Sitting at the head of the Glenasmole Valley, overlooking the unspoilt Bohernabreena Reservoir in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, Glenasmole Lodge is a hidden delight, with a history as layered as its surrounding landscape.

Built in the 1790s as a Georgian sporting lodge by George Grierson, the King’s Printer in Ireland, the estate spent its first 120 years hosting hunting parties and gatherings of high society. It is also said to have sheltered Robert Emmet and Michael Collins.

“I think it was used at one point as a hideout because of its vantage point at the head of the valley,” owner Iain Wright told Irish Country Living.

For the past 25 years, Glenasmole Lodge has taken on another role as home to Iain and his family, offering his children the rare freedom of 254ac on their doorstep

“For them, it was magnificent. They were totally free, and they would wander around the valley.

“The beauty of the property itself is that it’s completely open, there’s no fencing. It’s not like a stud farm in Kildare, or an arable farm in Meath.

“It’s basically just open land. So it’s quite unusual and magical in that respect, because there are no borders.”

With the kids all grown up now, the family story at Glenasmole has come full circle, as Iain’s daughter chose the estate as the setting for her recent wedding.

Sitting at the head of the Glenasmole Valley, the 254ac mountain estate has views over the surrounding valley.

The library features panelled walls, bookcases with carved columns, a large marble fireplace and an ornate Venetian window.

It has also featured on the silver screen, with its grounds appearing in the 1998 crime biopic The General. More recently, a film crew spent five months at the house filming Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Marian Keyes’ Grown Ups.

Approached by a long, winding tree-lined avenue, the five-bedroom neo-Gothic house benefits from total seclusion. Sympathetically maintained by the Wrights, it retains many original period features including bow windows, panelling, marble fireplaces and decorative cornicing.

East of the residence, a yard includes stabling, an old coach house and former staff cottage with belfry.

Currently used for storage, it offers scope for additional accommodation, subject to planning.

Surrounding the house is 34ac of pleasure grounds, planted with a range of exotic trees and shrubs. Beyond this, the estate rises into 220ac of mountain land, linking directly to commonage with walking and bridle routes.

Most of the land is suited to rough grazing and amenity use, with smaller pasture areas suitable for cattle and equine grazing. A National Parks and Wildlife Service regeneration project is also underway throughout the valley.

Iain says he would love to see someone with the expertise and vision to make the most of the house, land and setting take on the estate.

“It needs to be lived in and to be taken for the specialness of it.

The yard includes a former stone-built staff cottage. While currently used for storage, it offers scope for additional accommodation.

One of Glenasmole Lodge's several reception rooms, which leads out on to a private garden terrace.

“It would take quite a special owner to take full advantage of it.”

Located 25 minutes from Dublin city centre and airport, Glenasmole Lodge is within easy reach of all amenities and services. Given the setting, charm and scale of the estate, it is likely to appeal to a broad range of buyers – from those with tourism ambitions or an interest in hobby farming, to anyone seeking an idyllic rural retreat, or those drawn to its conservation potential. Equally, its expansive mountain lands could offer scope for a buyer with a bigger vision.

The estate is for sale by private treaty with Savills, guided at €2.99m.