We had a fantastic stay. The house was very homely with everything you could need. The lake was just a few steps away and a lovely place to relax with a drink and a great view at the end of the day. As was the porch with candles all around at the house and grill to use. The location was beautiful in a quiet cul de sac, with a few houses around but lots of woodland. It was an easy drive to Great Barrington, Appalachian trail routes and mountains around. Diedre was a great host, providing a detailed breakdown of everything about the house (perhaps there could be a printed version in the house?) and answering questions about our stay in advance. Check in was very easy with the lock box. The house is a little tricky to find in the dark, so along with the instructions Dierdre provides, google maps finds it but doesn't know how to make the link from Downs road to the house (so follow Downs road and keep going!). We had the best time. Thank you!

Owner bent over backwards to help me get through the process (which I confused). Lovely experience!

Owner bent over backwards to help me get through the process (which I confused). Lovely experience!

Delightful and refreshing as well as cozy and inviting. Although I was there for 'work" ( a part of the Berkshires Art Festival as a vendor) we met/brought in friends in from Minnesota and had good visits, went to plays and toured the Mount and other local attractions. The kitchen was well stocked and we enjoyed meals there as well as dining out. Easy access to grocery and other amenities. LOVED the screened in porch/deck and appreciated that there was a washer/dryer on premises. Boon! The drive in the first time is an almost challenge - if you miss any direction - but once there - all becomes clear. The Lake was inviting and cool woods in the heat of summer relaxing. (hooray for ac and fans when needed) It was easy to feel at home. Contacts with the owner were friendly and she/they were very accommodating in special requests. "Let's meet here again" was our feeling as we left our vacation time. Thank YOU for sharing your Berkeshire escape spot.

We enjoyed every minute of our stay in the New Marlborough house. It is nestled in the woods but still close to all major attractions in the Berkshires. The owner has thoughtfully provided everything you can want to make one's stay convenient and comfortable, whether a full set of kitchen equipment and spices, linens and towels, or games. The screened-in porch was a delightful place to start and end the day for eating, reading and just relaxing. We look forward to renting it again next year.

We enjoyed every minute of our stay in the New Marlborough house. It is nestled in the woods but still close to all major attractions in the Berkshires. The owner has thoughtfully provided everything you can want to make one's stay convenient and comfortable, whether a full set of kitchen equipment and spices, linens and towels, or games. The screened-in porch was a delightful place to start and end the day for eating, reading and just relaxing. We look forward to renting it again next year.

A very clean and comfortable home and stay. Was a beautiful location. The whole family enjoyed the stay.

Our family of three rented the cottage for a few days for our Tanglewood visit. The cottage is nestled in the woods but has neighbors nearby. When we entered through the screened in porch, I felt a childhood summer vacation vibe -welcoming and peaceful. It had full amenities-air conditioning in bedrooms, stocked kitchen, appliances, washer/dryer. When not in town, we played board games and had coffee on the porch. We did not visit the lake. We drove a lot as points of interest(Tanglewood...) are 30 minutes away-as Deirdre mentions. All in all it was a lovely stay and we would definitely rent again.

Delightful and refreshing as well as cozy and inviting. Although I was there for 'work" ( a part of the Berkshires Art Festival as a vendor) we met/brought in friends in from Minnesota and had good visits, went to plays and toured the Mount and other local attractions. The kitchen was well stocked and we enjoyed meals there as well as dining out. Easy access to grocery and other amenities. LOVED the screened in porch/deck and appreciated that there was a washer/dryer on premises. Boon! The drive in the first time is an almost challenge - if you miss any direction - but once there - all becomes clear. The Lake was inviting and cool woods in the heat of summer relaxing. (hooray for ac and fans when needed) It was easy to feel at home. Contacts with the owner were friendly and she/they were very accommodating in special requests. "Let's meet here again" was our feeling as we left our vacation time. Thank YOU for sharing your Berkeshire escape spot.

My wife and I and our little pet rabbit just spent a week at this location. Very nice cottage with pretty much everything provided. It is a short walk to the nearby lake although the hill coming back is a bit steep. We are not lake people so didn't spend too much time there. We mostly like to tour and see what historical and cultural sites are nearby. Very close to Great Barrington, about a 15 minute drive and also close to Stockbridge, Another 15 or minutes north up route 7. We had very nice weather although hot and humid but was lovely tucked back in the woods. One word of caution is if you use your GPS to find the cottage once you enter the gravel road (Downs Road) to the lake houses it may tell you to make a left onto Lawrence. Instead follow Deirdre's instructions and make the right turn and you will find the house easier. I would stay here again if we get a chance to visit the Berkshires again.

