Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.
House in York Harbor, ME
25 guests · 10 bedrooms · 7 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Pool, Kitchen or Kitchenette and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this house rental
The Varrell House is located in the heart of York Harbor, Maine and a 3 minute walk to the family friendly York Harbor beach. Listen to the fishing boats as they depart the Harbor each morning, smell the salty air and feel the gentle ocean breeze. The home was originally built as a guest house (Varrell House -- Annex) in the early 20 Century and served as a Bed & Breakfast (Canterbury House) in the latter part of the 20th Century. You’ll have plenty of room for gathering with family and friends -- including a newly renovated kitchen (winter 2017-18) - two large sitting areas, a new (2021) and large front porch and a new lawn with gas fire pit shaded by gorgeous old trees. Some of the rooms and grounds offer partial views of the harbor where time will slowly pass as you watch the boats come and go. 10 bedrooms with 7 bathrooms means plenty of room for the whole family without long wait times to take a shower! The charming home was renovated in 2017-18 to include a new kitchen, 2 new bathrooms and brand new furnishings to ensure you have a very comfortable stay. We offer one of the best per room/per night fees or per person/per night of any large rental in York Harbor. We also have a "sister" property - The Briars at Homeaway - #4035882 that is just a few doors away. Both have a long history of exceptional reviews.
Our home is in an ideal spot to enjoy the sought after environs of York Harbor. Guests can easily walk to the Harbor Beach known for its family friendly atmosphere. The Cliff Walk starts at the Harbor Beach and offers spectacular views of the rocky Maine coast and stunning Victorian mansions. The Hartley Mason estate is a beautiful public park overlooking the Harbor Beach with flower gardens and plenty of shade from the summer sun. Moulton Park is 2 minutes down the street from us with a fantastic space for any outdoor activity with lots of sun and shade. The Fisherman’s Walk is steps away where you stroll along the river and enjoy views of the boats coming in and out of the harbor – including lobsterman with their fresh catch of the day. Fisherman’s walk brings you to the Wiggly Bridge-Steadman Woods where you can take a loop through the forest or continue walking to the historic York Village. York Village (less than five minutes away by car in case you lost track of how long you’ve been walking) was settled in 1624 (3 years after Plymouth Plantation!) and offers a rich array of historical buildings (e.g Old Gaol – one of the oldest jails in America; a one room school house; Jefferds Tavern; The Old Burying Ground featuring 18th-19th century carved tombstones; and the John Hancock Warehouse etc.).
The Harbor is rich in culture and fine dining. The York Art Association is located a few houses down the street from us. George Marshall store gallery is located through the Steadman Woods and has a series of art exhibits during the year (the curator lives down the street from our house). There are other small galleries and shops in the Village. York Harbor Inn, Stage Neck Inn, and Chapman Cottage each offer award winning dining and are all a five minute walk from our home. The Dockside Restaurant is located across the harbor (five minute drive away) and is a great spot to view the marina and have a great meal. The marina offers boat and kayak rentals for those wishing to experience some “ocean” culture.
The York area and surrounding towns offer a never ending list of things to do. Visit lighthouses. Go whale watching. Explore forts and historical sights. Enjoy the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Hike Mt. Agamenticus for breathtaking views of the ocean to the east and forest/mountains to the west (you can also drive to the top if you are feeling lazy and visit the nature exhibit in the old ski lodge). Shop at the Kittery Outlets (save this for those rainy days). Visit the York Beach boardwalk with an amusement park, bowling, arcade, shops, live entertainment, salt water taffy and more. Hiking-Biking-Boating-Sunbathing…or just reading a book in the many nooks of our beautiful home. You will love the relaxed pace of Maine. There is a reason our state motto is "Maine, the way life should be".
Looking to accommodate an even bigger group? Ask us about The Briars, our 8 bedroom home, located just a few doors away -- homeaway # 4035882. We also have a third property, with 6 bedrooms in very close proximity.
