The Bilberry Estate, Midleton, Co Cork, has just been launched to the market. Standing on circa 195 acres, Bilberry is set amid private mature grounds but yet is only four miles from Midleton town and comes to the market with a Georgian residence, a coach house, a caretaker’s flat, a two-bedroom mews, a gate lodge and a basic farm payment including greening of circa €18,400 (2016).

The vendors, who are based in Germany, have farmed the property since 1959 and have maintained it to an exceptionally high standard. Boasting oodles of the old-world charm with its fine mature trees, extensive stone outbuildings, and beautiful Georgian residence, one of the standout features to the property has to be the extensive landscaped lawns which have been kept in top-notch shape. Designed by world-renowned garden architect Russell Page, the lawns around the house and yard are quite stunning, offering colour and blossom all-year round. The fact that there is a full-time caretaker emphasises the willingness of the owners to keep the property in pristine order.

Operated as a working tillage farm over the years, Bilberry Farm is set out in two blocks with the house and buildings on 135 acres situated directly across from the gate lodge and the remaining circa 60 acres. Around 160 acres are in tillage; circa five acres in grass and circa 27 acres in forestry.

Ideal for machinery

Planted in 2002 and 2009 to ash, the majority of the forestry is found across the road (on the gate lodge side) and generates an annual premium of €2,173.

In the main, most of the land, which is superbly sheltered by mature trees, is laid out in big workable fields that are ideal for machinery. In the past, Bilberry Farm has been the nurturing ground for winter and spring wheat/barley and spring oil-seed rape. At the moment, the land is sporting a crop of arable silage, spring oats and spring barley.

Extending to 6,350 square feet, Bilberry House is a Georgian two-storey house which is surrounded by mature woodland and fabulous lawns. The front part of the house dates back to the 1770s while the rear section was added at a later date. Accommodation includes three reception rooms, kitchen, pantry, scullery with a total of six bedrooms upstairs (the master suite has a dressing room, bathroom and a sewing room). Adjoining the house is a heated indoor swimming pool with sauna and a changing room. The owners have always ensured that the house has been aired and heated, even during their absence.

Outside there are a range of stone outbuildings, all in excellent order. These include a 699 square-foot one-bedroom coach house which features its own set of piers and a wall for privacy. There is also a fully glazed one-bedroom mews, extending to 904 square feet and a caretaker’s two-bedroom flat which is located over the double garage and the workshop.

Private well

The gate lodge (914 square feet) is located across the road from the main entrance and it features two/three bedrooms, a kitchen, shower room and a living room.

The farmyard comprises a lovely stone stable block, tack room, feed room, workshops, garages, haybarns and sheds. Water is supplied from a private well.

To add to the package, there is also a tennis court, a walled garden, orchard, rose garden and a waterfall.

For sale by private treaty through Roseanne De Vere Hunt, Sherry FitzGerald, Dublin, and Michael O’Donovan and Clare O’Sullivan from Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, Midleton, the property is being offered in one lot only and apart from local interest, is expected to generate some overseas inquiries in the coming weeks.

Representing the upper end of the market, Bilberry Farm comes with a guide price in the region of €3.75m.