We were looking for a place to stay while visiting family in Great Barrington. This cabin served that purpose without any issue, had everything we needed for our visit and was clean. I would just comment on the directions so you can be prepared. Not a major issue, but something that could be done better. We arrived very late at night and tried to use our gps since I had been able to properly map it through googlemap (streetview). That got us lost for a while so I tried to revert to the directions. This area is a bit of a maze and the streets are not regular streets, there are unpaved roads with no street signs. You're essentially driving in the forest with winding roads, so at 11:00 pm, finding our way was a bit of a challenge. I think simpler directions would have gotten us there a lot quicker, rather than a full paragraph with turns at "fences" or "house being built", "yellow house" or "turn under trees", all difficult to see at night. A simple map would be even better. There's really only really a few turns. Maybe a picture of the house from the road would also help as all the pictures you can see are from the top of the hill, not from where you will arrive so you will not recognize the house. Do not let that discourage you, this would have been easier during the day, and once you've driven it once, you're good.

We enjoyed a very nice week at the property which is very well equipped and located for local attractions. Only a two minute walk to the lake shore as well. Close to the towns of Great Barrington and Stockbridge which are both attractive, with a good selection of eating establishments. Very helpful and welcoming host, would have no hesitation in recommending the property to others.

We have stayed at this lovely cottage six times. Three times in the summer and three times in the glorious fall. We just love it. It is located 13 minutes from downtown Great Barrington, with all its wonderful restaurants and quaint shops, and 30 minutes from Tanglewood. All the rooms are beautifully decorated and the owner has stocked them with everything you could possibly need. Just bring your clothes and toothbrushes and you are good to go. We especially love the screened in front porch where you can relax and chill out. It is just a short walk from there to the community dock and sitting area on the most beautiful lake in the area. The owners are delightful people who have always addressed our every need. You can’t go wrong here.

I stayed in this cottage for 4 nights in mid August with my parents and 2 children (12,8). We traveled each day, so we were up early and back late. There was plenty of room for all of us to sleep. We even drove to Plymouth, Mass one day (a little over 2 hours). We like to find rental properties when we travel, and this was perfect for us. We arrived after 11pm our first night, and I have to say the drive in was a little intimidating. It is a long dirt road with some hills included. I was driving an older mini van, and we had no issues at any time coming or going. Because of our extensive traveling each day, we only had one afternoon to check out the lake and surrounding area. The lake is gorgeous. Clear water. There is a lot of seaweed looking stuff in the water. One of the locals explained that this is because it is a very healthy lake and not man made. It wasn't a problem, just something i had never experienced before. As for getting to the lake...its not right out the front door. You walk out of the house to the left, down a pretty steep hill and then to the steps down to the dock. There is only a very small "beach" (wouldn't really call it a beach, but it is where my 8 year old played in the water for a couple hours). You can swim off the dock and there is a floating dock to jump off of a little bit out from the pier, but as mentioned, the ducks us this as a bathroom, so you must be careful not to slip in the poo. We only talked to one family, but they were very friendly. You can fish off the pier (not sure about license..we didn't fish). The kitchen is well stocked and roomy. The shower was a little small, but very wonderful water pressure, and i love the pull down shower head. Communication with owner was very easy. Answered all questions before, during and after our stay. If we are ever back in the area, we would stay here again. Thanks so much!!

We stayed at Deidre's lake cottage in Aug 2015 and had a great time on short notice for very reasonable rate. The cottage is back in the woods off Lake Buel. The cottage's 2 bedrooms worked well for us -- 2 adults, 2 kids (2, 4) and a newborn. Our girls shared the 2nd bedroom with 2 twin/trundle which is located off the kitchen away from the master bedroom which is off the living room. The master bedroom is well appointed with 2 large chest of drawers and a very comfortable Queen bed. It was great to have a house well supplied with linens and towels (not always the case in the Berks). The house only has a stall shower (fine), this actually worked out well with the girls as they were happy to use the sprayer and we didn't need to watch them. The basement has a nice washer and a dryer which is an absolute necessity with 3 kids. We slept with the windows open every night and used the gas fireplace to take the chill off the LR couple mornings when it was in the 50s. The Water: The house is not immediately close to the lake, as is described. It is a 5 minute stroll down dirt road to boat dock on Lake Buel, down a hill, nothing too strenuous even with stroller. We liked hanging out on the dock with floaties with the kids, feeding the ample fish population (warning: they will nibble your feet). The floating swim dock has a definite duck poop problem unfortunately. The house has a raft and small row boat. I would have liked to Kayak / Canoe but didn't get that together (pity there are hundreds of fallow canoes and kayaks on the lake!!). The cottage's immediate neighbors were friendly and helpful. Dining: the kitchen is well supplied and has lots of pans. Big fan of the Denmark non-stick and the whisk blender... Made pancakes, crepes, bacon, blueberry buttermilk bread, etc. There is a table big enough for 4-5 to eat in the kitchen and a table on the covered porch where we ate most of the time. The covered porch is very nice and we also got to take in a strong thunderstorm from there (one afternoon only). We grilled outside frequently -- the ribs from Guido's are delicious. Activities: We come to the Berkshires every summer pretty much. West Marlborough is close to Great Barrington for shopping and dining, Plaza Package for beer/wine/spirits, Monterey, Rawson Brook Goat Farm. We drove to Tanglewood for Tanglewood on Parade and also to Goose Pond to visit friends / beach. We had clear skies 2 nights with great sky watching - shooting stars included.

