Charming cottage on seaside estate offers gorgeous views, private beaches

Little Driftwood is a sweet and cozy, very small cottage with a rustic minimalist style, a gorgeous water view, and full access to the beaches and other riches of the historic seaside estate where it is situated.

One of the most beautiful hidden gems of the New England coast, the estate has been in our family since the 1860s, and is dotted with old mansions and other houses (about 20 in total), all still belonging to descendants of the original owner, who was a state governor and Civil War general. It comprises fifty-five rolling acres of meadows, forest, marshgrass and rocky granite shoreline, with a white-sand crescent beach, a silvery flat mica beach, a granite swimming pier, a lily pond, and a wild peninsula where you can fish for striped bass or just contemplate the waves. It's excellent for kayaking (bring your own or rent in nearby Rockport), and also has two tennis courts and a playground, all overlooking the sea. It's a small paradise for nature lovers, from the tidal pools out on the rocks to the incredible variety of avian visitors, including snowy egrets, belted kingfishers, and occasional bald eagles. Spring 2022 even brought a whale sighting, visible from the living room & front lawn of Little Driftwood!

The house contains two main rooms. The living room has a cast-iron fireplace and a remote-operated skylight; the bay window overlooks the meadow, cove, and open sea beyond. The other room contains the kitchen on one end (small oven, no dishwasher or microwave, but otherwise standard) and the bedroom area (with queen bed) on the other.

There is a lovely little grassy area in front of the house where you can sit and enjoy the view. A short path from the house takes you to the granite swimming pier, and both beaches are less than a three-minute's walk away.

Little Driftwood sits between “Big” Driftwood and the estate's tennis courts. The courts are in use only intermittently and the house is shielded by a line of trees and shrubs, so noise usually isn't a problem.

Sleeps up to 3 (a twin-sized mattress is available to be placed on the floor), though the small size makes it best suited for a single person or couple. Bathroom has stall shower. Washer/dryer are shared with another nearby cottage and are located in that cottage's exterior-access closet, just up the pebble path. There is no AC or central heating; the skylight helps cool the place, and we provide fans and space heaters.