Our home is in an ideal spot to enjoy the sought after environs of York Harbor. Guests can easily walk to the Harbor Beach known for its family friendly atmosphere. The Cliff Walk starts at the Harbor Beach and offers spectacular views of the rocky Maine coast and stunning Victorian mansions. The Hartley Mason estate is a beautiful public park overlooking the Harbor Beach with flower gardens and plenty of shade from the summer sun. Moulton Park is 2 minutes down the street from us with a fantastic space for any outdoor activity with lots of sun and shade. The Fisherman’s Walk is steps away where you stroll along the river and enjoy views of the boats coming in and out of the harbor – including lobsterman with their fresh catch of the day. Fisherman’s walk brings you to the Wiggly Bridge-Steadman Woods where you can take a loop through the forest or continue walking to the historic York Village. York Village (less than five minutes away by car in case you lost track of how long you’ve been walking) was settled in 1624 (3 years after Plymouth Plantation!) and offers a rich array of historical buildings (e.g Old Gaol – one of the oldest jails in America; a one room school house; Jefferds Tavern; The Old Burying Ground featuring 18th-19th century carved tombstones; and the John Hancock Warehouse etc.).
The Harbor is rich in culture and fine dining. The York Art Association is located a few houses down the street from us. George Marshall store gallery is located through the Steadman Woods and has a series of art exhibits during the year (the curator lives down the street from our house). There are other small galleries and shops in the Village. York Harbor Inn, Stage Neck Inn, and Chapman Cottage each offer award winning dining and are all a five minute walk from our home. The Dockside Restaurant is located across the harbor (five minute drive away) and is a great spot to view the marina and have a great meal. The marina offers boat and kayak rentals for those wishing to experience some “ocean” culture.
The York area and surrounding towns offer a never ending list of things to do. Visit lighthouses. Go whale watching. Explore forts and historical sights. Enjoy the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Hike Mt. Agamenticus for breathtaking views of the ocean to the east and forest/mountains to the west (you can also drive to the top if you are feeling lazy and visit the nature exhibit in the old ski lodge). Shop at the Kittery Outlets (save this for those rainy days). Visit the York Beach boardwalk with an amusement park, bowling, arcade, shops, live entertainment, salt water taffy and more. Hiking-Biking-Boating-Sunbathing…or just reading a book in the many nooks of our beautiful home. You will love the relaxed pace of Maine. There is a reason our state motto is "Maine, the way life should be".
Looking to accommodate an even bigger group? Ask us about The Briars, our 8 bedroom home, located just a few doors away -- homeaway # 4035882. We also have a third property, with 6 bedrooms in very close proximity.
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of York Harbor, ME
$$$$
Reviews
10.0
What a great time was had by 18+ retired nurses in this very accommodating house. So much was provided for us and Lance was always available to answer questions as needed. He even stopped by to make sure all was well! To say this area in Maine is beautiful seems trite as it is more than that with great beaches,stores and restaurants.The Varrell House is certainly a wonderful place to stay. Thanks Lance. Looking forward to more stays.
10.0
My siblings and I all live in different states and we like to get our families together each summer for a weeks vacation! This was our first stay in York ME and we found a great house! Lots of space for everyone, nice sized kitchen and a big front porch for morning coffee or tea. We had a couple of people that needed to do a bit of remote work and they had no problem finding quiet spaces for calls and focus. My brother especially enjoyed working from the front porch and moved with the sun throughout the day - not a bad way to work! Our host was terrific, very knowledgable of the area and shared so many ideas for fun things to do. Beautiful, peaceful beach, just a quick walk from the house. We had an issue with the refrigerator but our host was on top of it - always available by phone and checked in to make sure everything was ok. We all enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this property to a large family!!
10.0
We planned this vacation for our extended family without knowing anything about this area, including the location of the property. Turns out that our host’s description of the property AND the surrounding area was perfect. Lance was very patient with all of our questions and did everything possible to make us feel welcome. The house was perfect for our large group and there is so much to do in this area - truly something for all ages! We will be back!
