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Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly!

Lakefront cottage with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly!

Fantastic fall colors!
New lakeside gazebo with propane fire table.
Outdoor dining
Fire table under the gazebo!
Lake front oasis with gazebo and dock! Lots of privacy

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Ashford, CT
  • Place, Rankin Preserve
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Place, University of Connecticut
    ‪25 min drive‬
  • Place, Stafford Motor Speedway
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Airport, Hartford, CT (BDL-Bradley Intl.)

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

Common area 1

1 Double Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly!

Are you looking for a relaxing waterfront get away? This may be your place! This newly renovated cottage is located on a pristine 54 acre lake that just begs to be explored! Please enjoy our kayaks and canoe to embark on your own journey. There are no gas powered motors allowed on this lake which makes it a relaxing place for swimming, floating and boating! I hear the fishing is good too. The cottage is situated on a spacious double lot that provides plenty of room for activities and some added privacy. Inside you will find a lovingly renovated 2 bedroom cottage with approx 1200 square feet of living space. The layout is open and bright with fantastic views of the lake and some magnificent sunrises! The kitchen is fully stocked and should satisfy most of your needs. There are multiple sitting areas for chatting, relaxing, napping and a dining table for 6. The main bedroom is quite large and consists of a queen size bed and full size futon. The second bedroom has twin bunks. There is another futon in the front living room perfectly suited for those that don't want to miss the sunrise, which is often spectacular!

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 24
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Wash the dishes.
Leave bedding on beds.
Make sure boats and life jackets are put away.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

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
Long-term renters welcome
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Ashford

Located in Ashford, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Westford Hills Distillery and Taylor Brooke Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit East Brook Mall and Little River Plaza Shopping Center. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion or Stafford Motor Speedway. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Ashford, CT

What's nearby

  • Rankin Preserve - 12 min drive - 6.1 km
  • University of Connecticut - 25 min drive - 19.5 km
  • Harry A. Gampel Pavilion - 27 min drive - 24.4 km
  • Stafford Motor Speedway - 35 min drive - 28.0 km
  • Old Sturbridge Village - 38 min drive - 39.5 km

Getting around

  • Hartford, CT (BDL-Bradley Intl.) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cumberland Farms - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Midway Restaurant & Pizza - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Sneakers Sports Bar - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Magical Waterfront Cottage! Pet friendly! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 2.3 mi (3.7 km) from Ashford Town Green and within 6 miles (10 km) of Crystal Pond and Crystal Pond Park. Ivy Glen Memorial and Eastford Public Library are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

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. 44 out of 46 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 46 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 46 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Krystal B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property. The everyone had so much fun in the lake. The host was so helpful and kind, she even let us have a small surprise wedding for our family there. Beds were comfortable and we loved the esthetic of the decor,we will be back again for sure!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Trevor S.

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

Great place to unplug

This place has been a favorite! it’s very quiet there and the lake is beautiful and clear. The property manager is incredibly responsive. I loved the stay and the quick communication had us feel more welcome, thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

A Slice of Heaven!

My Mom and I had a fabulous stay and would love to return!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

paul t.

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

Great !

Just as advertised, Very Quiet. Took our kayaks out daily was great with no power boats , beautiful, clean,well stocked our dog didn't want to leave. Wife and I enjoyed the Great Fishing. We are planning on going back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom S.

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

Great Place

Nice location
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roger C.

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

Beautiful Getaway

The cottage was perfect size with everything you needed.We used the kayaks and boat and did some fishing.Had a great long holiday weekend with the family and dogs.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Grace V.

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

Absolutely Wonderful!

We stayed at this property for about a week to attend a dog competition. It was absolutely worth the price- wonderful location to some good eats, very clean and cozy, and communication with the host was top notch. It helped make a stressful time relaxing!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey C., Fontana

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

Cute lake house

This house was cute and comfortable for an October weekend with our family.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy T.

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

Christmas Getaway

Noelle was a great host. She set up a Christmas tree for us and made it homey. The view was so beautiful from the living room.
Stayed 10 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dana W.

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

Exactly as pictured

The property is exactly as pictured, which isn't always the case. Decorated cutely, small but well organized to make the most use of the space. The beds all seemed comfortable, including the pull out ones - I only slept on one bed but heard no complaints from anyone else. Everything needed was provided. When we ran out of paper towels it took a bit of hunting but we found those there too. Great communication with the host. We ended up staying on a rainy weekend so we didn't use the lake, but had fun and used the covered patio section with chairs. Bug spray was also provided, they really have everything.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ellen goes by Elena S.

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

Beautiful cottage and setting

This was a wonderful place for a weekend retreat with a few close friends. The cottage is beautiful, clean and spacious, with ample linens and kitchen amenities, a gorgeous view of the lake, and lots of welcoming outdoor space and peace and quiet. The host was very responsive and helpful when we needed her assistance with a water problem on the last night, and generously offered us a partial refund. We appreciated the beautiful place and the excellent service, and would definitely come back.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karin T.

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

Peaceful perfection

Our stay far exceeded my expectations.....peaceful, clean. abundant nature, all creature comforts taken care of , beautiful property and home decor! Owners, Noelle and Sam were very responsive and pleasant to work with. My grandchildren (ages 12,10,7)...all want to come back next year!! Turtles, fish. birds, fireflies, safe walking, clean water, kayaking.....
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eric M.

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

5-star host!!!

