Great House for a Group - Or a Couple:
At one time, East House was two separate houses, and it rambles. The study and the bedroom with queen size bed are in the 'old house', and a bit removed from the living room and other bedrooms. The living room will seat everyone, but if you need to get away, there are other places to be. The kitchen has lots of counter space and is large enough for a few cooks. If your group is small, individual radiators in each room and doors that close allow you to turn off the central heating in the rooms you are not using.
Artists and Art Lovers:
Artists of all kinds are inspired by the beauty of the area. East House is a relaxing place for writers to work, visual artists to sketch or paint, and photographers will want to snap photos at every bend in the road. There are shelves of books in the house, some by local authors Somerville and Ross. Arts events nearby include a summer concert series at St. Barahane's Church right in the village, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Bantry, Kinsale Arts Week, West Cork Literary Festival in Bantry, and Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. Traditional music sessions take place at pubs in Skibbereen and Clonakilty.
Boating, Diving, Beaches, Golf:
Whale watching tours leave from Reen Pier, directly across the harbor from Castletownshend. Sea angling, scuba diving, kayaking, and sailing are minutes away in Baltimore, Union Hall and Glandore. There is a small pebble beach in Castletownshend, and it is a very short drive to sand beaches at Sandy Cove and Tragumna. Larger sand beaches at RossCarbery and Inchydony are about 30-40 minutes away. The Skibbereen and West Carbery Golf Club is an 18 hole course. Other nearby golf courses are Bantry Bay Golf Club, Lisselan in Clonakilty, and courses in Kinsale, Bandon and Glengarriff. All welcome visitors. A tennis court and a playground are just around the corner from the house.
