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Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more

Photo gallery for Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more

A tennis court with a view of the sea.
A cozy room with a wooden ladder, bookshelves, a fireplace, a dining table with chairs, and a large window with a view of greenery.
A cozy room with a wooden ceiling, a round table with chairs, a bookshelf filled with books, and a large window with a view of trees.
A pond with lily pads and water lilies surrounded by dense greenery and trees.
A cozy room with a bed, bookshelves, a wooden table, and a wood-burning stove.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • Unmatched views, unforgettable moments
    Guests like the location for the scenic views.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Plum Cove Beach
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 3

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchenette
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Outdoor furniture

Explore the area

View map
Gloucester, MA
  • Place, Plum Cove Beach
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Good Harbor Beach
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Wingaersheek Beach
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Airport, Boston, MA (BOS-Logan Intl.)
    ‪66 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchenette
Outdoor play area

About this property

Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more

Enjoy a heavenly stay on this historic private estate, with full access to two private beaches, a granite swimming pier, a lily pond, tennis courts, woodlands, meadows, a scenic picnic spot with outdoor fireplace, a playground, a wild rocky peninsula, and stunning scenery. "The Library" cottage, originally built as a professor's study, is perfect for one person or a couple (and there's a spare mattress that can be used for an extra person). One large, cheerful room contains the living, eating, and sleeping areas, lined with shelves containing a wonderful variety of books (old and new) and vintage magazines. An old woodstove adds charm and is operational as well. The kitchenette is in a small separate room. A clothes washer and dryer (shared with a neighboring cottage) are accessible in an outside closet. The two skylights and their shades are operated by remote.

The view from inside is very limited, but the Library offers access to the entire 55-acre estate where it's located. The estate has been in our extended family since the 1860s and is truly one of the most beautiful spots in New England. This peaceful haven is an extraordinary place for swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, exploring tidal pools, birdwatching (herons, egrets, kingfishers, ospreys, even occasional bald eagles), fishing for striped bass, admiring historic architecture, and enjoying magnificent sunsets. It's also a wonderful spot for kayaking (you can rent kayaks in nearby Rockport) and offers easy access to the cultural and gastronomic riches of Cape Ann.

One queen bed; one twin mattress, which can be placed on the floor for an extra guest; one bathroom (stall shower); mini kitchen (refrigerator, hot plates, toaster oven, coffee machine, pots & pans, etc.; no sink, but there is a double-basin sink in the bathroom just off the kitchen); a small barbecue for the yard; WiFi. There is no AC or central heating; there are skylights and we provide fans and space heaters, and the woodstove is effective for heating.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number C0069761070
Property # 2963851vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Gloucester

Located in Gloucester, this cottage is on the beach. Halibut Point State Park and Ravenswood Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Maritime Gloucester and Schooner Adventure. Rocky Neck Art Colony and Essex Shipbuilding Museum are also worth visiting. With kayaking, snorkelling and power boating nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
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Map
Gloucester, MA

What's nearby

  • Plum Cove Beach - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Good Harbor Beach - 14 min drive - 12.1 km
  • Cape Ann - 15 min drive - 12.1 km
  • Long Beach - 17 min drive - 14.9 km
  • Wingaersheek Beach - 17 min drive - 14.6 km

Getting around

  • West Gloucester Station - 10 min drive
  • Beverly, MA (BVY-Beverly Municipal) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chipotle Mexican Grill - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Common Crow Natural Market - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Talise - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Brothers Brew - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Airy, book-lined cottage on historic seaside estate with private beaches & more located?

Nestled on the beach, this Gloucester cottage is within 3 mi (5 km) of Plum Cove Beach, Back Beach and Halibut Point State Park. Halibut Point Reservation and Paper House are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 10 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 10 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 10 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 10 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 10 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Retreat Location

We had a lovely stay and enjoyed the location of this "hideaway". The hosts were very helpful and friendly. It was a great base for our exploration of the local area.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Scenic Getaway at Library Cottage

The hosts were very friendly and helpful. The area was scenic and fun to explore. We enjoyed relaxing in the peaceful cottage.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was the most amazing stay! A true hidden gem! Bonnie and her daughter were extremely generous, welcoming, and caring. The grounds are gorgeous and everything went beyond expectations! We would love to come back again 3
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Seaside charm

The cottage is charming and eclectic with views of the water. Thoughtful host who provided welcoming touches.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The view at this location was absolutely beautiful. Just a few steps to the ocean and an incredible sunset. We're hoping to stay again as soon as we can!Bonnie and her daughter, Elizabeth, were very accommodating and wonderful hosts. I would 100% recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 November 2025
Thank you so much for your stay, and we'd be delighted to have you back! Just to clarify for folks reading this review, we were able to host this guest at a larger cottage that happened to be vacant, and which is literally a few steps from the water (if you're interested, you can find that listing by entering 4964558 in VRBO's "Where to?" search field). The "Library" cottage has a much smaller view and is not situated right on the beach, but it is very cozy and offers full access to the estate.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous property!

We had a beautiful week. The ocean is so clear & perfect temperature! We enjoyed walking the property, sunsets, swimming & birding. The property managers were kind & easy to contact. We look forward to returning!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A perfect coastal getaway

My boyfriend and I booked the Library as a place to relax and have a short fall vacation. We had a great time exploring the estate and enjoyed sitting on the beaches and watching the sunset. We also visited Boston, Salem, and Rockport which were all relatively close by. We would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some peace and quiet!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Location
The view was very nice. It would have been nice to know the heating situation ahead of time. Overall the room was clean. Exterior landscaping could use some attention.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 November 2025
Thanks so much for your stay! You're right, our listing should have made it clear that the cottage doesn't have central heating (just the woodstove & space heaters). We appreciate your feedback. We've updated the property description to include this, and I'm contacting you directly to help rectify things.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property. Hosts were exceptionally accommodating. Already thinking about coming back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

sweet house, beautiful location!

We loved our stay in the Library. The house is just as described, the soft sand beach is so easy to walk to, and the area is really fun with tasty foods. Bonnie was very helpful and easy to communicate with, we would definitely stay at the Library again.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Bonnie Foz

Host profile image

Languages:

French, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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