5-star host. 4-star property, but many improvements are in process. The best host ever! Very responsive and supportive. Great location. Super quiet. Great fishing! We will be back here again! Thanks Noelle!!!
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brianna S.

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

Wonderful, Peaceful, just what we needed

We came as a bridal party for a girls night right before the wedding. It was absolutely perfect! The right size for us with stunning views! The bride loved it and so did the whole group! Noelle was so responsive and made our stay wonderful! We didn’t feel the need to go anywhere and with a full kitchen we were able to make the food we needed to have a girls night in. Definitely recommending this to anyone who needs a peaceful getaway!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jody L.

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

Perfect Staycation

We were looking for a lake house not too far from home to relax and vacation for a few days with our pup. I’m so glad we found Noelle’s lake house! Beautiful views, super quiet and calm neighborhood, plenty of options whether you want to get out on the lake, have fun outside, or just hang inside. Weather was pretty cool and rainy for August for most of our trip but we didn’t mind - we were happy just reading and looking out at the lake. The house was clean, set up beautifully, super cute decor, lots of cozy blankets, and lots of great accommodations for our pup (dog bowls, bed, towels, blankets, life jacket, etc.) - made us feel so welcome bringing our boy. Sunrise on the lake was really cool to see! Would love to come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tom M.

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

We were the first guests, and we loved it!

We just got back from our vacation at Ashford Lake and we had a tremendous time. After a year and a half of constant work we very badly needed one thing, and that was a lakehouse. We've stayed at Ashford Lake before and it's a reallllly relaxing place. We were very happy to have found this gem and stay at our favorite lake again. All I needed, and I felt this deep inside me, was a firepit in front of a lake with drinks and conversation. I got that, here. Every night it wasn't raining, we sat out by that fire for hours and hours. It was so healing. That and the kayaking and feeding the turtle regulars (we named them Ferdinand and Mabel) that dropped in constantly. We really appreciated being able to bring our pets, because we miss them when we leave them... and not having to miss them made everything more special. Noelle was fantastic and responded to every question very quickly. She seems like a great person. Thanks Noelle!!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Trevor S.

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

Hidden Gem!

My wife and I stayed here before and we were so happy to see this house available to rent again! This place is high on our list and compare it to every other lake house we have been at. There have been many improvements including some renovations inside, the deck, and the walkout dock on the water! We were there to unwind from work, and this place was so quiet during the week. I went on the kayak everyday to fish, you couldn't ask for a cleaner lake. It is incredibly clear, not many weeds, and plenty of fish (sunfish, catfish, perch, and best of all - bass). I have caught chain pickerel here before just not this time around. The lake itself is clean, and really enjoyed how big it was yet no motors allowed. The quick access to the lake, swimming, fishing, the house, and the size of the yard makes this place a dream! The owner's ability to make this much more dog friendly made this trip easier for our senior dog. We really appreciated the thoughtfulness and communication the owner had with us. We will be dreaming of this place until we are there again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great time! This place was perfect for our weekend away. Beautiful lake and awesome fire pit.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
beautiful property on peaceful lake, GREAT fishing (bass,catfish (at night) yellow perch, and of course civers). firepit, wood for sale up the street. host was responsive. Had everything we neede for an amazing family getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ross L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just a spectacular spot. Clean and comfortable with room for everyone to be together or to find their own nook to relax. Can't wait to come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike and M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect place to unplug from day to day life relax. We couldn't have enjoyed our experience more.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alexander M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect getaway, even better than promised! The grounds were in great condition, the lake was peaceful, the house was charming and well stocked. I came out with my mini poodle and he had a great time, and there were lots of little touches that made it especially dog friendly, like an extra lease, a water/food bowl setup, a doggy bed, and a doggy gate for the porch. The bed, pillows, and linens were very comfortable. Would def book again! Also, the host was very communicative and friendly!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Seamus O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything about our stay was perfect we couldn’t have imagined a better lake house getaway!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Sandy J.

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

Lake Vacation

Had a peaceful and relaxing stay.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sabrina F.

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

Family time

The house was perfect for our little family. My daughter loved swimming in the lake, morning coffee was sublime as I stared out over the water, the house had everything we needed and being able to bring our dog was great. Thank you!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Noelle Merle

Host profile image
Hello! My name is Noelle and I live in Sturbridge Ma with my husband Sam, our son Crosby and my father Michel (aka Pepe.) We fell in love with Ashford Ct over the past few years camping at Brialee, a local family campground. I have been dreaming of a lake house for years and when I saw this one, well... it spoke to me. The stars aligned and here we are! We named this magical place after my fathers late wife Mimi, who was truly magical and as loving as they come. She would have whole heartedly supported me in this endeavor!
I feel her all around, and especially at sunrise.
I am a local Realtor and Broker/Owner of Hometown National Realty.
Sam is a singer, songwriter and the recording artist, Sam James.
Crosby is 6 and fantastic. Professional kayaker and Minecraft maniac.
Pepe, (Michel) is a retired college professor and full time Artist, Poet and writer. He is fantastic, kind and eccentric! We love him.

Why they chose this property

There is something really special about this property. It just brings me this overwhelming feeling of peace and happiness. The lake is generally very still and calm. The night sky is spectacular without the obstruction of city lights.

What makes this property unique

The local turtles may stop by for a visit and a snack... if you're sharing. The neighbor cat may stop by for a pat. Relax under the willow tree, have a cocktail on the deck. Enjoy coffee with the sunrise. It's all good here!

Languages:

English