10.0
We had a great trip to York! The house was in an amazing location very convenient to the beach and had plenty of bedrooms to fit a large family. The backyard is amazing and there’s plenty of parking in the back of the house. The check in process was easy and the checkout process was clear. We had a lot of memorable nighttime hangouts on the porch! Thanks for a great time!
10.0
Wonderful tome
10.0
I recently spent a long weekend at this beautiful home with a group of friends from high school and college. We have rented many homes over the years and this is one of the nicest. The house is super clean, well equipped, and the location is perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in York and would return in a heartbeat. And Lance is the best host ever! He is so kind and accommodating, and even personally delivered a delicious pie one morning. Thank you, Lance, for a wonderful weekend!
10.0
We loved staying in the Varrell House. The house was so comfortable and the location was ideal with being located a short distance from the beach. Our host was so helpful, available and gracious.
10.0
Property was very nice and in excellent condition. Lance was great to work with and even gave us a pie and bottle of wine. Overall was a great place and great experience
10.0
What a wonderful time we had. Lance is such a great host. Super cute house, great location and wonderful host. I highly recommend this beautiful property.
10.0
Great property! Plenty of room for all. Lance was a great host! The area is beautiful.
10.0
An unbelievable property in a beautiful location! Short walking distance to the beach and other attractions in York. The house has plenty of room and Lance (the home owner) is easy to work with and very responsive.
10.0
This house was perfect for us and our entire wedding party to stay at for our wedding! It was beautiful and so spacious, plenty of room for 18 people to hang out!
10.0
Great house for a family celebration! Had everything one could want , was clean and in great shape. Perfect location for accessing all York has to offer. Lance was accessible and helpful.
Couldn’t have been happier and would highly recommend this rental
10.0
14 friends from high school celebrated our 70th birthdays at this property! It was perfect, the home, location and things to do! Could not think of a better place to celebrate 70!
10.0
We stayed here for a friends reunion (21 people) and found York Harbor a great, central location for our week together. The house was very comfortable for all of us - it's really nicely appointed, with plenty of areas for large and small groups. Lance the host was amazing - always responsive to our every request and question, and helpful with local knowledge and activities. We'd definitely stay again!
10.0
Nice, well-kept and well-equipped house, perfect for a large group. Owner is very friendly and helpful.
10.0
We are a group of 10 friends who convene every summer for a few days of fun together in the York area. We have done this for several years and have stayed in many rental homes over that time. We all agree that the Varrell House is one of the best homes we have ever rented and we plan to stay there again next year.
The house was very clean, comfortable, and spacious. There were enough bedrooms for each of us to have our own room, plenty of bathrooms and a lot of nice touches such as bath and body shampoo and conditioners, make-up remover towelettes, nice towels and bed linens and comfortable beds.
This house worked so well for our group. The kitchen was large and modern and stocked with everything you could possibly need for a stay - there was plenty of space for several people to work together, and everything was clean and well maintained. The dining room accommodated all of us comfortably, with room for more. The front porch was the best- great happy hour setting!
A big bonus factor was the adequate parking for a large group, which is extremely rare and Lance was an attentive host, and eager to help if needed.
All in all it was “the way life should be” and we will be back next year.
10.0
Our group was there for a wedding. The home is the perfect place for a group… lots of places to gather together! Loved sitting on the front porch, or relaxing on the comfy couches! Great location, walking distance to everything, and the owner has thought of everything to make your stay easy and comfortable, even supplying lots of beach chairs, towels and cooler! We were too busy to use the backyard, but would have if we had more time!
The owner also went out of his way offering wonderful local recommendations, and was always available if we had questions or needed help!!
Best house, best owner!
10.0
Had an amazing stay here!! Could not have asked for a better house for a perfect Labor Day weekend! Plenty of beds, great size living room, kitchen and outdoor space. Perfect location! Not far from Portsmouth if you’re looking to go out down town. We were able to walk to the beach right across the way and really appreciated provided beach chairs and towels! We walked to the ice cream place down the street which was delicious! Truly amazing house, would definitely recommend! Thank you for helping make our weekend perfect!!
