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The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff

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A two-story house with a stone facade, a red door, and multiple windows.
A natural outdoor scene with a stream, rocks, and greenery.
A large building with a sloped roof, surrounded by a grassy hill and a tree.
A natural outdoor area with trees and a grassy field.
A kitchen with white cabinets, a wooden dining table, and a stone fireplace.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Spacious, comfortable rooms
    Guests love the top-rated, generously-sized rooms.
  • Private garden
    A rare find — relax in the peaceful, private garden space.
  • Your gateway to the great outdoors
    Guests love the location for its easy national park access.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Garden
  • Internet access

Explore the area

View map
Glengarriff, Cork
  • Place, Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Glengarriff Harbour
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Garnish Island
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Airport, Killarney (KIR-Kerry)
    ‪89 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Garden

About this property

The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff

This spectacular detached property is set within the outstanding beauty of the Glengarriff Nature Reserve area. The 3 bedroom property sits within just under an acre of land, and leads directly to a river at the bottom of the garden.

With its perfect positioning within the Nature Reserve, The River House is the perfect getaway for those wanting a slice of beauty and tranquillity. Pooleen Wood is only a 5 minute walk away where guests can swim in the natural lake and explore the wooded walks. There are a multitude of scenic walks within the Nature Reserve on our doorstep that can be accessed either on foot or by car. The beauty of Barley Lake is only half an hour walk away. The picturesque town of Glengarriff is less than a 10 minute drive with a host of shops, bars and restaurants. A 20 minute drive takes you to the larger town of Bantry.

The River House offers comfortable living space over two floors.
Downstairs:
-large, bright open plan kitchen dining room, with a separate utility room to the rear
-living room
-toilet
-large double bedroom with en-suite

Upstairs:
-Extra large double bedroom
-Twin bedroom
-Bathroom with bath and shower

Outside, the property has a seating area with views of the grounds and river. From the garden there is direct access to the river.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 10497103
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Glengarriff

Glengarriff is home to this holiday home. Teampall Fiachna and Kenmare Heritage Centre are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Killarney National Park and Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve. Derreen Gardens and Kilravock Garden are also worth visiting.
View more Holiday homes in GlengarriffOpens in a new window
Map
Glengarriff, Cork

What's nearby

  • Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve - 3 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Catherine Hammond Gallery - 5 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Glengarriff Harbour - 6 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Garnish Island - 6 min drive - 6.3 km
  • The Ewe Gallery and Sculpture Garden - 7 min drive - 7.3 km

Getting around

  • Killarney (KIR-Kerry) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Molly Gallivan's Cottage - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Harrington's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Mac Carthy's Bar - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Blue Loo - ‬8 min drive
  • Garinish Island Cafe

Frequently asked questions

Is The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff?

As of 28 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff on 1 Nov 2026 start from AU$395, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The River House, Nature Reserve Glengarriff located?

Situated in Glengarriff, this holiday home is 2 mi (3.2 km) from Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve and 3 mi (4.8 km) from Catherine Hammond Gallery. Blue Pool Ferry and Glengarriff Harbour are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 33 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 33 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 33 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 33 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Danielle F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mountain view and proximity to the National Park was amazing. Wonderful place to stay. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 June 2026
Thank you Danielle, glad you had a great stay
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We loved our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified

4/10 Poor

Rich H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
The location is absolutely beautiful and Paul’s communication in the run up was great but when we arrived the house was cold as there was no heating on (despite it only being 12’ outside) and no hot water so it felt rather unwelcoming. To be fair once it warmed up it felt better but it started us off badly and it could’ve easily been avoided by putting the heating on ahead. All the mattresses have sadly seen better days and the one downstairs is only a small double which is not great for 2 adults - and it was so lumpy we had to put a duvet under the sheet to be able to sleep on it. The bedding and towels were clean but are old and worn. When we arrived there were towels drying on an airer that hadn’t been put away. Sadly everything felt a bit unloved - and we felt it could be improved for not much effort or cost. We didn't complain at the time as there was nothing that could be done to fix things during our stay. It’s a beautiful location but the house itself left us disappointed.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 June 2026
Hi Rich, thank you for the review. During Autumn to Spring the heating is kept at a minimum to reduce its environmental impact, this was all explained in a document I sent before hand also showing how to set the heating to your preference when you first arrive. The downstairs bedroom has a standard double suitable for two average sized adults. It is disappointing that you felt that the mattresses had seen better days as they are fairly new and have been barely used with no previous complaints. We will look into the issue of the towels and linen and why they were not put away. It is a pity that you felt that the property felt unloved and disappointing as you can see by all the previous reviews that most people thought the very differently. Regards Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

richard W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely spot, secluded & restful. Cranky WiFi.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug 2025
Hi Richard, I am glad you enjoyed our property. You are welcome back whenever. Ref the Wifi Since your stay we have installed a new system which has sorted out any issues and improved the download speed of the wifi. Regards Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Darren S.

