a gorgeous view of Muckish and Sheephaven bay. We were also fortunate to have gorgeous weather and were treated to the Northern Lights.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Randy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely Perfect!

What a wonderful weeklong stay for us. Teachin is a lovely traditional Irish cottage, snug and comfortably quaint though with all modern conveniences, well appointed kitchen, laundry, etc. Off the beaten path, remotely situated on a hillside overlooking the gorgeous Sheephaven Bay, yet just 10 minutes from the village of Downings with pubs, restaurants (Fisk!!), a leisure center with pool, beaches to explore, etc. Be sure to read through the history of the area provided by the owner. Great base from which to explore the beautiful Donegal area. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Christine P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay in a beautiful location

The cottage is exactly as listed on VRBO. It’s charming and absolutely lovely. The road to the cottage was easy to navigate in our small rental, even arriving at night. The fireplace easily heated the living room and made a very stormy night nice and cozy inside. Everything we needed for a self-cater vacation was provided in the cottage. The welcome book provided a lot of interesting information about the area. Communication with the host and housekeeper were excellent. Our stay at Teachín was a perfect winter vacation, we hope to be back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Daniel G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Earth hath not anything to show more fair

Dull would (s)he be who could not appreciate this lovely cottage and its breathtaking setting. Not for dullards! Bring your books and your boots, a little raingear and your favourite companion and take it all in, from before sunrise to the advent of the Milky Way (and the occasional falling star) at night. In dhort: fabulous!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pauline M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquility and beauty

The cottage lived up to our expectations and more. We had a lovely few days here and only wished it was for longer. For anyone seeking peace and tranquility it is in an ideal location in a beautiful setting. The cottage has been beautifully renovated in keeping with the character of the property and everything you could possibly need during your stay has been provided by the owner. We liked everything about the cottage and especially loved the cosiness of the living area with the wood burning stove. Overall we had a short but wonderful stay in Teachin but would hope to return for a longer stay in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Grainne C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The most perfect peaceful getaway

Have just returned from our 4 night stay in this quaint little cottage with my family. It was everything I had hoped it would be. A beautiful place to just take some time away from the treadmill of life. The cottage is cosy and was catered with everything we needed and the view from the front door is simply stunning. We walked to the Singing Pub (approx 2 miles away and the food is delicious). An extremely enjoyable walk, made even more so on the return to Treacin cottage because of the wonderful sunset views we experienced. All in all a special place where memories are made.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laureen J., Northern Ireland

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage with breathtaking views.

We’ve just returned from a 3 night stay in what can only be described as an idyllic cottage. Everything you could expect from an old Irish cottage with the added bonus of a few modern extras to make it even more comfortable. We were very lucky with the weather so breakfast and supper in the garden was a must taking in the surrounding breathtaking scenery. Far enough away from the main town of Downings to enjoy pure tranquility but still close enough if needed. We visited 7 different beaches within the area, each one more stunning than the next. Murder Hole being our favourite and Dunfanaghy and Ballymastocker close second. This cottage is definitely worth a visit if you wish to escape from it all. Would definitely return.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Frank R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastische Lage

Aufgrund der fantastischen Lage, der Ruhe und des wunderschönen Ausblicks ist die Unterkunft auf jeden Fall zu empfehlen. Check-In und Anreise waren perfekt organisiert.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rene B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ursprüngliches Cottage in traumhafter Natur

Alles super gelaufen im Haus ist alles vorhanden. Sehr abgelegen dadurch super entspannt und ruhig gelegen mit Atemberaubenden Blick zum Meer. Auto ist unbedingt erforderlich.
Stayed 17 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Johan T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mooi en ruim oud huis met het idee dat je aan het einde van de wereld zit.

We hebben een heerlijke week daar gehad en vele mooie plekken gezien zoals
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katrin S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ein schöner Kurzurlaub in der Natur

Wir haben unseren Aufenthalt in diesem charmanten kleinen Haus in Irland sehr genossen. Mitten in der Natur gelegen, bietet es eine wunderbare Ruhe und Entschleunigung vom Alltag. Das Haus war sauber und liebevoll eingerichtet, was uns sofort wohlfühlen ließ. Der Kontakt zu Willian war außergewöhnlich freundlich. Er war stets schnell erreichbar, beantwortete unsere Fragen prompt und löste alle Probleme zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit. Wir kommen gerne wieder und können dieses Haus wärmstens weiterempfehlen.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Stephen Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Great Escape!

Teachín cottage is both a step back in time and an oasis from the wider world. It is gorgeously situated with outstanding and ever-changing views pf Sheep Haven Bay, framed from each window of the cottage and from every vantage point along the road. Apart from the odd cuckoo, the cottage is incredibly quiet and tranquil. It is also very comfortable, especially once the stove is stoked and throws some heat. The electric radiators in the bedrooms and bathroom are a godsend! The cottage is very faithfully kept up to its original style and character, and the thick stone walls are a reminder of the constant fight against the elements. The walk in to Downings is beautiful, affording spectacular views in all directions, and the road in is considerably less stressful to walk along than to drive! In short, this is a great place to experience the heart and soul of the gorgeous Donegal landscape, in a space that embraces and reflects its character.
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024