Classic Maine Cottage short walk to beach, harbor, trails, park & village.

The Briars is a 19th century shingle style “cottage” located in the heart of York Harbor, Maine and a short five minute walk to the beach. Listen to the fishing boats as they depart the Harbor each morning, smell the salty air and feel the gentle ocean breeze. The home has been entertaining guests for over a century, most recently as a bed-and-breakfast for the past 30 years. You’ll have plenty of room for gathering with family and friends including lots of space for lounging on one of the many porches/decks. Some of the rooms offer views of the harbor where time will slowly pass as you watch the boats come and go. 8 bedrooms with 7 bathrooms means plenty of room for the whole family without long wait times to take a shower! The charming home was renovated in 2016 and 2019 to include 5 new bathrooms (the other two of seven are already modern) and new furnishings to ensure you have a very comfortable stay. We offer one of the best per room/per night fees or per person/per night of any large rental in York Harbor.

Our home is in an ideal spot to enjoy the sought after environs of York Harbor. Guests can easily walk to the Harbor Beach known for its family friendly atmosphere. The Cliff Walk starts at the Harbor Beach and offers spectacular views of the rocky Maine coast and stunning Victorian mansions. The Hartley Mason estate is a beautiful public park overlooking the Harbor Beach with flower gardens and plenty of shade from the summer sun. Moulton Park is two doors down the street from us with a fantastic space for any outdoor activity with lots of sun and shade. The Fisherman’s Walk is steps away where you stroll along the river and enjoy views of the boats coming in and out of the harbor – including lobsterman with their fresh catch of the day. Fisherman’s walk brings you to the Wiggly Bridge-Steadman Woods where you can take a loop through the forest or continue walking to the historic York Village. York Village (less than five minutes away by car in case you lost track of how long you’ve been walking) was settled in 1624 (3 years after Plymouth Plantation!) and offers a rich array of historical buildings (e.g Old Gaol – one of the oldest jails in America; a one room school house; Jefferds Tavern; The Old Burying Ground featuring 18th-19th century carved tombstones; and the John Hancock Warehouse etc.).

The Harbor is rich in culture and fine dining. The York Art Association is located a few houses down the street from us. George Marshall store gallery is located through the Steadman Woods and has a series of art exhibits during the year (the curator lives down the street from our house). There are other small galleries and shops in the Village. York Harbor Inn, Stage Neck Inn, and Chapman Cottage each offer award winning dining and are all a five minute walk from our home. The Dockside Restaurant is located across the harbor (five minute drive away) and is a great spot to view the marina and have a great meal. The marina offers boat and kayak rentals for those wishing to experience some “ocean” culture.

The York area and surrounding towns offer a never ending list of things to do. Visit lighthouses. Go whale watching. Explore forts and historical sights. Enjoy the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Hike Mt. Agamenticus for breathtaking views of the ocean to the east and forest/mountains to the west (you can also drive to the top if you are feeling lazy and visit the nature exhibit in the old ski lodge). Shop at the Kittery Outlets (save this for those rainy days). Visit the York Beach boardwalk with an amusement park, bowling, arcade, shops, live entertainment, salt water taffy and more. Hiking-Biking-Boating-Sunbathing…or just reading a book in the many nooks of our beautiful home. You will love the relaxed pace of Maine. There is a reason our state motto is "Maine, the way life should be".

Looking to accommodate an even bigger group? We also have a 10 bedroom/8 bathroom property that is close by. We have a six bedroom home that we offer only very selectively that is in between the other two properties.