We all loved this beautiful holiday house, the gardens, woods and river, really is as described - absolutely idyllic. Location was great so much to see and do and we had lovely weather the whole week, so lucky. River House is very well equipped, beautifully decorated and comfortable. Hard to tear the children away from garden, we barely saw them. Younger family member went in river and swam at Cape Island and Lough Hyne. Perfect holiday we would all love to come back.

We absolutely loved our week at River House - loads of space to relax and explore. The house is well equipped and really beautiful - full of interesting, quirky features and art work. We managed a quick dip in the river and made use of the riverside campfire. Also a wonderful location - great for exploring this lovely part of Cork. The hosts were really helpful too.

Lovely property, everything you need. Location fabulous.

Loved this house - gardens, river, art and beautiful homely kitchen and conservatory . Amazing location too! Enjoyed the peace and tranquillity and access to river swimming and nearby lough Hine.

We loved the location, house and gardens. Very well equipped house with lots of quirky and interesting artwork everywhere. Loads of books, games, dvds and the kids loved the huge trampoline and goal post in the garden. The fully working bathtub outdoors was a great surprise! Would highly recommend!

We loved the location, house and gardens. Very well equipped house with lots of quirky and interesting artwork everywhere. Loads of books, games, dvds and the kids loved the huge trampoline and goal post in the garden. The fully working bathtub outdoors was a great surprise! Would highly recommend!

Great location. Secluded and quiet

A unique house in a unique setting with a unique atmosphere. The house welcomes you with an intimacy that is immediate. There is no settling in, there is only settling down - quickly wondering how you can spend as much of your time here as possible within what is already too short a time. We will be back...

A unique house in a unique setting with a unique atmosphere. The house welcomes you with an intimacy that is immediate. There is no settling in, there is only settling down - quickly wondering how you can spend as much of your time here as possible within what is already too short a time. We will be back...

This property is one of the best I have ever stayed in. It was faultless and the perfect place to spend time with friends. It was close enough to Skibereen to get provisions but , trust me, once you arrive at this place , you will not want to leave. I have deliberately kept this review short as one of the things I loved the most about exploring the property was the constant sources of great surprises. You will not be disappointed with this property

This property is one of the best I have ever stayed in. It was faultless and the perfect place to spend time with friends. It was close enough to Skibereen to get provisions but , trust me, once you arrive at this place , you will not want to leave. I have deliberately kept this review short as one of the things I loved the most about exploring the property was the constant sources of great surprises. You will not be disappointed with this property

The River House near Skiberreen, West Cork, Ireland was the highlight of a 9 day stay. What a pleasant location in the middle of dairy farm country, along a small river, and isolated just enough to not be disturbed by traffic or noise from anything but Mother Nature. There were 7 in our party, six adults land one toddler and everyone fell in love with the house where we looked forward to returning each evening. Easily met our needs for alone time or family meals. Highly recommend this one of a kind rental for long or short tem vacations.

The River House near Skiberreen, West Cork, Ireland was the highlight of a 9 day stay. What a pleasant location in the middle of dairy farm country, along a small river, and isolated just enough to not be disturbed by traffic or noise from anything but Mother Nature. There were 7 in our party, six adults land one toddler and everyone fell in love with the house where we looked forward to returning each evening. Easily met our needs for alone time or family meals. Highly recommend this one of a kind rental for long or short tem vacations.

Very helpful hosts. House is beautifully decorated and very well equipped.

Very helpful hosts. House is beautifully decorated and very well equipped.

A charming cottage with plenty of internal and external space which is well maintained and stocked with plenty of household necessities, games and beautiful views across meadows and a sparkling river. It is delightful to adults and children as there are sculptures to admire and amuse, trees to climb and swing in, and peaceful walks to take.

We spent one week at River House returning to the area where we had owned a house for many years when our children were growing up and in fact still own some land. The house was more than I imagined it would be. Although old in years, it had all the modern amenities that one could ask for and was well stocked with everything….just like home. It was peaceful, out in the country but just what was needed for unwinding and recharging of the batteries. I would highly recommend it to anyone whether it is for a family reunion/vacation or a get-away for a couple. You are connected with the outside world and yet, removed from the craziness of our world today. We hope to return with our children and grandchildren (we wanted to try it out first) but whether that happens, we definitely return for another week in "heaven on earth". Tom/Rosemary Byrne, Braintree, MA

A charming cottage with plenty of internal and external space which is well maintained and stocked with plenty of household necessities, games and beautiful views across meadows and a sparkling river. It is delightful to adults and children as there are sculptures to admire and amuse, trees to climb and swing in, and peaceful walks to take.

