Entire home

Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.

Photo gallery for Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.

Smart TV, fireplace, books
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
10 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel crib, free WiFi

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

10 bedrooms7 bathrooms650 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor Space
    Outdoor Space
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.

The Varrell House is located in the heart of York Harbor, Maine and a 3 minute walk to the family friendly York Harbor 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 was originally built as a guest house (Varrell House -- Annex) in the early 20 Century and served as a Bed & Breakfast (Canterbury House) in the latter part of the 20th Century. You’ll have plenty of room for gathering with family and friends -- including a newly renovated kitchen (winter 2017-18) - two large sitting areas, a new (2021) and large front porch and a new lawn with gas fire pit shaded by gorgeous old trees. Some of the rooms and grounds offer partial views of the harbor where time will slowly pass as you watch the boats come and go. 10 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 2017-18 to include a new kitchen, 2 new bathrooms and brand 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. We also have a "sister" property - The Briars at Homeaway - #4035882 that is just a few doors away. Both have a long history of exceptional reviews.

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 2 minutes 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? Ask us about The Briars, our 8 bedroom home, located just a few doors away -- homeaway # 4035882. We also have a third property, with 6 bedrooms in very close proximity.

Property manager

Lance

Languages

English, German

Property amenities

Beach

  • Near the beach
  • Beach towels
  • Beach sun loungers

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage
  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Spices
  • Blender

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 10 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 7 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Toilet paper
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Arcade/game room
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the sea
  • On the river
  • In the city center
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near outlet shopping
  • Near the bay
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Water park
  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Tennis on site
  • Bicycle on site
  • Boat on site
  • Kayak on site
  • Golfing on site
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Snorkeling nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 7000 sq ft (650 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the neighborhood

Map
York, ME

What's nearby

  • York Harbor Beach - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Long Sands Beach - 5 min drive - 2.9 km
  • York's Wild Kingdom - 8 min drive - 5.9 km
  • Short Sands Beach - 10 min drive - 6.6 km
  • Nubble Lighthouse - 12 min drive - 6.8 km

Getting around

  • Wells Regional Transportation Center - 20 min drive
  • Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Anthony S Food Shop - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Stonewall Kitchen - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Stones Throw - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪York River Landing - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪York Beach Beer Company - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc.?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc. located?

This family-friendly York Harbor vacation home is located by the sea, within a 10-minute walk of York Harbor Beach and Wiggly Bridge and Steedman Woods. Old Gaol and Museums of Old York are also within 1 mi (2 km).

Gorgeous York Harbor Home- walk to beach, harbor, cliff walk, wiggly bridge etc. Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 123 out of 130 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 130 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 130 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 130 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 130 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jeff G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Home!
Perfect home for relaxing with family!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marsha C.

Liked: Cleanliness
annual reunion with friends
We go to York every year. There are 10 of us- all high school friends. A few years ago we booked this property and found it to be perfect for us so we have booked it regularly ever since and have already booked for next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Max K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect spot for our wedding weekend
We booked this house for our wedding weekend, as our venue was at Foster's Clambakes down the street. The whole weekend was very low-key -exactly what we wanted- and we couldn't have asked for better accommodations for ourselves and our closest friends/family who stayed with us. The house is beautifully kept, has nearly everything you need, and Lance is super friendly and responds quickly. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marie D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great for groups
Lance had a lot of great ideas for what to do in this beautiful location. The house was perfect for our large group - plenty of room to sleep and gather.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel/Patricia W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Reunion
What a great time was had by 18+ retired nurses in this very accommodating house. So much was provided for us and Lance was always available to answer questions as needed. He even stopped by to make sure all was well! To say this area in Maine is beautiful seems trite as it is more than that with great beaches,stores and restaurants.The Varrell House is certainly a wonderful place to stay. Thanks Lance. Looking forward to more stays.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Yearly family gathering
My siblings and I all live in different states and we like to get our families together each summer for a weeks vacation! This was our first stay in York ME and we found a great house! Lots of space for everyone, nice sized kitchen and a big front porch for morning coffee or tea. We had a couple of people that needed to do a bit of remote work and they had no problem finding quiet spaces for calls and focus. My brother especially enjoyed working from the front porch and moved with the sun throughout the day - not a bad way to work! Our host was terrific, very knowledgable of the area and shared so many ideas for fun things to do. Beautiful, peaceful beach, just a quick walk from the house. We had an issue with the refrigerator but our host was on top of it - always available by phone and checked in to make sure everything was ok. We all enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this property to a large family!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary Ann S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful house in a great spot!
We planned this vacation for our extended family without knowing anything about this area, including the location of the property. Turns out that our host’s description of the property AND the surrounding area was perfect. Lance was very patient with all of our questions and did everything possible to make us feel welcome. The house was perfect for our large group and there is so much to do in this area - truly something for all ages! We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Casey W.

