
Druids Cottage, Calary Lower, Kilmacanogue, Co. WicklowA98H584
€250,000
2 Bed~2 Bath~BER G
What you'll like:
- Picturesque Mountain Setting: The property occupies a stunning location at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, providing buyers with scenic views and a tranquil countryside atmosphere.
- Generous Floor Area: Spanning approximately 197 square meters, the detached dwelling offers substantial internal space to configure a substantial family home once renovated.
- Substantial Detached Footprint: The standalone structure ensures privacy and eliminates shared-wall issues, giving buyers complete independence and ample room for exterior enhancements.
- Desirable Regional Proximity: Situated just seven kilometers from Greystones and four kilometers from Kilmacanogue, residents can easily access coastal amenities and established local villages.
- Convenient Commuter Access: Being approximately nine kilometers from Bray allows for straightforward connections to major transport networks, appealing to commuters seeking rural tranquility.
- Vacant Possession Available: The offering includes vacant possession, enabling new owners to commence refurbishment planning and construction works immediately without tenant delays.
- Private Off-Street Parking: Dedicated parking space on the grounds protects vehicles and provides safe, convenient access directly from the front driveway area.
- Rear Garden Space: A private rear garden area provides an excellent canvas for landscaping, outdoor dining, and potential future extensions subject to planning permissions.
- Attractive Entry Price: An asking price of €250,000 represents a low entry point for a detached Wicklow property, leaving financial headroom for extensive modernization budgets.
- Stable Asking Pricing: Recorded price history shows no increases or decreases, indicating a steadfast vendor position that simplifies initial budget planning for interested parties.
- Refurbishment Potential: The current layout requires complete modernization, allowing buyers to customize every interior finish, fixture, and heating system to personal tastes.
- Strong Long-Term Value: Completing a thorough overhaul in a sought-after geographic pocket could significantly enhance the capital value over the holding period.
- Rural Lifestyle Appeal: The peaceful country surroundings suit buyers looking to escape urban density while remaining within a manageable drive of major commercial hubs.
- Standalone Structural Layout: Arranged over ground and one upper floor beneath a pitched roof, the home features traditional proportions that lend well to architectural redesign.
- No Upward Chain: The absence of an onward chain simplifies the acquisition timeline, reducing administrative friction during the conveyance and closing process.
- Independent Utilities Setup: Ownership of the entire plot ensures straightforward management of utility connections and potential integration of modern renewable energy sources.
- Outdoor Storage Opportunities: The generous garden footprint accommodates potential outbuildings, garden offices, or secure tool sheds to support rural property maintenance.
- Proximity to Outdoor Recreation: Immediate access to mountain trails and scenic walking routes delivers an active lifestyle benefit for hiking and nature enthusiasts.
- Established Neighborhood Context: Located within an established rural community, buyers join a recognized neighborhood known for its scenic backdrop and proximity to County Dublin.
- Direct Renovation Control: Purchasing a heavily distressed asset ensures that all insulation and structural upgrades are executed to the buyer's exact quality standards.
But keep in mind:
- Severe BER Rating: The property carries a G energy rating with high energy consumption of 517.41 kWh/m2/yr, indicating extreme thermal inefficiency requiring comprehensive insulation upgrades.
- Substantial Modernization Costs: Because the building requires total refurbishment, buyers must budget significantly beyond the purchase price to make the dwelling habitable.
- Unverified Internal Condition: The listing notes the interior was not inspected or measured by the selling agents, meaning hidden structural defects could remain undiscovered.
- Potential Compliance Issues: Older rural cottages frequently feature non-compliant extensions or septic tanks that require professional surveying during the due diligence phase.
- Heating System Overhaul: The G energy rating strongly suggests the existing heating infrastructure is obsolete, demanding a complete refit with modern eco-friendly solutions.
- Septic Tank Verification: Buyers must investigate the status and percolation quality of the on-site wastewater treatment system to ensure current environmental compliance standards are met.
