Quintessential Rustic Maine Oceanfront Cottage on MDI near Acadia National Park

Top rated by guests
View from dining area onto deck and overlooking Blue Hill Bay
Entry hall from dining area, looking at front door
Kitchen with MBR beyond to left
Kitchen with breakfast nook and morning sun
Kitchen well equipped with all the essentials...and then some
review stars
10.0Outstanding
(11 Ratings)
"Lyford Cottage was perfect for a week on Mt Desert Island. What a beautiful view of Blue Hill Bay. At night the moon hangs over the water and the sound of gentle waves are heard in the bedroom. The..."
John M.
Don't miss out! Price and availability may change
10.0 / 10.0
Outstanding(11 Ratings)

Cottage in Southwest Harbor, ME

7 guests · 2 bedrooms · 1 bath

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
High-end valueWell priced for this area

About this cottage rental

Perched just feet from the waters of Blue Hill Bay on the quietside of Mt. Desert Island, our cottage will provide the respite you're looking for. Whether you spend your days on the deck reading a book and gazing out at the sweeping southwest view across the water, or come home to watch the sunset after a day of island exploring, you can't help but feel restored.

Originally built by the Rich brothers as their fishing shack, the Lyford family added to the original structure over their 90 year ownership. The cottage retains its rustic character with white-washed exposed structure throughout, living room with wood-burning fireplace and cathedral ceiling, sleeping loft, and windows looking out to the ocean from every room.

The cottage has a well equipped kitchen, large living room with wifi, TV, DVR, & radio, and a dining room, with a water view that is hard to look away from.
The cottage is filled with books, and has plenty of games for rainy days, or for when you don't feel like leaving this little corner of paradise.

Outside, the deck overlooking the water is perfectly situated for soaking in the sun's rays and watching the resident loons fishing, seals frolicking, mink scurrying along the water's edge, eagles soaring, and celebrating the setting of the sun at day's end.

The cottage is in a private setting. You have access to the entire cottage, the deck, and the surrounding grounds, including the rocky shore in front of the cottage.

The cottage can sleep 7 people:
The bedroom located on the 1st floor, has a queen bed, with direct access to the bathroom.
The 2nd floor loft consists of 3 sleeping areas (no doors between) with a double bed, 2 twin beds, and 1 built-in twin bed.
A pack-away crib is also available upon request.
A maximum of 2 pets are permitted with permission and fee.

The cottage is rented week to week, from Saturday to Saturday. It is strictly a no-smoking area. Pets are permitted with prior approval and a fee. We are available to answer any questions you have about our cottage before or after arrival.

Getting There
The cottage is located on the southwestern quiet side of Mount Desert Island, 10 minutes beyond the town of Southwest Harbor, in Tremont. Prior to your rental period, we will provide directions to the cottage.

About the area
Getting around by car is most common; the closest Island Explorer Bus stop is in Bernard. The town of Southwest Harbor with its restaurants and shops is 10 minutes down the road. Bass Harbor and Thurston's Lobster Pound is also conveniently (& deliciously) only 10 minutes away. Numerous beautiful quiet-side mountain hikes are a short drive away, including the Wonderland, Ship Harbor and Beech Mountain trails. Wonderful swimming can be found within a 15 minute drive in Long Pond and Echo Lake.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1) We have a small house on the other side of the property. There is a thick stand of trees between the cottage and the house however, such that you cannot see from one structure to the other. It is possible that we would be around during your stay, but the cottage is extremely private, and we respect your privacy and will not interfere with your stay. If you are interested in meeting however, we'd be happy to say hello!

2) The cottage has NO CENTRAL HEAT, is NOT INSULATED, and is open stud construction. Note that depending on the year, there can be chilly days and nights particularly in May and Sept/Oct.
There is a fireplace in the living room, and wood can be purchased at roadside shacks on the island. There are two electric space heaters , but they will not heat the entire cottage; one will heat up the bedroom nicely.
On a sunny day, the cottage will warm up nicely due to its southwesterly orientation, but heat will dissipate once the sun goes down.
There are plenty of warm blankets.

3) The cottage is old and rustic. Although we do our best to keep pests and mice out of the cottage, the old construction makes it impossible to guarantee that those unwanted guests won't come visiting. We ask that you help in keeping mice away by storing all food in closed containers and not leaving dirty dishes lying around.

Amenities at Quintessential Rustic Maine Oceanfront Cottage on MDI near Acadia National Park

Free WiFi/internet
Non-smoking
Pets allowed
TV
Refridgerator
Kitchen
WiFi/Internet
Microwave
Patio
Kitchenware
Kettle
Oven
Stove
Fireplace
Bath or shower
Towels

Map of Southwest Harbor, ME


Ratings and reviews

10.0 / 10.0
Outstanding(11 Ratings)
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Jul 2025
Lyford Cottage was perfect for a week on Mt Desert Island. What a beautiful view of Blue Hill Bay. At night the moon hangs over the water and the sound of gentle waves are heard in the bedroom. The cottage is decorated with original artwork and offers a generous selection of books. Everything is very clean and well maintained. The outdoor shower overlooking the water is a treat. Great bird and butterfly watching. Close to a few good seafood restaurants and a short drive to Bar Harbor.
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Jun 2024
This was our second time staying at Lyford Cottage (which speaks for itself), and the first time visiting Mt. Desert Island in early June. We had a great time! The "Quiet Side" cottage, which has a classic feel and offers privacy, provided the perfect launching point for day trips around MDI or to just hang around and relax. The cottage sits right above a rocky shoreline, offers a path down to the water, and has porch for watching wildlife, photographing the setting sun, or just relaxing.
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Oct 2023
My brother and I had a perfect stay. We hiked, ate lobster and so enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Our host Tom and Sylivia were so awesome in every way. The cottage was so spotless and had everything we needed. Highly recommend this property on your next Maine vacation.
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Oct 2023
A very well equipped cottage in a very quiet and peaceful setting with a wonderful water view. We had a very comfortable and restful vacation. Would definitely stay again.

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FAQs

Is parking included with this cottage?

Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Quintessential Rustic Maine Oceanfront Cottage on MDI near Acadia National Park. 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 Quintessential Rustic Maine Oceanfront Cottage on MDI near Acadia National Park 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 Quintessential Rustic Maine Oceanfront Cottage on MDI near Acadia National Park?

We found 16 amenities for this rental. This includes free wifi/internet, non-smoking, pets allowed, tv, and refridgerator.


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