The description of the property was accurate but it was bigger than depicted. We enjoyed the setting, very quiet but close to the many activities in the area. The screened porch was perfect for eating all our meals and reading, even in the evening because of the available lighting. The cottage is about 5-10 minutes from the lake if you are thinking of carrying the aluminum boat which we didn't. Although Lake Buel is beautiful there was no real beach and I didn't particularly enjoying sitting near the dock. Overall our experience was excellent and we would definitely consider returning next year.

This property was extremely clean and tidy. The screened porch was a perfect way to extend your living space and to take your meals. The air conditioning in the bedroom was needed for July 2012 and we brought along a small fan to bring air into the living room which did not have AC. It worked fine. The bathroom was small but once again very clean. And, the kitchen was supplied with everything you could need. Neat as a pin. Need to note that the decor is reminiscent of grandma's cozy cottage. Also, the Great Barrington area is full of attractions, museums , historic homes, winerys, restaurants, etc. Enough to keep you very busy.

I have so many wonderful things to say about our stay at the Lake Buel Cottage that I don't know where to begin!! Well: location - sooo peaceful, cottage - cozy and felt like home (everything you need is provided from pots and pans to washer/dryer to awesome recliners!), neighbors - extemely friendly, lake - picturesque!! We truly felt like we were staying with family...rabbits, deer and frogs hahaha. If you really want to leave your hectic life behind this is the place. We slept with the windows open and let the fresh air in. The air made us full of energy to enjoy all the Berkshires has to offer! The first 2 nights were chilly but the fireplace warmed us right up! The last night was hot but the a/c kept us comfortable! Truly better than a hotel!!! We enjoyed our stay so much I highly recommend you give it a try too!! The Olivers, Ponce, Puerto Rico

My wife and I were very very happy and satisfied with our stay at the "cottage". The cottage itself was very comfortable and cozy. We ate every meal on the screened porch surrounded by the forest and enjoying the fresh air. Being from Florida, the cool, 57 degree, temp. in the morning was a delight. We had family visit from NH and all 7 of us were able to eat on the porch with the added outside table. Very fun. The fresh water lake is just a short 5 minute walk. Such a pleasant treat of a northern lake and the beach even had a raft for relaxation in the sun. We did a "loop" around the road walk every morning of 1.5 miles. Very nice way to start the day. The cottage itself had many supplies for the kitchen (fully stocked). We discovered a new way of relaxation with the use of the two lazy boy lounge chairs. Don't know why I've resisted them for so long. The location was excellent for the surrounding activities in the area. Tanglewood just 20 minutes. We attended a James Taylor concert. Fabulous. Other theaters close within easy driving distance and Great Barrington just 10-15 minutes. Even a shoppers discount mall not far away with all the popular brand name stores. The saddests day was the day we had to leave. Will try to make it again to this serene retreat in the northern woods. Dallas and Jackie Peacock Daytona Beach, Florida

We rented the cottage for two weeks June 30-July 14. It was a wonderfull stay. The cottage is located just 20 minutes from Tanglewood. We attended a James Taylor concert. Excellent. There are many summer stock theaters in the area of which we also took advantage. It is only 10-15 min from Great Barrington,, an attractive little town with many good restaurants and shops. The most pleasant part of the stay however was the cottage and its environs. The screened porch was a delight for all meals. In the morning the 57 degree temps where great for someone from Florida. And it is tucked in the northern forest surrounded by trees. I'm a country boy from Minnesota and really enjoyed the woods, hiking on the Applachian trail and the fresh water lake swimming. Even had a floating raft to relax on. The lake is just a 5 minute walk. Our children and grands visited and they loved the lake swimming. We did a 1.5 morning hike on the area road through the woods nearly every day. Loved the fresh air. The cottage kitchen is fully stocked with spices, condiments and utensils very clean and the owner was extremely helpful with questions before our arrival and after. The best discovery was the "lazy boy" lounge chairs. I don't know why we have been resisting this for so long. Loved the relaxing. There is even a discount mall with national brand name stores a short drive away if you get bored with everything else to do. The saddest day was the day we had to leave and drive back to Florida. We hope to repeat this experience again.

My husband and I stayed one week, and found the cottage delightful. The place was very clean, larger than we expected, and generously stocked with toiletries and kitchen supplies of all types. The wi-fi worked perfectly. The lights were great for reading anywhere in the house or on the lovely screened porch. Having 2 recliners for TV and reading was a very nice touch. It is convenient to Great Barrington and Stockbridge. There is live music in Gt. Barrington; we enjoyed hiking Monument Mt. as well as swimming in Lake Buel [which is pretty but sea-weedy].

Our family (myself, my husband, and our 2 young children) stayed here for a week in August, 2010. We had a wonderful vacation. We found the cottage to be cozy, very clean, and well stocked. My daughters loved being so close to the lake, and also enjoyed the video library--we would grill and then watch a movie just about every night. We found the owners to be very responsive and friendly in all of our comunications, we hope to return this summer.