- Well Water Dependency: Rural locations in this area often rely on private wells, requiring thorough water quality testing and pump inspection prior to unconditional commitment.
- Restricted Access Routes: Mountain-adjacent rural roads can be narrow or winding, potentially complicating heavy construction traffic and material deliveries during renovations.
- Planning Permission Hurdles: Undertaking major structural alterations in a scenic mountain setting may face strict local planning controls from the county council.
- High Financing Scrutiny: Lenders often restrict mortgages on properties with G energy ratings until verifiable retrofit plans and escrow funds are formally established.
- Potential Damp Issues: Vacant rural houses often suffer from moisture ingress, requiring damp-proofing treatments across ground floors and stone or masonry walls.
- Roof Structure Inspection: The pitched roof covering must be professionally examined for slipped slates, structural sagging, or timber rot before finalizing purchase contracts.
- Boundary Clarity Verification: Overgrown gardens and rural plot lines necessitate a detailed legal mapping check to confirm exact property boundaries and prevent future disputes.
- Insulation Deficits: Upgrading the fabric to modern building regulations will require extensive internal or external wall insulation, affecting internal room dimensions.
- Window and Door Replacements: Existing joinery is likely drafty and outdated, necessitating full double or triple-glazed window replacements throughout both upper and lower levels.
- Electrical Rewiring Needs: Older properties undergoing heavy refurbishment typically require a complete electrical overhaul to meet contemporary safety and fire standards.
- Limited Public Transport: The rural setting lacks high-frequency public transit, meaning future occupants will rely entirely on private vehicles for daily transportation.
- Vendor Information Reliance: Floor area and layout details rely entirely on vendor representation, which must be independently verified by a qualified chartered surveyor.
- Extended Construction Timeline: Managing a substantial renovation project will require months of oversight, temporary alternative accommodation, and patience with contractor schedules.
- Resale Value Volatility: Heavily distressed rural properties carry unique market risks, meaning the final resale value heavily depends on the quality and aesthetic success of the retrofit.
Price positioning
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- The asking price appears attractively valued primarily because it reflects a significant discount for heavy refurbishment needs, given the poor energy rating and extensive internal work required to bring the dwelling up to modern standards.
- Valuation signals of underpricing include the exceptionally low entry point for a sizeable detached footprint in a sought-after mountain setting, though this is heavily offset by the severe capital expenditure needed for structural and thermal remediation.
- Factors that could support such a low pricing strategy include the online auction platform format designed to generate competitive bidding interest, whereas factors undermining it involve hidden structural defects that could escalate total investment costs unexpectedly.
- Relevant contextual observations indicate that while the baseline asking figure looks modest, prospective buyers must factor in the substantial costs associated with achieving a modern energy efficiency rating from the current baseline.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is described as a detached two-bedroom house extending to approximately 197 sq. m (2,120 sq. ft) with a pitched roof and rear garden.
- The listing explicitly notes that the property is a refurbishment opportunity and was not internally inspected by the selling agent, meaning layout, structural integrity, and internal conditions are unverified.
- A buyer should investigate the structural condition of the roof, walls, and foundations, as well as the status of internal amenities.
- Compliance and planning permissions for any previous extensions or modifications should be verified by a professional, given the extensive floor area relative to the two-bedroom layout.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The property holds a G BER rating, which indicates an extremely poor level of energy efficiency and high potential heat loss.
- Bringing a property of approximately 197 sq. m up to a modern energy standard via a deep retrofit—including external wall insulation, upgraded windows and doors, a high-efficiency heating system, and roof insulation—is estimated to cost between €80,000 and €120,000 or more, depending on the extent of structural repairs needed alongside energy upgrades.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost: €3,500 to €4,500.
- Explanation: Given the very poor G energy rating and a substantial floor area of approximately 197 sq. m, the property suffers from severe thermal inefficiency, resulting in exceptionally high heating demands and costs until extensive energy efficiency upgrades are completed.
