Kayaker's paradise at Piper's Nest Cottage overlooking Smith Cove

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Interior
Interior
Exterior
Exterior detail
9.7 / 10.0
Outstanding(38 Ratings)

Cottage in Castine, ME

12 guests · 6 bedrooms · 2 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Includes essentialsGarden, Pets allowed, Kitchen or Kitchenette and more

About this cottage rental

NEW IN 2014: KITCHEN COMPLETELY REMODELED AND ENTIRE HOUSE UPDATED. This secluded two-story cottage is a perfect base camp for contemplative retreats, nature hikes, biking and kayaking. Piper's Nest sits high over the water in Smith Cove on Cape Rosier. It has its own access road and abuts Holbrook Island Sanctuary. Sweeping views from most of the windows look out over the cove where sail boats can be seen dropping anchor. A steep path takes you down to a pebble beach for tying up a kayak. A polite pet is welcome.

The Piper's Nest was built by our mother to bring her 5 children and their families together. When we are not using it we rent it out for others to enjoy. It is a cozy, adaptable place for large or small groups. A fully modern kitchen opens to dining and lounging areas. Children will love the bunkroom and will find plenty of books and toys for a rainy day. One of the bedrooms is located on the main floor near a handy full bath-laundry room. Futons on the porch and living room can unfold for additional sleeping places. The other 3 bedrooms, plus the bunkroom, are upstairs with a full bathroom. In addition to the fireplace we recently added a furnace to provide heat for chilly mornings and evenings. The large kitchen is stocked with a few basic non-perishables and is equipped to cook for a crowd with its Microwave, Bosch gas range, and grill on the wrap around porch. There is a sink that can handle a lobster pot and a second sink on the central island where wild blueberry pancakes can be cooked family style.

The cottage opens out onto a large screened porch for enjoying morning coffee, afternoon naps, playing games or eating meals at the large picnic table. On rainy days our cozy reading nooks, games and books will keep everybody busy. A flat screen plays DVDs from our small but growing collection.
Smith Cove is great for kayaking because it is protected from wind and ocean swells. A short paddle at low tide takes you by the rocks where harbor seals bask in the sun. A hammock swings in front of the house where you can also enjoy a flat grassy area perfect for frisbee or badminton. Bike routes around Cape Rosier and Holbrook Island Sanctuary trailheads can be found near the end of our drive. Drive 30 minutes into Blue Hill or Stonington for some sightseeing and shopping. Acadia and Bar Harbor are an hour's drive away and make for a great day trip.


Keywords: Cottage, Ocean View & Frontage, Pet Friendly

Amenities

Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly

Map of Castine, ME

$$$$
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Ratings and reviews

9.7 / 10.0
Outstanding(38 Ratings)
10.0 / 10.0
Sep 2023
We absolutely loved this place. The location was beautiful and the house was well stocked and comfortable. You can tell it is a beloved family home and we were grateful to share it for two weeks.
10.0 / 10.0
Aug 2023
The house was delightful and so well provisioned. Everything we needed was easy to find. We were able to enjoy our lobster boil with everything we needed in the kitchen. We are a family of 12 and everyone had plenty of room. The screened-in porch was a wonderful respite from bugs while allowing us to enjoy the breeze. Every detail was thought through including local flowers in every room. We even walked into a bowl of local blueberries.
10.0 / 10.0
Aug 2023
Spacious and clean! Canoed all around Smith Cove. Great house for kiddos and cooking.
10.0 / 10.0
Jul 2023
The property was described well with ample space for all 7 of us to spread out. The screened in porch was great for eating and lounging to read a book on a rainy day. There is also a great dining room table where we played games at night. The kitchen is fully stocked with so many options for cooking, including popover pans!! It’s about an hour from Acadia, but the local area offers great beauty. The owner’s binder gave us so many options, including a recommendation for lobster, we bought right off a local fisherman and his boat! The walkway to gravel beach is steep but the rope helps with getting back up. We dropped kayaks at the neighbors and anchored at bottom of pathway, beach. We saw a Black bear wander through front yard one morning. Highlight!! I would say that the cleaning of the first floor bathroom needed some work. Also, the bedding is a bit older so if you’re picky about blankets and quilts you may want to bring your own. The beds were comfortable but also on the older side. The owner provided multiple stand fans which were great even with temps only in 60s. Not sure what they would do if temps were in 80s. The gas grill was great for cooking and of course so we’re the lobster pots. Overall a really great place to experience the beauty and tranquility of Maine! Thank you for letting us stay.
10.0 / 10.0
Oct 2022
We absolutely loved the house, the proximity to a beautiful nature preserve and abundant trails, and the peace and quiet of the surrounding woods. We pretty much lived on the amazing screen porch, and the house in general is very roomy and comfortable. Views of the cove are stunning. We hosted a large dinner for friends and family one evening and the kitchen is well stocked and big enough to have several cooks and prep happening all at once. We rented kayaks which were delivered to the neighbor’s beach which you can access in a short walk through the woods. The cove is beautiful, calm and perfect for paddling! Would definitely come back.
10.0 / 10.0
Sep 2022
The house was well equipped with instructions for all in the house and tips for things to do to enjoy the area. Great view.
10.0 / 10.0
Sep 2022
Our family spent a week here in late July. The house was even more lovely in person than in the pictures. The kitchen was large and well stocked with dishes and some pantry items. There was a small extra fridge on the screened in porch where we put drinks which was super convenient. The bedrooms were clean and comfy, and there was more than enough room for the whole family to spread out. We did a number of day trips in the area, the house is quite remote so we did end up driving a lot for those trips but we expected it so it was fine. Some of our party had mobility challenges so we didn’t spent much time down at the beach but the time we did spend there was very nice. We found a lot of hermit crabs, snails, and other sea creatures which was a big hit with the kids. We spent a lot of time swimming at a beach about 10 minutes away which was super convenient and absolutely lovely. It was a wonderful quiet stay, we played lots of games and puzzles, and enjoyed chatting into the evening on the screened in porch. I appreciated that there were some toys and books at the house which kept our younger family members entertained. The only negative was the mosquitos…they were both plentiful and vicious. Bring good bug repellent!
10.0 / 10.0
Sep 2022
Perfect wooded remote setting overlooking the ocean. Peaceful and quiet. Great place to decompress. Large well stocked kitchen. Loved all the kitchen utensils and appliances. It was so nice to have coffee in the mornings sitting on the deck or in family room facing the large windows watching nature. Thank you so much for sharing😎

FAQs

How much does this cottage cost compared to others in Castine?

The average price for a rental in Castine is $424 per night. This rental is $56 above the average.

Is parking included with this cottage?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Kayaker's paradise at Piper's Nest Cottage overlooking Smith Cove. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this cottage?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this cottage. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is Kayaker's paradise at Piper's Nest Cottage overlooking Smith Cove pet friendly?

Yes! This cottage is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.

What amenities are available at Kayaker's paradise at Piper's Nest Cottage overlooking Smith Cove?

We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, fireplace, parking, and laundry.

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