Dear Coleen and Charlie I just want to express my thanks again for allowing us to stay once more in your beautiful house in Skibbereen. It really is a special place. This is our third summer in your wonderful farmhouse and each year as the children are getting older, we enjoy it more and more. We had another fabulous fortnight unwinding in the peace and tranquility of the River House. My parents are from Mayo but I think they are transferring their loyalties to West Cork after their second visit. Fantastic food, weather and a beautiful house - what more could you need. Thank you again. Best wishes Aoife & Declan (Jack, Sam & Danny). PS : The nespresso machine was a great addition - made the mornings a lot easier...:)

We were thrilled to find the property as charming as it appeared in all the photos. Our boys had plenty of room to explore and tons of scope for adventure. We found everything we needed and more within the house and had a very comfortable week. Highly recommended!

The cottage was really lovely just the right setting for a family reunion. Had everything that we needed. Would book it again in a heartbeat.

I have been coming to Ireland since I was seven years old, visiting extended family and friends. Usually we stayed with family or at various B&Bs. During all of those years the best experience was when my parents rented a wonderful manor house on a very large farm for July and August. We were lucky enough to be allowed to herd the cows to the river and help with the milking...a dream come true for a young girl growing up in the suburbs of Boston (USA). Since that time, the only place that comes close to that genuine experience is River House. Hidden at the end of a narrow and winding boreen, behind two gates, is a peaceful and lovely oasis of calm. The roof is slate tiles, the walls are plaster over stone, floors are stone or concrete or wood. Everything in this old farmhouse is as it should be with the addition of artful, creative touches and heat and hot water and bathrooms that work! The dining space accomodates large numbers of friends and family with a gorgeous view of the outside gardens and a wood burning stove. On cool or damp days this is a welcome luxury. It is so lovely to see that the owners have not changed too much of the heart and soul of the place in their quest for comfort. Bravo Coleen and Charlie! I am forgetting to mention the delightful surprises of little stained glass windows and beautiful artwork and a FABULOUS kitchen.....oooh and the river is otherworldly, like my vision of Narnia. If you are considering this place, you must try it! I hope to be back.....

We chose the River House because we were looking for somewhere to hold a family reunion and which would be flexible enough to meet the needs of mixed groups (and two labradors!). It couldn't have been better. The property is in a beautiful, tranquil location and exudes an aura of being loved, both the house and the grounds. Every vista has some form of delightful feature. The house is very well equipped by someone who obviously takes cooking seriously! Great cooker, quality pots and pans and (unusual for a holiday house) sharp kitchen knives! The beds were very comfortable and each room had its own character. The large dining room/conservatory coped easily with 15 people at many meals. The cosy sitting room was perfect for a quiet time. The dogs loved it too, though we had to keep them away from the river which was in spate following some heavy rain before we arrived. Jim (caretaker) was very friendly and helpful. We had a great holiday - thank you.

My husband and I and our 3 children enjoyed our week in the River House tremendously. We were joined later in the week by 2 other couples and their 2 babies respectively. We had the most amazing stay with a beautiful home to relax in and spectacular grounds. It was very child friendly - with toys, a trampoline, a swing to avail of - never mind a football goal in the garden - that kept our husbands and kids occupied for hours (while not watching the real thing - the World Cup on the TV), The house itself is gorgeous with a fantastic restoration to the original farmhouse. Beautifully furnished but not too precious with children roaming about. Loads of space for a big group to cook and eat together and enough room to allow people a little privacy as well. Fantastic paintings on every wall and a really special atmosphere. We love West Cork - but with young kids, we wanted to be close to a town for urgent essentials. The River House is perfect as it is only 3 miles outside Skibbereen but has the advantage of being an oasis of tranquility and total privacy. West Cork itself is always beautiful, cosmopolitan and bustling with fantastic villages, beaches and outdoor activities - never mind the scenery. What made this holiday so much more special was the excitement in coming home to the River House in the evenings for more craic. We were blessed with good weather but if it had rained every day, I know that the holiday would still be a success. Coleen and Jim were more than helpful in our every request and the booking and arrival process could not have gone more smoothly. Every email was responded to promptly. The River House was a pleasure from start to finish and we hope to return for another week to remember.

I visited the River House back in March for a long weekend with eight of my friends. We hired two cars and met the lovely Elaine at the property mid afternoon on our day of arrival who took us through everything, showed us around and spoke to us of the best places to go in Skibbereen and things to do. We had a relaxing first evening together exploring the grounds and the beautiful house! The house itself is absolutely stunning and is what sold the rental to us in the first place, it definitely lived up to expectation and is clearly well looked after by the owners! There are two open fires in the house, one of which we didn't actually use, however we spent most of our evenings in-front of the fire in the lounge which has such a cosy, comfortable feel to it. The rest of the ground floor consisted of a eat in kitchen, which managed to cater to all nine of us round the table, a large conservatory/dining room and a bathroom. Upstairs had two double bedrooms, one twin room and one triple room and a further bathroom. Everything was clean, well laid out and very welcoming for our stay, it almost felt like home from home! Outside, the grounds were well maintained and looked after. We spent one day down by the river that runs alongside of the grounds. We had a small problem towards the end of our stay where we were without hot water for a while, however we soon rectified the situation ourselves easily. Needless to say, I notified Jim who looks after the property during rentals late one evening and he was straight round first thing in the morning to address the problem for us! Very helpful, and very efficient service. During our time at the house, the weather wasn't the greatest, but that didn't dampen on our spirits and we still had a great six days at the house and in the local towns and villages where I'm happy to say had my first Guinness (and loved it!). I would definitely recommend this cottage and area to anyone looking for a nice quiet getaway, either with friends or family! The house is tucked away nicely down country roads and away from the hustle and bustle, however still within good driving distance of the local pubs, restaurants and shops. Huge thanks to Coleen and co for having us, and we will hopefully be back soon! :) Kind Regards Josie

