Romantic Waterfront Retreat in Amherst

Waterfront  - On 200 feet of private shoreline on the Connecticut River. Completely updated,  the "cottage" (its about 2200sq feet including 3rd floor loft) features a lovely, romantic interior with hardwood floors and 2 fireplaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The entry leads to an open living room-kitchen on the first floor with warm-hued wood floors and area rugs.  The living room has an easy to use fireplace with stone hearth topped with a hand carved wooden mantle.

The living room invites you to spend hours relaxing on a extra-long leather couch  from which you can look out onto the Connecticut River or gaze at the fireplace. There is a rustic screen porch with an 8-foot long hand-made wooden picnic table for al-fresco dining off the kitchen-this also looks out over the river as does the deck that runs along the back of the house. Finally on the first floor you will also find a cozy study with leather couch, reading chair and small antique desk.   There is a full bathroom on the first floor and the leather couch in the study opens up to a queen sleeper.

An oak spiral staircase leads up to the second floor. There you will find the master bedroom with Queen bed, antique chest and bureau. This romantic bedroom also has its own stone hearth/gas fireplace and a private deck with seating area overlooking the river (a great place to read or sunbathe). There is an en-suite bathroom with an extra-large two-person double headed shower, heated floor, granite topped sink and seperate vanity table. There is a second bedroom with full bed and adjoining bathroom also overlooking the river on the second floor. The second bathroom is decorated with river stone in-laid floors and wainscoting.

The third floor is a partially finished , but fully furnished loft overlooking the river.  It has a Queen bed as well as extra mattresses when needed for a larger group.  Normally the third floor is kept locked and is rented out only by special arrangement. 

Our property enjoys more than 200 feet of river frontage and across our quiet road are farm fields that can never be developed.  By the end of May the corn fields will be in. The location, which feels remote, is (amazingly) less than 5 minutes from downtown Northampton with its array of restaurants, theatres, galleries and Smith College (if it’s a rainy day, spend a few lovely hours in the arboretum).  Downtown Amherst and the Universities as well as South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College and Hampshire College are all within an approximately 15 minutes radius.

The river setting itself is delightful. In the early morning it is quite still and then usually the first life on the river are some crew teams rowing or perhaps a couple of kayakers exploring the river. During the week the river is fairly quiet, but on weekends, from mid-morning to mid-afternoon there is enough boat traffic to make for enjoyable boat watching from the deck. By evening the river is quiet again and the views are lovely as the sun sets over the water. It is not unusual to see a few colorful hot-air balloons overhead at some point in the weekend and we have seen bald  eagles overhead from time to time as well.

From a practical standpoint please note that though there is basic cable TV service and excellent cell service, we think of the cottage as a retreat and there is no internet service nor land telephone line. There is a flat screen TV and DVD player in the first floor study - curl up on the couch and enjoy a movie in the evening. A selection of board games can also be found in the study. There is a monitored security/smoke/CO dection system.

Also, we are just in the process of designing our landscaping, so while the natural setting is lovely, we will not have our fencing and new gardens in until later in the summer and the dock and boat are stored on the property. Finally, there is no dishwasher, though there is a brand new washer/dryer. The cottage is decorated and furnished in a manner appropriate for adults.  However, well-mannered children age 13 or older are welcome.  Specific rates will provided upon inquiry and vary by season and number of guests, but offer an extraordinary setting and amenities for prices comparable to or less than nearby quality hotels.

Our goal is to help make your stay a wonderful and memorable experience! 

Master bedroom with fireplace, deck overlooking the water and en-suite bathroom with granite tops, heated floors, extra-large 2-person shower. Living room with fireplace and large waterfront deck. 

River front.  Near Northampton and Amherst attractions with easy access to the Five College Area. Wonderful restaurants, several with outdoor dining in warm weather, Galleries, Theatres, numerous specialty shops make for delightful strolling. Near Smith College (5min), University of Mass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College and Mount Holyoke (10-15min). Hike or drive up Skinner Mountain for spectacular views of the Connecticut River Valley. Rent canoes or pontoon boats (in warm weather) from the marina just up the road. Prisitine fly fishing and Class IV whitewater and Bradley International Airport are all less than 45' away. Private airport less than 10 minutes away. Less than 3h from NYC.

Rates vary based on season and number of guests.  (currently from $100/night mid-season 2 adults to $200/night - high season 5-6 guests). Specific rates will be provided upon inquiry, but offer an extraordinary setting and amenities for prices comparable to or less than nearby quality hotels. The cottage is decorated and furnished in a manner appropriate for adults.  However, well-mannered children age 13 or older are welcome.