At one time Rossbrin Castle, the remains of which are still standing at the mouth of Long Island Bay, was a centre of learning funded by the O’Mahony clan. By the 1500s Donal O’Mahony switched from education to piracy and was duly hung for his crimes in 1562.

Today Rossbrin Cove, a small south-facing inlet, equidistant from Ballydehob and Schull is an idyllic setting for mariners and anglers – sea trout, mullet and flounder are regularly caught off the pier, and the location for sailors allows exploration of the 50 or so islands in the bay.

The Stone House a 232sq m property set over two floors, was constructed in 2000. The four-bed property set on two acres is decorated in New England style with marvellous views across the bay to Rossbrin Castle.

On the ground floor lies the master bedroom, which opens out to a Liscannor stone patio, as does the open plan living and dining area. The focal point is a large stone fireplace, which provides a welcome balance to the ravages of the Atlantic on winter nights.

Upstairs are three further bedrooms, two of which are en-suite. The gardens are a mixture of landscaping and wild natural planting, with visiting peregrine falcon and sparrow hawks.

Though the property does not have direct access to the water, it is just a stone’s throw away. Local rambling can be found on the 13km Rossbrin Looped walk.

Five hundred years ago, this area was a truly wild Atlantic way – due to the threat of piracy and abduction into slavery – today its natural wilds attract tourists to the region.

The property is for sale through estate agent Charles McCarthy Auctioneers with an asking price of €875,000.