Consider a stay at STUNNING 4 bed, 2 bath big, bright farmhouse. Spectacular Sea/Mountain views. and take advantage of a water park, a garden and a playground. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
Outdoor furniture, concierge services and books
Golf privileges (optional), farming classes and secured bike storage
Smoke-free property, barbecues and local meal delivery service
Room features
All guest rooms at STUNNING 4 bed, 2 bath big, bright farmhouse. Spectacular Sea/Mountain views. boast perks, such as fireplaces, in addition to amenities, such as free WiFi and dining tables.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
Highchairs, children's books and travel cots
Recycling, composting and eco-friendly cleaning products
2 bathrooms with eco-friendly toiletries and baths
Smart TVs with cable channels
Porches or lanais, wardrobes/cupboards and outdoor lighting
Property manager
Mary and Desmond Carway
Languages
English, French, German
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Internet access
Things to do
Bicycle storage
Books
Farming classes
Optional golf privileges
Playground
Water park
Guest services
Change of bedsheets (on request)
Change of towels on request
Concierge services
Housekeeping (on request)
Outdoors
Barbecue grill
Beach towels
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Food and drink
Chef service
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dining table
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Kitchen
Lobster/crab pot
Meal delivery service
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
More
Cleaning products are eco-friendly
Composting
Desk
Dryer
Eco-friendly toiletries
Fireplace
Heating
Iron/ironing board
Living room
Recycling
Water-efficient showers
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:30 PM
Minimum check-in age - 25
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses a grey water recycling system and eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
What time is check-in at STUNNING 4 bed, 2 bath big, bright farmhouse. Spectacular Sea/Mountain views. ?
Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.
What time is check-out at STUNNING 4 bed, 2 bath big, bright farmhouse. Spectacular Sea/Mountain views. ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is STUNNING 4 bed, 2 bath big, bright farmhouse. Spectacular Sea/Mountain views. located?
Located by the sea, this family-friendly farm stay is within 9 mi (15 km) of Lissadell House, Streedagh Strand and Ben Bulben. Cooldrumman and Drumcliffe Church are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Have a question?
Beta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 70 out of 73 reviews
10 - Excellent
70
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 73 reviews
8 - Good
3
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 73 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 73 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 73 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
10/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
D R.
20 May 2024
Great house in the country but close to activities.
Des and Mary were amazing hosts. The house was clean and equipped with everything you need for your visit. Amazing scenery and gracious hosts.
D R.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
Brittany R C.
1 Aug 2024
A wonderful, magical place!
We stayed here for two weeks with our three little kids (all three and under). Mary and Des went out of their way to give us a warm welcome. They provided excellent local recommendations, lots of amenities, and tractor rides for the kids. The space itself was beautifully situated on a quiet road overlooking the beach, calves gamboling in a field, and the hills beyond. It was a very relaxing environment. The house was spacious, extremely clean and well cared for. We hope to stay here again!
Brittany R C.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2024
10/10 Excellent
Sean C.
13 Aug 2022
Perfect Getaway Vacation
Amazing hosts
Beautiful property
If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday with unreal scenery this is the spot. Tons of activities to do in the surrounding areas (surfing, hiking, etc.). Would recommend to anyone!
Sean C.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022
10/10 Excellent
Leslie D.
26 Jul 2024
Just Magical! 🌟
I cannot recommend Ballinful House enough! Desi and Mary made us feel so welcome. The house is cozy, the views are out of a postcard! There's hiking just outside the door. The location is amazing!
It was so nice to have a kitchen that was well stocked. There were plenty of towels and the showers were great.
We went to Ireland and stayed in Galway, Sligo, and Dublin. We unanimously agreed that Sligo/Ballinful House was our favorite!
Leslie D.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024
10/10 Excellent
Rodney M.