Had a fantastic week at the River House. It's not often that the extended family get together and this place is the ideal location. All roads led to the River House. The gang arrived in from Sydney, Kelowna BC, Edinburgh, Dublin and Kildare. Weather was great although if you plan to go swimming in the river, be prepared to be blue afterwards. Skibereen is only 4km away and it is the perfect base to explore West Cork and into Kerry. My only regret is that we didn't spend enought time in the actual house - really needed another week. Will definitely be back.

When planning our wedding in Baltimore I could not hide my excitement...at the thoughts of spending two weeks in this utterly idyllic home (and the wedding of course!) We arrived before our wedding and had our two-week honeymoon there. From the moment we arrived, we knew it would be so hard to leave River House, and were given a wonderful welcome by Jim and a very thoughtful and kind gift from Colleen and Charlie. Every little detail in the house is perfect, and so much thought and love has gone into each and every room, corner and space. A friend who read out Yeats' poem The Song of Wandering Aengus at our ceremony even made a lovely reference to the house and its trees and the river. While the house was ours for most of the fortnight, we did have post-wedding barbecue the day after the wedding, and the conservatory was perfect for our little trad seisiun and sing-song. We actually only had about 3 days of rain and when the sun was out it was hot, we couldn't have asked for more. As a fisherman, myself and my friend Graham made full use of the river, though I have to admit I didn't catch anything. All the kids thought they were in a Disney film set, and the day before our wedding my niece Aishling said that although they were looking forward to our wedding, they couldn't wait for the day after in the house, as there's "just so much to do here." An impressive raft was duly constructed. A great base location too, as we took day trips almost every day. We also had our dog Ella with us, who, being a city dog, thoroughly loved the space. And again, Colleen and Charlie went the extra mile and even organised a neighbour to look after Ella while we were getting married etc. It is no exaggeration to say that we could easily live there, it is the very kind of house we hope to live in in the future. As hard as we found it to pack up the car and leave, Ella felt even more at home as she wouldn't leave and lay down beside Jim in protest at our departure. Thank you so much for making our wedding and honeymoon even more memorable. We will be there again, I've already been promised that :-) Adrian and Sinéad

We were looking for a big traditional house in the middle of the Irish nature to celebrate our ruby wedding anniversary with our grown-up children and grandchild. We found the River House, with lots of space in and around the house. It had modern comfort and character at the same time. It was a wonderful two weeks’ holiday for the nine of us, with running, golfing, diving, walking (especially the walk up the hill at Lough Hyne), swimming and jumping on the big trampoline, which was also a favourite hangout spot. We also explored the beautiful surroundings by car. Glengariff and Garinish Island, Bantry, the Healy Pass, Baltimore, Castletownsend, Union Hall - all lovely to visit.

My friends and I had a fabulous stay at the River House on the June Bank Holiday weekend. We arrived Saturday afternoon to the idyllic house and garden, we found the house to be homely and tastefully decorated, clean and comfortable with plenty of space for our group of 8. The garden was a joy with the trampoline the best craic we'd all had in ages! The weather was hot and sunny all weekend (we were very lucky!) and there was plenty of garden space to soak up the sun! The woods and river bank provided some welcome cool tranquility when the heat got a bit much. The River House was a fantastic place to stay, a real escape yet not too far from Skibereen. We thouroughly enjoyed our time there.

Fantastic house which feels just like home - idyllic location right next to the river - everything you could want for a family holiday or a complete get away - very easy not to leave once you are there but if you chose to there are masses of fun things to do near by - climbing Lough Hyne is a must - the view from the top is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Highly recommended.

We have stayed at the River House 3 times now. Every time we get there we immediately feel completely relaxed and at home. It is a great place with the children with fantastic woods to explore and make dens in, aswell as the trampoline which gave endless hours of fun. The local farmer Tom is a great character and Jim and Dee who look after the house could not have been more welcoming. The last time we went we took another family with us and the set up with two bedrooms and a bathroom at each end of the house was ideal We would certainly recommend it