Sheltered behind stone faced walls and tall hedges, Dunsandle Mews, a lovely old detached Victorian house on a third of an acre at the end of Corbawn Lane, in Shankill, Co Dublin, has the wonderful sprawling gardens, a sheltered summer house and light-filled conservatory that encourage taking it easy and enjoying the sunshine. If livelier outdoor living is on the agenda, then lawns here are big enough to take a trampoline, tree house or two, not to mention ample space to host a garden party in grand old style. Add to all of that the sight and sound of the sea . . .

viewed from the kitchen and bedroom windows . . . and it's easy to see why the current owners have more than a pang of regret about moving on. Brian and Pamela Ross bought the three-bed house around 30 years ago, and one of the first things they did was to build the south-facing conservatory to enjoy the feeling of sitting in the garden all year round.

Accommodation comprises an entrance hall; open-plan livingroom cum kitchen cum diningroom; utility; conservatory, and three bedrooms.

"Although grand in scale, the mature grounds are easily maintained and designed for enjoyment rather than hard work, says Brian.

"We inherited a lot of the style of the garden, and the trees and shrubs, from the previous owner. We've added to that with fruit trees and a colourful laburnum, but the lovely thing about the garden is that it doesn't require endless work . . . which is just as well as one of the nicest aspects of it is the quiet summer house where you can catch the evening sun. On the other hand, the beach is just a stone's throw away, visible from the kitchen window and from an upstairs bedroom."

Accommodation at entrance level comprises the reception hall, guest cloakroom with 'Aqualisa' shower cubicle; large, light-filled lounge with period fireplace, extending into the fitted kitchen/diningroom with wonderful views; Victorianstyle conservatory and large utilityroom. Upstairs, off the landing, are three double bedrooms, one of which has those aforementioned special views. The large bathroom has a pine panelled ceiling.

Outside, there is parking space for up to three cars.

The house is very private, being at the end of leafy Corbawn Lane, yet is minutes away from Shankill and the DART station. Meandering gravel paths, a sun terrace and the summer house all invite exploration of the garden, but there's also the choice of a stroll on the nearby beach . . . a delightful choice on a summer's evening.

Price: AMV 1.3m Auction: 12 July 2006 Agent: Lennox Estates 01-286 8275