Pollution Safe
9/10Environmental situation to investigate
- The property is situated in a scenic rural mountain setting at Calary Lower, appearing well removed from major industrial plants, heavy manufacturing, or large-scale waste incinerators.
- Any historical or localized agricultural runoff or legacy waste concerns should be independently verified during standard conveyancing and environmental searches.
Flood Safe
8/10Water overflow reports to follow up
- The elevated rural location near the Wicklow Mountains generally suggests a lower susceptibility to widespread coastal or major river flooding.
- Given the sloping topography and proximity to higher ground, surface water drainage and localized run-off during heavy rainfall events are matters for a prospective buyer to investigate.
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
No verified results were found for this group in the previous five years.
Recent sales in the wider Kilmacanogue area
26 ROCKY VALLEY CRESCENT, KILMACANOGUE, CO WICKLOW
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €1,200,000.00
8 THE LODGE, LOCKEY VALLEY CRESCENT, KILMACANOGUE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €440,000.00
JACKS HOLLOW, POWERSCOURT PADDOCK, KILMACANOGUE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €1,028,000.00
THE MEWS, KILMURRY GROVE, KILMACANOGUE
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €144,400.00
50 ROCKFIELD PARK, KILMACANOGUE, WICKLOW
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €421,000.00
Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR). Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.
Last Sale
A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Estimated stamp duty: €2,500 — 1% of €250,000.
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Based on the asking price shown on this page, using standard residential stamp-duty rates. No adjustments are made for VAT, reliefs, mixed-use property or additional land. The final purchase price and your circumstances may change the amount payable.
- Solicitor legal fees: roughly €1,500 to €3,000 plus VAT and outlays.
- Land registration fees: approximately €170 to €700 depending on the property value and registration type.
- Property valuation fees: around €150 to €300 typically required by mortgage lenders.
- Surveyor fees: approximately €500 to €1,200 depending on the depth of the survey and property size.
- Annual home insurance: roughly €400 to €800 depending on the level of coverage and property specifics.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Locals in the Calary and Kilmacanogue areas frequently discuss the tranquil, picturesque setting at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, making it popular for those seeking rural privacy combined with proximity to Greystones and Bray.
- Community discussions often highlight the narrow and winding nature of rural roads in the Calary Lower area, noting that local infrastructure requires careful driving and winter maintenance.
- Property refurbishment projects in rural Wicklow are a common topic among residents, with discussions often focusing on upgrading poor energy ratings like BER G to modern standards.
- Access to nearby amenities in Kilmacanogue and Greystones, including schools and transport links, is regularly reviewed by families considering relocations to the foothills of the mountains.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children3/10
The property requires extensive refurbishment, which poses safety hazards for young children. However, the rural setting and garden provide outdoor space if renovated.
- Teenagers4/10
While there are two bedrooms and outdoor space, the remote location at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains means teenagers would have limited independent access to amenities and public transport.
- Multi-generational Living2/10
With only two bedrooms and a requirement for complete refurbishment, the layout is generally unsuitable for multi-generational living without substantial extension and modernization.
- Single Buyers5/10
The asking price of €250,000 may appeal to single buyers looking for a project, though the need for significant capital investment to address the G BER rating should be factored in.
- Couples6/10
Offers a great project for couples wanting to craft a home in a picturesque setting near Greystones and Bray, provided they have the budget and appetite for renovation works.
- Empty Nesters5/10
The detached nature and scenic location appeal to empty nesters seeking quiet rural living, but the extensive refurbishment required and potential maintenance of a G-rated home could be demanding.
- Retirees4/10
Retirees should verify the structural condition and heating upgrades needed given the G BER rating. The rural location also requires reliance on driving for daily essentials.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working7/10
The quiet rural setting is ideal for remote working, though buyers should verify local broadband speeds and infrastructure capability.
- Hybrid Commuting6/10
Proximity to the N11 and nearby towns like Bray and Greystones facilitates hybrid commuting options, though access to Dublin relies on transport links.