6.0
This was a beautiful home, lovely vibe and plenty of rooms and bathrooms for our large group. Communication with the owner/host was prompt, friendly, and thorough for any questions or communications that were had by either side. There were many amenities that our group enjoyed throughout our stay, but there were issues found with others.
I along with a few of the other guests had a few noteworthy issues such as a broken coffee maker. We ended up buying a cheap and very small coffee maker from Walmart and left it for the next guests. The kitchen was not thoroughly cleaned and there are a lot of completely random and unnecessary items in the pantry closet. The fridge was not cleaned. Dirty plates, bowls, and silverware but I assume most people wash these items before use when staying with VRBO. When taking the trash bin out of the 2 trash/recycling cans in the kitchen, there was a lot of old food stuff down there - maybe I am being too picky on that one though.
At least 4 of the bathrooms had mold on the shower curtain liners or just mold in general throughout the shower areas. It was definitely noticeable to anyone cleaning the bathrooms. There weren't any hand towels in about half of the restrooms, not a big deal. The trash situation was slightly unusual but wasn't difficult to abide by. I expected someone to come pick up the trash / recycling. I was surprised when the owner showed up on the property / in the garage / around the yard area unannounced with his cute dog.
10.0
We had a great vacation in Maine. The house had plenty of space for our 4 different families, even with children aged 1 through 16. The internet and cell service did make it difficult for those who needed to connect for work calls and zoom meetings. But overall, we had plenty to do and see to keep everyone entertained. Thank you to Lance for great communication and for making us feel welcome!
10.0
We could not have been happier with our stay in York Harbor ME. The house is big with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms. Lance, our host was so easy to communicate with. Leading up to the stay, he would respond to a message on the app in minutes. The kitchen was big and easy to use. The dining table fit almost our entire group of 18. Lazy mornings on the porch. Great walks from the house. There is also a ton of beach equipment in the garage for us to use. We plan to return next summer.
10.0
I don't even know where to start, since there are so many wonderful things I could say about Lance (the host), his absolutely beautiful home, and the area of York Harbor! We stayed here for our annual family vacation, all 25 of us, and there was more than enough room for everyone to gather together or to just enjoy some quiet time in another area of the property. The large yard was perfect for cornhole & other games, and the fire pit was awesome!
I love to cook, and the kitchen in this home was phenomenal, having every single item that was needed as we prepared our variety of dinners. The large dining table was perfect, as well as the kitchen bar with lots of chairs around it. The rooms were spacious and the beds really comfy. The bedroom way up on the top floor was a great place for our teenagers to hang out and have their own space.
EVERYTHING is so very close by; it made our days so easy and enjoyable. The lovely beach is truly a 5-minute walk, Stage Neck Inn was a beautiful place to sit by the water and enjoy Happy Hour, Wiggly Bridge was a morning walk destination, along with Steedman Woods, and jumping off the bridge at high tide was quite the thrill for many.
Lance is one of the best hosts I have had the pleasure of renting from, always answering my questions immediately, and being so helpful. Another thing that we absolutely loved was that Lance has the garage full of extra beach chairs!
The perfect place to make memories!
10.0
We had a large group (14 adults and 4 kids) for our vacation. There were plenty of rooms, the kitchen had plenty of space, the two living rooms with tvs came in handy at night.
Great location. Lots of great places to walk. Just a short drive to all sorts of adventures. A quick 5 min walk to the beach which was great.
Highly recommend the place.
10.0
The house was wonderful—big front porch, quick walk to beach, well-stocked kitchen and game closet, historic ambience, nearby tennis courts, easy drive to quaint towns of Portsmouth and Ogunquit, and many other things that made this one of our favorite vacation spots of the past 20 years
10.0
Great three night stay for our group of 16 women golfers. Well equipped, plenty of parking, great location, beautiful large yard and very Maine-like. Would certainly come again with the group or large family group.