Liked: Cleanliness
A great trip to York!
We had a great trip to York! The house was in an amazing location very convenient to the beach and had plenty of bedrooms to fit a large family. The backyard is amazing and there’s plenty of parking in the back of the house. The check in process was easy and the checkout process was clear. We had a lot of memorable nighttime hangouts on the porch! Thanks for a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

John B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Celebration
Wonderful tome
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved every minute of our stay!
I recently spent a long weekend at this beautiful home with a group of friends from high school and college. We have rented many homes over the years and this is one of the nicest. The house is super clean, well equipped, and the location is perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in York and would return in a heartbeat. And Lance is the best host ever! He is so kind and accommodating, and even personally delivered a delicious pie one morning. Thank you, Lance, for a wonderful weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nick T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed for a family reunion 20 people
Property was very nice and in excellent condition. Lance was great to work with and even gave us a pie and bottle of wine. Overall was a great place and great experience
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jan H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Place
We loved staying in the Varrell House. The house was so comfortable and the location was ideal with being located a short distance from the beach. Our host was so helpful, available and gracious.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great family reunion
What a wonderful time we had. Lance is such a great host. Super cute house, great location and wonderful host. I highly recommend this beautiful property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

mary w.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Birthday Celebration
Great property! Plenty of room for all. Lance was a great host! The area is beautiful.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

William H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Highly Recommend
An unbelievable property in a beautiful location! Short walking distance to the beach and other attractions in York. The house has plenty of room and Lance (the home owner) is easy to work with and very responsive.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kylie M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect!
This house was perfect for us and our entire wedding party to stay at for our wedding! It was beautiful and so spacious, plenty of room for 18 people to hang out!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

David W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous York Harbor house
Great house for a family celebration! Had everything one could want , was clean and in great shape. Perfect location for accessing all York has to offer. Lance was accessible and helpful. Couldn’t have been happier and would highly recommend this rental
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nancy I.

Liked: Cleanliness
70th birthday celebration
14 friends from high school celebrated our 70th birthdays at this property! It was perfect, the home, location and things to do! Could not think of a better place to celebrate 70!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very comfortable house, great location, amazing host
We stayed here for a friends reunion (21 people) and found York Harbor a great, central location for our week together. The house was very comfortable for all of us - it's really nicely appointed, with plenty of areas for large and small groups. Lance the host was amazing - always responsive to our every request and question, and helpful with local knowledge and activities. We'd definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spacious house
Nice, well-kept and well-equipped house, perfect for a large group. Owner is very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marsha C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Friends Annual Getaway
We are a group of 10 friends who convene every summer for a few days of fun together in the York area. We have done this for several years and have stayed in many rental homes over that time. We all agree that the Varrell House is one of the best homes we have ever rented and we plan to stay there again next year. The house was very clean, comfortable, and spacious. There were enough bedrooms for each of us to have our own room, plenty of bathrooms and a lot of nice touches such as bath and body shampoo and conditioners, make-up remover towelettes, nice towels and bed linens and comfortable beds. This house worked so well for our group. The kitchen was large and modern and stocked with everything you could possibly need for a stay - there was plenty of space for several people to work together, and everything was clean and well maintained. The dining room accommodated all of us comfortably, with room for more. The front porch was the best- great happy hour setting! A big bonus factor was the adequate parking for a large group, which is extremely rare and Lance was an attentive host, and eager to help if needed. All in all it was “the way life should be” and we will be back next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michele M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wedding weekend
Our group was there for a wedding. The home is the perfect place for a group… lots of places to gather together! Loved sitting on the front porch, or relaxing on the comfy couches! Great location, walking distance to everything, and the owner has thought of everything to make your stay easy and comfortable, even supplying lots of beach chairs, towels and cooler! We were too busy to use the backyard, but would have if we had more time! The owner also went out of his way offering wonderful local recommendations, and was always available if we had questions or needed help!! Best house, best owner!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hannah L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Labor Day Weekend!
Had an amazing stay here!! Could not have asked for a better house for a perfect Labor Day weekend! Plenty of beds, great size living room, kitchen and outdoor space. Perfect location! Not far from Portsmouth if you’re looking to go out down town. We were able to walk to the beach right across the way and really appreciated provided beach chairs and towels! We walked to the ice cream place down the street which was delicious! Truly amazing house, would definitely recommend! Thank you for helping make our weekend perfect!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Tayler R., New York, United States

Beautiful home. Great location with a very close walk to the beach.
This was a beautiful home, lovely vibe and plenty of rooms and bathrooms for our large group. Communication with the owner/host was prompt, friendly, and thorough for any questions or communications that were had by either side. There were many amenities that our group enjoyed throughout our stay, but there were issues found with others. I along with a few of the other guests had a few noteworthy issues such as a broken coffee maker. We ended up buying a cheap and very small coffee maker from Walmart and left it for the next guests. The kitchen was not thoroughly cleaned and there are a lot of completely random and unnecessary items in the pantry closet. The fridge was not cleaned. Dirty plates, bowls, and silverware but I assume most people wash these items before use when staying with VRBO. When taking the trash bin out of the 2 trash/recycling cans in the kitchen, there was a lot of old food stuff down there - maybe I am being too picky on that one though. At least 4 of the bathrooms had mold on the shower curtain liners or just mold in general throughout the shower areas. It was definitely noticeable to anyone cleaning the bathrooms. There weren't any hand towels in about half of the restrooms, not a big deal. The trash situation was slightly unusual but wasn't difficult to abide by. I expected someone to come pick up the trash / recycling. I was surprised when the owner showed up on the property / in the garage / around the yard area unannounced with his cute dog.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Large Family Vacation
We had a great vacation in Maine. The house had plenty of space for our 4 different families, even with children aged 1 through 16. The internet and cell service did make it difficult for those who needed to connect for work calls and zoom meetings. But overall, we had plenty to do and see to keep everyone entertained. Thank you to Lance for great communication and for making us feel welcome!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023