Co Mayo/€650,000: Ivy Cottage, at Rosbeg, Westport, Co Mayo lives up to its name. Colourful coverage by the perennial creeper adds to its charm and puts it at the heart of the surrounding cottage-style gardens and orchard.

On the coast road, just a mile outside Westport on the way to Clew Bay, the original Ivy Cottage dates from around 1810 but has been extended over the years so that today's house stretches over 204 sq m (2,200 sq ft) in which there are three bedrooms, three reception rooms, kitchen and adjoining studio. O'Toole Auctioneers is to sell it by private treaty and are guiding €650,000.

A period mood and style has been maintained throughout, added to by shuttered sash windows and high ceilings. The period style is notable particularly in the sitting and living rooms, both of which have open fires. The sittingroom fireplace dates from the late 19th century.

The kitchen leads to a sun room and the bedrooms are off the entrance hall. The good-sized family bathroom has been painted in shades of green.

The studio, which has a separate entrance as well as additional storage and filing rooms, could be used as an extension to the living space. The gardens are well-cared for and include a walled garden, old orchard, vegetable plot and small garden house. There are a number of outhouses which could lend themselves to imaginative use.

Ivy Cottage is not far from the Quay area of Westport where stone warehouses have been refurbished as shops and cafés.