10.0
We had 18 people (14 adults age 20-70 and a 6, 3, 2 year old and a nine month old) stay in this home for a family reunion and I cannot tell you enough good things about this rental. The house is a 5 minute walk from a beautiful beach, and set in such a gorgeous location. Plenty of parking for all, and the house had more than everything we needed-two pack and plays, high chairs, and even a cool toy room for the kids! The fire pit and outdoor areas were amazing (hammock, comfy chairs, etc) and the ability to control the temperature in our room, plus an awesome mattress, was incredible. We had 18 people plus beach activities and there was never even a line for bathroom the entire long weekend! The owner is the NICEST and answered all of my questions and even brought by a blueberry crumble and gave us some firewood. The yard was perfect and there was plenty of space and fun things to do for all ages. The bedroom setup meets every need—so many options and configurations to choose from-and I can’t imagine a better spot for what will hopefully be the first of many. Everyone agreed the house was AWESOME and my only complaint was that we didn’t book it for longer-I could have stayed for weeks!
The only thing I wanted to note (not a complaint) for future guests is that all bedrooms are up at least one flight of stairs-but even our eldest family member with bad knees had NO issues getting around! Here’s hoping we are back here soon!
10.0
Just returned from a long weekend at the Varrell House celebrating my mom's 80th birthday. The house was perfect and we filled it with 21 women and had a blast.
The set up of the house was great for our large group and we enjoyed cooking meals/having cocktails on the porch and spending quality time together with lots of laughs. So many memories were made for our family.
Lance is the perfect host. He was there for anything we needed and could not have been more accommodating. He truly wanted us to feel at home and to enjoy our stay and that we did.
This house was a true gem. We can't wait to plan our next trip. It was clean, spacious, the location was great and the owner was the best.
Thanks again Lance for everything.
Best,
Julie
10.0
For many years we have hosted a "Cousins Camp" with our children and grandchildren at various locations. Each location was fine, but with a fatal shortcoming. Not this year with York Harbor, ME, The Varrell House and our host Lance!
This old house is very solid and very clean. The kitchen is updated and worked great for our family cooking style. And the big wrap around kitchen island and large adjacent dining room made our informal dinners a noisy delight.
Breakfast coffee and afternoon cocktails on the big front porch were great for conversations and people/car watching. York St is a main street with lots of traffic, but it was quiet at night. The 10 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms were well appointed, comfortable and spotless.
The house, the yard and York Harbor provided plenty of opportunities for activities for all generations. We all hope to return.
10.0
This was the perfect house to host our wedding party and family during our wedding weekend! The house's many bedrooms and large gathering areas were great for our group and everything was clean and well maintained. Additionally, the location was super convenient to all York has to offer.
10.0
I cannot say enough about what a gem this property is. If you are a large group of couples or a large family who does not want to bunk in the same room and you like lots of bathrooms this is your house!! Our group filled it to the max with 22 people for a class reunion. If a couple didn’t have their own bathroom then they had the privilege of a king size bed. No one felt gypped and we didn’t feel bad having everyone pay the same price. The house is adequately stocked in the kitchen. Everything is neat but not overly stuffy. There was seating for everyone, both inside and outside. The front porch in morning was lovely to have coffee or a glass of wine in the evening. The lawn games of corn hole was a huge hit as we grilled yummy food. The two sitting rooms each have their own TV. So one group enjoyed the game while another watched a movie or sang karaoke. Plenty of parking for all of us too! The location is exquisite! You can walk to York Harbor in just a few minutes or drive 5 min up the road to Long Sands. The house has beach chairs which were an awesome bonus!
And now to tell you about Lance….I’ve stayed at many rentals and Lance is truly hands down the best owner of them all. He was in communication the whole time, was so caring and welcoming and you can tell he really wants his guests to enjoy their stay, and he cares about his property! You are in great hands if you stay here!
