NESTLED in horsey heaven in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, Ballinteskin Stud has arrived on the market with a magnificent six-bedroom Georgian home, 118 acres and pristine equestrian facilities. A walk through this property is sure to leave any equine lover dreaming of hacking around the Sugar Loaf Mountains.

The current owner purchased the property from the Durkan Group construction company, who are well known in racing circles, for €7 million in 2006 and a full refurbishment of the splendid Georgian residence has been carried out. Two years later he put the property back on the market for double the price (€14 million) but it failed to sell.

Approached through a long avenue lined with cherry trees, the house is in walk-in condition, located beneath the Sugar Loaf Mountain with stunning views.

Although it has been refurbished to an immaculate standard, the house still retains much of its original period features and character. The stylish accommodation includes three comfortable reception rooms, a large conservatory sunroom, a bespoke Dalkey Design House kitchen with a marble worktop and a four-oven Aga, and six bedrooms, three of which have ensuite bathrooms.

The master bedroom suite has a separate walk-in dressing room with fitted wardrobes and a polished timber floor.

The extensive restoration works included rewiring, plumbing, the installation of a pressurised water system, the installation of security cameras and alarms and the upgrading and renewal of a new central heating system with authentic Victorian style radiators.

The gardens surrounding the house are wonderfully mature and include a pair of rhododendrons that were planted circa 1850, and a large sun terrace links the house to the gardens off the bright conservatory room.

EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES

Ballinteskin has been run as a stud farm for the last 40 years and is known for breeding the National Hunt mare Analog’s Daughter. The current owner ran the farm until 2014 and it was rented out for a period but has now been empty for a number of months.

There are 34 stables in total, plus staff accommodation, and an outdoor and indoor arena. The charming courtyard adjacent to the main house comprises one and two storey stone outbuildings that include 10 stables, a tack room, store room and office.

The comfortable one bedroom staff apartment is located on the courtyard.

The other big block of 16 stables is located just behind the courtyard in a large American barn, all with Loddon-designed removable automatic feeders, and has its own wash bay and tack room.

There is a foaling unit with two large stables and an observation room beside the courtyard for the foaling season, as well as an isolation box.

The all-weather outdoor arena is 17cm x 35cm with a Cushion Track Premier waxed surface, installed by Equestrian Surfaces, and while the indoor arena is smaller, there is enough room to school over fences.

The 118 acres are in easily manageable sizes and are mostly post and railed with the additional benefit of sheep proof wire. All paddocks have water laid on with automated drinkers, and neat hedgerows interspersed with mature trees provide good belts of shelter across the estate.

The location is key for any potential buyer hoping to run the stud as a commercial enterprise. Just 5kms from Enniskerry town and 27km from Dublin city, there is easy access to the main N11 and M50 roads.

There are a number of equestrian centres in the vicinity and hunting locally with the Bray and Wicklow packs.

Brought to the market by Philip Byrne of REA Coonan, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ballinteskin Stud is going to public auction at 3pm on Wednesday, October 25th at Buswells House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. REA Coonan has placed an advised minimum value of €2.5m.