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

Great place

World class walks. Great escape to nature. Feels remote but great pubs and food a short drive away.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda M.

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

Beautiful and Quiet

Amazing place to stay we were surprised the home was large and the views from the house were stunning. Hiking trails all around the location and it was easy access for us to explore many gorgeous parts of West Cork.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia L.

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

Super cottage

The cottage was great and in a beautiful location. So peaceful ☺️
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 23 July 2024
Glad you had a nice time
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kathryn L.

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

Wonderful Stay in this beautiful location

Loved the location of this property right in the heart of the Glengarrif Nature Reserve. Felt we were in the canopy of the trees listening to the babble of the river and birdsong. Incredible stars we were blessed with the weather. highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 4 June 2024
Glad you had a great time and loved the property.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maren

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We loved the beautiful home and the property that it is on. Amazing!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Talina B.

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

Beautiful property!

Great home for our stay in Glengariff! We had a beautiful view of the mountains from our kitchen window. Everything was clean and we had everything we needed. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2024
Thank you Talina, glad you had a great stay.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicola P.

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

Fantastic property in beautiful surroundings

A fantastic house with great facilities set in a stunning location. The property was exactly as described. We had an amazing week here and would definitely return. Thankyou for a wonderful holiday
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Aug 2022
Hi Nicola, glad you had a great holiday and enjoyed the property thank you for the great review.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

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

Recharging Family Stay

This property was peaceful and recharging. It was refreshing to fall asleep to the sound of the river. The host was responsive and kind. Thank you for such a wonderful, recharging stay for our family!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 29 May 2024
Hi Amy, you were great guests, thank you for the great review, happy you liked the property.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten E.

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

Perfect week in a wonderful house

We had a wonderful week surrounded by nature. The house had everything we needed. To put it in a nutshell - everything was perfect
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 May 2024
Thank you very much, I am glad you had a great time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Claude D.

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

A peaceful and quiet base for your outdoor fun

Easy check in, good communication, spacious home, functional bright kitchen and sitting room, close to great hiking trails, gardens and towns, best tasting water in Ireland ( probably), for your bike ride or hike. Nature at your doorstep. Overall a great stop on our month long holiday in Ireland.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Apr 2024
Thank you very much, glad you had a nice time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sabrina B.

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

Peacefull and quiet

Very nice house in a very nice place, very quiet and peacefull. There are lot of things to do/visit in the area. There are amazing beaches not so far. The owner is very kind and helpull. Thanks for everything, we spent a wonderfull week.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug 2022
Hi Sabrina great to hear you had a good time! thank you for the great review!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elaine P.

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

Great holiday!

We had a lovely week at this property outside Glengarriff with our three teenagers. The house is in a fantastic location for walks, well off the beaten track and still just a 5 minute drive from the village. Well placed to visit Kenmare, Bantry and the Beara peninsula. Would definitely be happy to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 9 July 2023
Glad you had great time on your holiday, thanks for the great review
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Seosamh O.

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

Wonderful house in exceptional woodland setting.

The house was impeccably cleaned for our arrival with a great welcome from the caretaker. The setting is the beautiful Glengarriff Nature Reserve, totally peaceful and with wonderful woodland walks such as the amazing Waterfall Walk within a short distance. Glengarriff town, Garnish Island , swimming in the river in the woods, lunch in the Eccles Hotel, so many great experiences in our stay at the River House :)
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2020
Hi Seosamh I am so glad you had a great time at the property and thank you for the great review. Regards Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A very quiet location in the deep countryside with a pleasant feel.May be too isolated for some but with a car into Glengarriff in ten minutes and the drive over the mountain to Kenmare approximately twenty minutes.Most items in the property sufficient however if the stay is like ours a month then may be the seating in the lounge needs more and improved.Definitely if there is more than three people.Nice large bedrooms with upstairs having a view and pleasant sounds of the river.We used the oven, microwave and kitchen every day and found the aspect very good even on the very few rainy days we experienced.A few extra items and updates would be useful.A great month stay!
Stayed 29 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Sept 2025
Hi Mike, thanks for the review, glad you had a great time, the extra items for longer stays have been noted. Regards Paul.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Aimée S.

