The Open 2025 Accommodation

Sam's Cottage is the centre of a cluster of traditional cottages, all of which are for rent as one unit. These have been meticulously restored in 2023-24 to the highest standard. While traditional stone cottages with a mixture of thatch, corrugated steel and slate roofs, this Open home rental has been restored and updated to provide all modern conveniences. First appearing on a map in 1800, at least some of the cottages date back to the 1700s or earlier. Three of them, now combined into one building, are Grade II listed because of their architectural significance. Another separate building, previously a dwelling and then a farm building, has also been restored to provide a separate annex, complete with its own kitchen and bathroom. The whole complex is nestled into the County Antrim countryside and is surrounded by farmland and forest.

The restoration has been sympathetically carried out by a world-renowned architect, and was supervised by the Listed Buildings throughout to ensure that the character of the buildings were retained. There are sash windows throughout and many of the original details of these traditional Irish dwellings have been retained.

The Open 2025 Accommodation summary:
Main cottage: half door into entrance hall of the thatched cottage. Original narrow stairs to storage area, and a toilet area on the ground floor.
Parlour to the left. This would have been the 'good room' of the cottage. Original fireplace and window arrangement.
New entrance with three steps down to what was a barn and is now a modern well-appointed kitchen with large sliding doors to front and rear. Polished concrete floor and wood-burning stove. Usual kitchen utilities including a oven, hob, Quooker tap, dishwasher etc.

Going right from the entrance are a series of rooms.
The first is a utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer.
The main bedroom is next with a king-sized bed, with a separate dressing room/wardrobe area and an ensuite with shower.
The next room is a bedroom with a double bed.
There is then a large hallway, with exposed beams and a stone wall, which leads to a large bathroom with bath, shower and toilet.
A sitting room/library also connects to the hallway (which can be converted to another double bedroom by arrangement)

Separate annex:
A few yards across what would have been the farmyard is the annex building, with polished concrete floors throughout.
This Open home rentals consists of:
Living room with chairs and sofa, and a dresser and a wood-burning stove. There is a television and WiFi. Double doors open onto a balcony with seating.
Kitchen with a table and a range of modern kitchen units. There is an integral fridge, a stove and oven, and a washing machine.
Bedroom with a double bed.
Bathroom with shower, toilet and sink.

All the properties have high-speed fibre WiFi and oil-fired central heating. A Weber barbeque and outdoor furniture is provided.

We are also happy to respond to any other queries or requests. Assuming a 7 day booking, days on either side of the booking can be arranged at a reduced cost, if desired.

Distance to the British Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club:
34.3 miles

Distance from the airports:
Belfast International 13 miles
George Best Belfast City 27.4 miles
City of Derry Airport 54 miles

Local amenities:
The town of Ballymena (3 miles) offers amenity shops, supermarkets, liquor stores, chemists/pharmacies, butchers and some bars and eateries - try Middletown for breakfast/coffee. Top food recommendations would be Galgorm Resort and Spa (5.7 miles) and Flax steakhouse, Broughshane (6.1 miles)

Nearby tourist attractions:
We are at the gateway to the famous nine Glens of Antrim (12 miles)
Gracehill village, a World Heritage site (4.3 miles)
Slemish Mountain, where St Patrick herded pigs (12 miles)
Titanic Belfast (25.6 miles)
Old Bushmills Distillery (33.2 miles)
The Dark Hedges, which feature in Game of Thrones and Transformers (24.9 miles)

Golf courses:
Galgorm (hosted the Irish Open in 2020) 4.2 miles
Massereene Golf Course 9.1 miles
Moyola Park 15.9 miles
Malone Golf Club 31.5 miles

There are also many smaller local clubs nearby.

Location: Cromkill, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Bedrooms: 3
Price: £14,000