7 Aug 2022
Perfect destination
Just home from a fantastic stay at Des & Mary's property, what a place, hosts were very friendly & helpful, property spotless, best property we have stayed in, views from the bedrooms and sunroom are wonderful. It really was a home from home, the walks and surrounding area picturesque, the harbour walk a nice way to finish the day. Truly recommend this property and will definitely be visiting again!! Thank you for a wonderful stay.
Rodney M.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
10/10 Excellent
Elizabeth M.
31 Jul 2023
Family trip to explore our Irish roots
We had the very BEST time in Sligo at the Herdsman and the Sea Barn! Our hosts, Des, Mary and Elena were the MOST generous and gracious people imaginable. They anticipated and attended to our every need and facilitated many adventures throughout our stay. Fantastic hiking, biking, yoga and beach walks. Highly recommend!!
Elizabeth M.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jonathan S.
13 Jul 2022
Heavenly Stay in Sligo
I just cannot overstate how good the hosts are here, or how much we enjoyed our stay with our family of 5.
You feel like you're really connected to the community here, and Desi and Mary seem to know literally every person we came across.
It was such a convenient location both for local loop hikes and beach visits, as well as treks up North for Slieve League. Fantastic accomodations all around, highly recommend.
Jonathan S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
10/10 Excellent
kevin z.
20 May 2023
Ocean view and cows too!!
Perhaps the best place we have stayed in a VRBO rental and we use VRBO a lot! Hosts were over the top helpful, friendly and informative. Wonderful stories and tractor driving too. Next trip to Ireland we will be back here!! Thanks Mary and Desi!!
kevin z.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
28 Aug 2023
Very clean, very comfortable, beautiful location and warm hospitality. Our best VRBO experience.
Four family members and I stayed for a week and enjoyed the house and all its amenities very much. The quality of the house and its beautiful seaside location was only surpassed by the kindness and consideration of our hosts, Mary and Des. They went out of their way to make sure we were satisfied with all aspects of our stay. I recommed this VRBO highly. And, if one needs a larger space for, say, a family reunion or business retreat, they have beautiful modern accomodations called the Sligo Sea Barn overlooking the bay as well.
Verified traveller
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Debbie H.
20 May 2024
A Month In Ireland
This property turned out to be the perfect location for us. Close to all things and people we love. We spent a month here and by the time we left we felt like part of the community. It was definitely rural but only 10km to N17 and the views were beautiful. I definitely miss watching the calves playing in the field across from the house. My personal opinion - you need a car to see the best of Ireland. The house was stocked with everything you need and spotless. Mary & Des were great hosts and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. We would definitely stay here again.
Debbie H.
Stayed 28 nights in Apr 2024
10/10 Excellent
Suzanne B.
7 Aug 2023
Didn't want to leave
My worries that Herdsman's house was too far from "things to do" was pointless. It was a perfect location - about 20 minutes drive from everything we wanted to do. Quiet evenings back at the house with a view to the ocean were well-spent. Des and Mary made us feel so welcome and had great suggestions for things to do. The house has to be one of the cleanest places I've ever been too as well. I can't recommend the place highly enough.
Suzanne B.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Odis H.
2 Jul 2022
RELAXING FAMILY VACATION
Wonderful hosts who responded quickly to every request and did everything to make our stay pleasant and enjoyable. The country setting allowed us a peaceful, restful stay with great views and easy walking to the beach and around the peninsula. We had last minute changes and the host was very helpful. It was only a 20 minute drive to Sligo for restaurants and shopping. Ellen’s Pub was 5 minutes away and provided local color. It was one of the best stays we ever had and highly recommend this place and this host!!
Odis H.
Stayed 16 nights in Jun 2022
10/10 Excellent
James T.
25 Jul 2022
Perfect Ireland vacation
Absolutely loved this location. The house is situated on farm lands overlooking the water. Des and Mary are the perfect hosts. This was our first time to Ireland and we chose County Sligo due to family ties there. I don’t know if I could even stay anywhere else when we go back! Perfect mix of location, things to do and good company. Things to due: golf, hike, beach, surfing, horseback riding, drive a tractor and meet great people! Des and Mary, thank you so much, we will be back!