- Retired6/10
Suited for retirement if buyers are prepared for property maintenance and driving for healthcare and social services.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place3/10
The property requires extensive refurbishment and is a two-storey layout, meaning significant modifications would be needed for long-term ageing in place.
- Low Maintenance1/10
Given that the property is sold as a refurbishment opportunity with a G BER rating, maintenance needs will be high initially.
- Secure Gated Entry3/10
Offers off-street parking and a detached setting, but secure gated entry features would need to be installed by the buyer.
- Minimalist Design4/10
The traditional detached cottage structure lends itself to simple interior design styles, but major layout overhauls are required first.
- Flexible Floor Plans4/10
A two-bedroom detached house spanning approximately 197 sq. m provides decent scale, but internal configuration is subject to the required renovation works.
- Heritage Home6/10
Features a picturesque traditional cottage profile at the foot of the mountains, though buyers should verify any specific architectural designations.
- Ecological Setup2/10
With a G BER rating and an energy consumption of 517.41 kWh/m2/yr, the property currently has a poor ecological setup and requires major energy upgrades.
- Outdoor areas8/10
Benefits from a rear garden and a scenic rural setting at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains with off-street parking.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening8/10
Features a rear garden and a scenic rural plot that offers fantastic potential for avid gardeners to landscape and cultivate.
- Walking9/10
The location at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains provides immediate access to scenic walking and hiking trails.
- Gym2/10
No commercial gym facilities are within immediate walking distance, requiring a drive into nearby towns like Greystones or Bray.
- Cycling6/10
Surrounded by scenic country roads popular with cyclists, though rural roads can lack dedicated cycling infrastructure and lighting.
- Golf7/10
Proximity to the wider Wicklow and North Wicklow region places several golf courses within a convenient driving distance.
- Fishing6/10
Proximity to regional rivers and coastal waters gives reasonable access to fishing opportunities, though transport is required.
- Horse Riding8/10
The rural Wicklow setting and local bridleways make this a very suitable location for equestrian enthusiasts.
- Water Sports5/10
Access to water sports is possible via nearby coastal towns such as Greystones and Bray, though not directly on the doorstep.
- Entertaining4/10
Currently limited by the need for complete interior refurbishment, though the detached footprint and off-street parking offer future potential once updated.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living9/10
Situated in a picturesque setting at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains in Calary Lower, offering an exceptionally quiet and peaceful environment.
- Rural Living9/10
True rural setting surrounded by nature, countryside landscapes, and mountains, ideal for those seeking a countryside lifestyle.
- Village Living6/10
Located approximately 4km from Kilmacanogue, providing convenient access to nearby village amenities while maintaining a rural feel.
- Coastal Living5/10
While located inland, the property is roughly 7km from Greystones and 9km from Bray, offering relatively quick access to coastal towns and amenities.
- Urban Living2/10
Very low urban connectivity directly around the property, requiring travel to nearby towns for urban facilities and services.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement5/10
Rural communities in Calary and Kilmacanogue offer local engagement opportunities, though integration relies on active participation.
- Café Culture3/10
Very limited immediate café culture on-site, requiring a short drive to Kilmacanogue, Greystones, or Bray for local coffee shops.
- Nightlife2/10
Virtually no nightlife directly in the immediate rural townland; residents must travel to larger nearby towns for pubs, restaurants, and entertainment.
- Health/Wellness groups4/10
Local wellness activities are primarily centered in nearby villages and towns rather than immediately adjacent to the property.
- Networking Opportunities2/10
Professional networking is minimal in this rural pocket, requiring travel toward Dublin or major regional employment hubs.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity2/10
Not near any established physical tech hubs, though remote connectivity can be established via broadband.
Listing information
- Agent
- BidX1 Ireland Ltd
- Phone
- 01 6673388
- Current status
- active
- Published on HouseDelve
- 2 September 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-B3DBC2HouseDelve · Republic of IrelandReport checks
Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.
Automated quality checks: Passed
* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.