Ballyvolane House is an elegantly furnished, family-owned period home built in 1728, offering warm hospitality and extremely comfortable accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere of informality and friendliness. The house is set on extensive parklands with trout lakes, vast gardens and woodlands.
Ballyvolane House is located in East County Cork in southern Ireland between the townlands of Britway and Castlelyons, close to the market towns of Fermoy, Midleton and Tallow and also within a short distance to Cork City. Delicious food is a high point at Ballyvolane, it is well known for its artisan food producers and during the growing seasons most of the vegetables and fruit come from Ballyvolane's walled garden.
FROM CORK · Take the M8 north towards Dublin. · Go through Toll plaza and take 1st exit off motorway for Rathcormac [ R639 ]. · Before Rathcormac at River Bride, turn right towards Midleton & Tallow [ R626 ]. · Take next left towards Tallow after 0.5 miles [ R628 ]. · Take 2nd turn right towards Midleton at crossroads after 2 miles. · Take next left towards Britway after 0.5 miles. · Ballyvolane House is about 0.5 miles from the last turn on the right.
FROM DUBLIN · If you bypass Fermoy, take 1st exit off the M8 toll road for Rathcormac [R639]. · After Rathcormac at River Bride, turn left towards Midleton & Tallow [ R626 ]. · Follow instructions (as from Cork) above.
Ballyvolane House is signposted at each turn from the R639 which is a distance of about 4 miles.
There are six guest bedrooms at Ballyvolane, which are spacious, individually furnished, tastefully decorated and above all indulgently comfortable.
They have televisions, tea/coffee making facilities, a good old wireless (so you don't have to miss an episode of the Archers!), and a selection of books and magazines with which to amuse and entertain.
All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, some of which have beautiful big old antique baths. The large double sash windows frame stunning views overlooking the formal terraced gardens to the south and to the north, ancient trees, parkland, lakes and mountains beckon
Dining The food at Ballyvolane is meticulously prepared by house chef Teena Mahon. The menus feature lots of good roasts, fresh and salt-water fish and game in season supported by home-grown vegetables and fruit. Only the freshest of ingredients are used from Ballyvolane’s walled garden, farm, river and from the local area.
A vast amount of vegetables are grown throughout the year in Ballyvolane’s walled garden. Home-made fruit preserves are served each morning for breakfast alongside homemade breads, pastries and cakes. All guests can enjoy complimentary homemade elderflower cordial, homemade Ribena and a jar of homemade chocolate in the bedrooms. Menus change daily and vary with seasonal, weather and fishing conditions. We are very happy to accommodate any special dietary requirements. High tea and special children’s menus are also available
Afternoon Tea Enjoy our selection of loose leaf tea, herbal infusions, homemade cake and shortbread in the hall, sitting room, in your room or, weather permitting, out in the garden. Picnic Lunch Picnics can taken with you on day trips or can be eaten in the house or on the grounds. We do not offer a sit-down lunch option at Ballyvolane.
Gardens The gardens and grounds of Ballyvolane have a mixture of mature deciduous trees, formal, semi-formal, walled and woodland gardens, not to mention the wide variety of wildlife that thrive therein. The gardens are open to the public during the summer and in early June the bluebell-carpeted woodlands are at their most spectacular.
The Cork Blackwater is Ireland’s finest Salmon River and one of the most important salmon rivers in Europe, stretching for over 150 kilometres from its source in Kerry to the sea at Youghal. The season for salmon opens on 1st February and continues until 30th September. Due to the size of its catchment area the Blackwater maintains a good flow so that fishing is possible in a wide range of weather conditions.
The Blackwater is almost entirely privately owned and we are fortunate to be able to offer some of the best beats on the river, spread over a 40 kilometre stretch from Killavullen and Ballyhooly down to Ballyduff.
TROUT FISHING ON THE LAKES AT BALLYVOLANE We also have our own lakes in the grounds at Ballyvolane which are stocked with rainbow trout and can be fished all year round. Only fly fishing is allowed. Particularly suitable for younger guests, and for salmon fishermen when conditions on the river are impossible! Trout rods and flies are available at Ballyvolane.