10.0
Our group of 8 people had an excellent time at the house. There was plenty of space to spread out in the various common areas, and we really enjoyed the fire pit (be sure to pick up a fire permit from the fire station beforehand!). There's loads of parking and lots of nice walking opportunities. Lance, the host, was very communicative and easy to get a hold of when we had some questions. We'd definitely stay here again.
10.0
Home provided us with the perfect venue to enjoy our family gathering
10.0
We had a wonderful time. The place was perfect for our leadership summit. We had a facilitator come, and the kitchen table and living room areas were great for breakouts. And a short walk to the beach for many was a plus during breaks.
10.0
What a wonderful weekend! The weather was spectacular, and the fall leaves were definitely putting on a show. Varrell house was a perfect gathering place for our group of 16 friends from college back in the 80's. The front porch, 2 living spaces, large kitchen and backyard tables and chairs offered the gang comfortable seating areas to catch up with friends. Having an extra refrigerator in the garage off the kitchen was so handy for large volumes of beer and wine that didn't have to compete with food storage in the kitchen refrigerator. We were able to make great meals with the convection oven and outdoor grill. Our group generally splits up during the day and gathers in the evening for "tall tales" and lots of food.
Lance was very quick to respond to my many questions about Varrell House. His documents about local areas of interest were very useful to help folks plan a day out and about town. He was also in frequent communication with me on the day of our arrival as the power was out for several hours due to a fierce wind and rain storm.
I highly recommend Varrell House to anyone planning a large gathering of friends or family!!
10.0
From the moment I inquired about the house until our departure, Lance was overly accommodating. Local tips and quick replies to any and all questions I had. The house was clean, plenty of bedrooms and beds were comfortable. The yard was perfect for getting together and the fire pit had plenty of seating for a large group. The porch was a great place to sit and have coffee in the morning or a glass of wine at night. Kitchen and dining table were big enough for our pasta night with 15 ladies. The 2 living rooms were more than enough for all of us to congregate for games or chats. The house is a short walk to the beach and cliff walk with sidewalks for safety. The only negatives for us (and we're all in our upper 50's-70's) were the steep stairs to get to the 3rd floor suite. Just a little harder for older knees but nothing we couldn't do. The house is on a busier street than we would have liked. But nothing that would deter us from renting here again. The ensuite bathrooms and showers are extremely small if that matters to you. Plenty of parking, excellent communication and overall one of the better homes we've rented in 13 years!
10.0
Lance’s property was fantastic for my large wedding party! The house’s multiple gathering spaces and outside setup were so awesome. Lance was an amazing host with great communication throughout our stay. He was extremely flexible with us which we truly appreciated. 10/10!
10.0
What a great property. Lance was fabulous host. Very highly recommend. Fantastic location.
10.0
We had a fantastic time walking the area. We were a group of 5 couples and the property was more than perfect for all of us. Lance was very attentive and reached out several times during our stay to make sure everything was going well.
10.0
We stayed for 3 nights for my daughter’s wedding at Stage Neck. There was plenty of room for our large group . Lance was great and got immediately back to us with any questions we had prior to arriving . Perfect location and we had a great time . The decor was very nice and the house was clean and very comfortable . Thanks Lance!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in York Harbor?
The average price for a rental in York Harbor is $543 per night. This rental is $1,772 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.. Enjoy the water!
Is Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc. pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.?
We found 12 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, and fireplace.
Explore similar vacation rentals in York Harbor
Explore all rentals in York HarborYork Harbor travel inspiration
Read our blogGuides
Top Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama: Adventure and Fun Await
Local Culture
Exploring Miami’s Wynwood District: Street Art, Food, and More
Guides
Fun Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland
Local Culture
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Dining in Orlando, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Oahu and Honolulu
Guides
Top Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Miami: From Beaches to Culture
Guides
The Best Things to Do in Orlando: Attractions, Food, and Family Fun