The Brambles
Dundrum Co. Down has always been somewhere I have driven through but never stopped to spend much time in, so it was lovely to be asked to capture a new Airbnb right the in center of this charming little town.
The Brambles is a beautiful period house that sits on the main street of Dundrum, with its location being so close to stunning walks and views such as Dundrum Castle and Murlough Nature Reserve this beautiful house is perfect for a weekend stay or a mini holiday with your family. The decor in the house hints at the owners love for Ireland with glimpses of their history throughout.
We arrived at The Brambles just after lunch and after being shown around by Wendy and hearing a little bit about her story and how this Airbnb came to be, we started photographing the space and capturing all the little details. Wendy had left us some delicious buns from a shop in the town and lovely local Kilmegan apple juice which we happily tucked into before heading out for a walk.
We walked up to Dundrum Castle which is about a 10/15 min walk from the house. The views across the lough were beautiful. Unfortunately it was a little cloudy but on a clear day the view of the Mournes would be incredible. Definitely worth the trip and taking a walk around the Castle. (I will list a few more places to visit nearby at the bottom of this blog.)
After visiting the Castle we walked to Scopers to order our dinner. We had heard great things about this place both from Wendy and on Instagram. We really enjoyed it, the staff were really friendly and it was nice to be able to support a local restaurant during our stay.
After dinner we lit the stove and enjoyed an evening of reading in front of the fire, the main living room is a very cozy space where you could happily sit all evening. If you wanted to venture out there is a local pub near the house, about a 5 min walk.
In the morning we enjoyed the coffee and croissants provided by Wendy before we headed out for a walk around Murlough Nature Reserve which was just across the road from the house. We had a lovely walk around the lough to Murlough House and back before we left to go home.
After our stay I asked Wendy a few questions about herself and her new Airbnb, read more below…..
Hey Wendy tell us a little bit about yourselves and the story behind your Airbnb.
My husband and I are both Irish and have lived most of our lives in Switzerland. We discovered this area about thirty years ago through good friends who live here and we fell in love with the place. We bought a property in the village 13 years ago as a holiday home and 3 years ago we made it our “forever” home. We both grew up by the sea and had a longing to return to it.
What inspired you to start an Airbnb?
We have always enjoyed hosting friends and family in our own home and helping them to discover all that the area has to offer. Having the Airbnb is an extension of what we are already doing. We appreciate being part of this village community.
If you could sum up the style / feel of your Airbnb in 3 words, what would they be?
Charming, cozy and inviting.
What do you love most about your accommodation?
We love that it is a beautiful period house with so much character.
For guests coming to stay, where would you recommend as good places to visit nearby?
There is so much to see and do in this area. In walking distance from the house we have Dundrum Castle ( built in 1117) which has fantastic views of the Mourne mountains and Dundrum Bay. There is also Murlough Nature Reserve, which has an amazing beach with the Mountains of Mourne as a backdrop. We are blessed with stunning scenery and plenty of places to eat delicious food.
list of places to go nearby
Food
Scopers
Mourne Seafood Bar
Dundrum Inn
Tonn Ruray
Bay Side Catch
RuMac's Pizza
The Buck’s Head Inn
The Squid Shack
Walks and Attractions
Dundrum Castle
Murlough House
Murlough Nature Reserve
Dundrum Coastal Path
Seaford Woodland Walk