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

A piece of paradise

The instructions to get to the property were good. The house itself was very clean and had everything you could think of. The surroundings are beautiful and my dog was living her best life here! Poolen forest down the road was lovely for swimming in for kids and dogs and safe. Overall this house gets 5 stare from us. We hope to be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 July 2022
Hi Aimee, that you for your great review and I am so glad you had a great time, it would be great to have you back some time you left the property in a good state for us. Many thanks.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

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

Excellent stay.

Lovely house in such a beautiful and peaceful location. We even had deer in the garden! Excellent communication from Paul the owner. Well equipped, clean and comfortable. Fabulous walks in the area and lovely Pooleen pool to swim. Glengariff is not far with a small selection of pubs and restaurants. Bantry a bit further down the road but has a larger selection. We will return!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 July 2023
Thank you so much for the great review, your welcome back any time.
Verified

8/10 Good

Erwin

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, communication
The house is located in a quiet forest and has a very large garden. Stunning views on woods and caha mountains; only if you look very carefully you might see tiny moving cars far away on the caha pass. We spotted deer in the garden. Glengarriff is only a few kilometres away. The house is rather spacious and the kitchen is large.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emer S.

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

Emer S

Great house in a beautiful setting. Lovely to sit outside listening to the flowing river and birdsong very relaxing. The house was well equipped we had everything we needed and plenty of space and was very comfortable. Glengarriff has plenty of pubs and a few eating places we used Jacks restaurant most of the time serving fresh fish daily. A trip to Garinish island is a must! A fantastic holiday we thoroughly enjoyed it. Owner was very helpful with any request we had.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 15 June 2023
Thank you for the great review, I am so happy you had a great time and the weather was good to you. We love the area also, quiet and peaceful.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jason W.

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

Perfect Place to Decompress and Recharge In The Most Magical Setting

The River House is a beautiful house in a wonderful and enchanted location. The house is spacious with good amenities and is comfortable to live in.We loved the fact that we could take a myriad of different walks from the house either through beautiful woodland or to the top of a mountain. Each walk enabled us to enjoy nature - from trees and plants to goats, birds and even deer. The setting and the house itself are both excellent but what differentiates this property is the level of service provided both by the host who was immensely responsive and helpful and by the house caretakers who responded to an unforeseen power cut by driving up to the house with litres of fresh water and a flask of hot water so that we could enjoy hot drinks until the power company fixed the fault - and then followed up to see if we were ok. We have stayed in many beautiful holiday homes across Europe and the US but never have we felt the peace that we experienced here. The house is set up for families and I am sure it would be great but I would also highly recommend a stay here for couples who want to truly get away from it all.
Stayed 21 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Oct 2023
Hi Jason, thank you for the great review and kind words. So glad you had a great time unwinding. Take care.
Verified

6/10 Okay

sharon j.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

ok

Check in was hard. We got codes but padlock on gate is on other side so hard to do. No info on wifi before or in house. Could not call from house to find wifi info.- this should be provided at house or before arrival so guests do not have to go all the way into town to call! Do not take road off of mountain- gps took us this way- treacherous. Better entrance 1 km from Glengariff. Pros; large rooms, pretty views, quiet, parking right outside door. Cons; no fans or ac and very warm night, mattresses bad- springs in your back, few trash cans, moldy shower curtain, No instructions on anything- washer, dryer, dishwasher, heat, wifi- coming from the US and not familiar made having no directions hard, motion lights came on in middle of night for a while.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Oct 2024
Hi Sharon, Thank you for your opinion, though you seem to be the only guests that have had these problems. Please let me address them. Check in is very simple its a key safe box with a combination that was provided to you days before arrival, the gate lock is a simple combination lock, Wifi code was provided to you days before in a document called house information and details all aspects of the property, you then contacted be directly and I provided it again. I provided detailed instructions on how to get to the property in a document called directions sent to you days before check in. As you may read in previous reviews guests have been very happy with the directions I have provided. I cannot take responsibility for your GPS. In regards to the warm nights, in the house info document that you did not read there were instructions on how to turn down the heating to your requirements. Will check the mattresses as we have had no other complaints, as explained to you before check in if there was anything you were unhappy with I would look at changing but you did not communicate this with me. We have a trash can in the utility room and a large 300ltr wheelie bin outside the back, information on how to use these was provided in the house information. I believe this is sufficient for the 3 days you were at the property. All instructions were provided to you prior to check in. Clear from previous reviews you are on your own in regards to your opinion.
Verified

8/10 Good

Terri A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent scenery. Beautiful property placed in the middle of a lush forest with the sound of moving water coming through the windows at night. Very happy with the whole experience wish we could have had more time there as there is so much to explore.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026

About the host

Hosted by Paul Gabay

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Languages:

English

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