James T.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
10/10 Excellent
michael O.
7 Nov 2023
An amazing holiday in a great location
A comfortable well equipped and spacious bungalow with outstanding views of Silgo Bay. The property was very clean, during our 3 weeks stay the the property was cleaned and bedlinen changed to cater for our family who stayed with us during the holiday.
However, the one of the most important element of the holiday was the welcome and great times shown by the hosts Desmond and Mary. They kept the grandchildren entertained with tractor driving and feeding the bullocks.
We would definitely stop at the property if we visited this part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Mike anbd Tina
michael O.
Stayed 21 nights in Oct 2023
10/10 Excellent
Carl C.
23 Oct 2021
A Heavenly Slice of Coastal Farmland
Mary & Desmond are great hosts, helpful & hospitable. Our 3 year old grandson enjoyed the tractors while we enjoyed the coastal walks. The 4 BR home is very spacious and comfortable; and the kitchen had all that we needed for a 5 night stay.
The water & mountain views and countryside quiet enhanced the comfort of our stay.
David’s Restaurant & Yeats Tavern had 5-star cod fish & chips! Lots of good hikes nearby. Donegal an hour away.
Even with lite rainy weather, a most active an enjoyable stay was had by all.
Carl C.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021
10/10 Excellent
James M.
18 Aug 2023
Nailed it it!
Fantastic place, wonderful hosts, the accommodations are TEN star! Des and Mary made us very welcome and know all the best place to visit in the Sligo area. You cannot buy the kind attention they gave us and the 4 kids (ages 10, 8, 5 and 3)…e.g., sitting with the cows, driving the tractor, access to the beach , touring the Sea Barn…we just had a wonderful time. The house has 4 great bedroom, 2 bathrooms, great kitchen, mud room with washer and dryer, lovely dining area and sitting sun room. Highly recommend this house or their Sligo Sea Barn for a family or large group holiday. The Murphy’s and Collette’s
James M.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Margaret C.
23 Sept 2020
A memorable week in Sligo
This light filled house is set in a stunningly beautiful location with a panoramic view across Drumcliffe Bay; from the Dartry mountains and Benbulben, across the sands of Lissadell to Knocknarea, and further out to Aughris Head. The early morning and late evening views are to be remembered.
The house is spacious, extremely comfortable and very well fitted out. It was thoroughly prepared prior to our arrival.
Mary and Des were so welcoming and friendly. We could not have asked for nicer hosts. By far, the best holiday home we have ever rented.
Margaret C.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020
10/10 Excellent
Lottie H.
30 Dec 2021
Wonderful Christmas break
Dezzie and Mary could not have been more welcoming and accommodating especially as we arrived later than anticipated. The house is really excellent for large families ( we are six with four almost adult children) as well as socialising with extended family. The view from the house is wonderful over the bay towards Ben Bulbin and there are amazing walks to beaches and headlands within range of the house. Everyone was so welcoming we even enjoyed a community St Stephens day Swim in the sea. We highly recommend this house for a taste of true west of Ireland warmth and spectacular views over the wild Atlantic Coastline.
Lottie H.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
10/10 Excellent
Mike C.
22 Mar 2022
Relaxing and fun break
Our views consisted of, Ben Bulben, Queen Maeves Grave, Rosses point (and by night it's lighthouses) and miles of ocean. We also were treated to (an afternoon of) the Coastguard helicopter tossing objects into the ocean and dumping the crew out to fetch them back. While training exercises in general may be boring to watch, this isn't something most people ever get to even see.
Aside from the amazing views, the house was impeccable and Mary and Dessie were the fun'nest neighbours we've ever had on a holiday. This trip was an absolute delight and goes directly to our 'will do again' list.
