The East Coast Nature Reserve is one of the most popular places in the nation to experience nature through birdwatching.
Birdwatching is on the rise in Ireland and the UK, especially amongst Gen Z, according to research published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) earlier this year. It shows a 47 per cent increase in regular birdwatching since 2018, growing the total number of participants in Great Britain to over four million.
Here, Birdwatch Ireland has about 15,000 members, with the number of twitchers, the nickname given to those who enjoy the pastime, on the rise, according to its head of communications, Niall Hatch, who says "membership is increasing, and more people are turning up at our events."
Address: The Coach House, 1 Rockingham, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, A63 TY00
Asking price: €445,000
Agent: DNG Thornton Properties
About equidistant from Wicklow town and Greystones, Newcastle village in Co. Wicklow is a quiet spot that has beach access and is a magnet for walkers and bird watchers.
With some 33 different bird species at the East Coast Nature Reserve, at Blackditch Wood, it is one of the most popular bird-watching sites in Ireland.
Forming part of the Murrough Wetlands, it is managed by Birdwatch Ireland and offers several walking trails, bird hides, birdwatching, and rare flora viewing.
The reserve’s habitats include parkland, reed beds, woodlands, and wetlands.
As a result, it’s a great site in winter for ducks, geese, swans, waders, and birds of prey.
It runs down to Newcastle Beach, a breeding ground for little terns in spring and beloved by locals looking to get their steps in. Some also swim. Others shore fish.
In the centre of the village, within easy reach of all these natural amenities, is number one Rockingham is a smartly presented two-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached house.
It is part of a refurbished courtyard-style cluster of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes.
The A BER-rated residence has a broken-plan ground-floor layout with the kitchen to the right of the hall. Its shaker-style cabinets are painted the softest pale back to 1900.
Completely modernised, the eat-in space is light-filled.
Across the hall is the living room, a tri-aspect space that opens out to the garden.
Upstairs there are two double bedrooms. Both are dual aspect. The primary is ensuite.
The village has good commuter services to Dublin.
Travel by train from Kilcoole station and by Dart from Greystones; a morning commute to Connolly Station is just under an hour and boasts sea views for much of the journey.
The M11 is nearby and links with the M50 to major destinations around Ireland.
Agents DNG Thornton Properties is seeking €445,000 for the A3 BER-rated residence, which extends to 84 square metres.