Mike C.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2022
10/10 Excellent
David G., Richmond, Virginia, USA
31 Aug 2022
Perfect Getaway
We stayed in this house for one week in August 2022 . There were eight of us, so a big group! The house was perfect with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It was spotlessly clean, beds comfy, good working kitchen and laundry facility (washer/dryer, clothes line)
The house was very comfortable with absolutely beautiful views, especially from the sunroom. We had wonderful walks each day both on the beach and around Raghly headland on a pedestrian walk encountering magnificent views at every turn. Although a little out of the way we became quickly familiar with the winding roads and were only short drives to the various and wonderful attractions of Sligo. Our hosts Mary and Dessie lived next door, were around to answer all our queries. I would definitely recommend this home and I hope to one day return.
David G.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
10/10 Excellent
Stephanie F.
22 Jul 2023
Wonderful Stay!
We stayed with our two teens for 6 days and I cannot begin to describe how much my family enjoyed our time at this beautiful property. Mary and Des are exceptional hosts and will welcome you warmly, and go above and beyond to meet your needs and ensure that your vacation is exactly what you want it to be. The home is immaculate, the views from nearly every room are lovely and there is just something magical about the area. Whether you want to just rest and read a book, walk the beach or cliffs, venture into the lovely town of Sligo, or drive to Slieve League for the day, The Herder's House is the perfect home base. Sligo is an easy drive and grocery is about 15 min. This is a place to restore, explore, and connect. I have been back for two weeks and still miss it. They also own The Sea Barn across the street which is absolutely gorgeous for a large group stay and is fully accessible. Thank you Mary and Des for giving our family an unforgettable holiday. We will be back!
Stephanie F.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Carol D., Harrison
6 May 2023
Highlight of our Ireland Excursion
If you want to travel into the past and see Ireland the way it used to be, then this is the place to stay. The sun slowly rises over the local mountains; the owner will tell you the name of any mountain you point to and the ancient tale that accompanies it. The light is ever-changing: mist and scuttling clouds cast shadows against the mountains, the bay and the fields. There is something magical about this spot.
We have stayed in many rentals, but this above the rest. We enjoyed long walks on quiet country roads where lush green fields, misty mountains, and choppy bay waves were always in sight. Des and Mary, the owners, let us explore the fairy fort on the property and showed us the walking trails along ocean cliffs.
The meticulous modern house is spacious, well-lit, with spectacular views from most windows. The large kitchen is furnished with quality dishes, glasses and cookware. We were able to prepare wonderful meals. The bathrooms are clean and generous in size. The bedrooms are large and comfortable.
The hosts are more than hospitable and knowledgeable. They tell you where to find traditional Irish music at a local pub, the best restaurants, and where to pick up basic items.
Situated overlooking Sligo Bay, the house is minutes from Yeats’ tomb, Ben Bulben, close to ancient passage burial tombs older than the pyramids (5-6 thousand years old), and local waterfalls. The town of Sligo is just 30 minutes away. Amazing place!
Carol D.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
10/10 Excellent
Gerald P.
8 Oct 2022
Greatest
Des and Mary were amazing hosts we were allowed to look through the the sea barn conversion it is unbelievable if you have special needs family or friends it has everything you could possibly require we will be back we in the herdsmen house perfect for a grope of
Gerald P.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
10/10 Excellent
Andreas R.
20 Aug 2022
Klasse!
Desmond & Marie waren jederzeit bereit zu helfen. Die Gegend ist traumhaft für alle, die abschalten wollen :-)
Andreas R.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
8/10 Good
Patricia F.
7 Aug 2021
Unique stay with friendly family host
Hosts were family living next door to house and were very approachable about where to visit and places to eat. They made sure we knew about lots of hidden gems on their doorstep and went above and beyond to make sure we had a memorable week. The house itself is quite dated but well stocked. Remote location. 10 min drive to supermarket. 20-30 min drive to Rosses point, Mullaghmore, Bundoran, Sligo town. Had access to stony beach across the road for part of the week. Lovely to walk with Benbulbin in the distance.