Mendocino Coast - Panoramic Ocean View, Irish Beach Cottage

• Perfect cottage stay.

  Perfect cottage stay.

  • Guest Glenn & Amanda
  • Date of stay 12/29/12
  • Review Submitted 01/29/13
  Upon our arrival over the New Year's weekend, a deer came to greet us and more returned several times. My wife, daughter, granddaughter, and I stayed for three nights, which wasn't long enough and the time went by way too fast. We were blessed with beautiful sunny weather, as we thoroughly enjoyed the views from the dining room, the fabulous deck, and even the kitchen. The beds were comfortable and there was a well stocked kitchen and plenty of movies to watch at night with the ambiance of a gas fireplace. My wife and I enjoyed an EARLY morning (4:00am) hot tub under a beautiful starry sky with the sounds of the surf below. The actual beach at Irish Beach was close by and a good private beach to visit. We drove south a few minutes to the Point Arena Lighthouse several times, first to enjoy the sunrise and go for a walk, next to visit and tour the lighthouse and museum, and on a third visit to eat at Rollerbay Cafe for great fish n' chips and more walking. We also visited the more touristy Mendocino and also Elk to the north. New Year's Eve at the Arena Theatre in the quiet and picturesque town of Point Arena was really fun. We had a great visit, only as I said, it went by way too fast. During our stay we were already talking about going back again for another and longer visit.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing, romantic getaway, families with young children, adventure seekers.

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• So relaxing. We love St Claire House

  So relaxing. We love St Claire House

  • Guest Jaci
  • Date of stay 09/23/12
  • Review Submitted 10/15/12
  We have been staying at St Claire House almost every year since 1993. We love it. So quit and serene. We stayed the last week of September and even though the weather was foggy we stayed at the house and read and lounged. We enjoyed the deer family that came by every morning and evening and even saw a very small fox. It is so nice to have a beautiful place like this to go and relax and get away from the every day hustle and bustle of everyday. We remarked several times while we were there how lucky we are to live close and have access to a place like St Claire house.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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• Beautiful views, comfortable accomodations

  Beautiful views, comfortable accomodations

  • Guest Ken W.
  • Date of stay 07/28/12
  • Review Submitted 08/10/12
  Our family of four enjoyed the last three days of July in the St. Claire House. Everything was as presented and the views are spectacular. We had a full moon two nights and the reflection off the deep blue Pacific was unforgetable. The only downside to our stay was due to our own lack of knowledge about the area -- it's a little isolated. It's probably a 10-mile drive in either direction to restaurants and the roads are beautiful but slow-going if you aren't used to the twists and turns in Mendocino County. Not a huge problem but something to keep in mind when planning day trips and outings from St. Claire House because you have to budget more driving time.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

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• Wonderful House

  Wonderful House

  • Guest Chris
  • Date of stay 06/24/12
  • Review Submitted 07/02/12
  A friend and I stayed at this house from June 24 - 27, 2012. The house is really lovely, quiet, private and has a fabulous view. Everything was very clean and neat. The kitchen was stocked with everything anyone would need and then some, like a French Press coffee maker! The price of the stay was very reasonable for what you get. The beds are extremely comfortable and the down comforters are a big plus. There are many books, music and movie DVDs, along with cassette movies. The whole Mendocino area is extremely gorgeous and relaxing. The owner was very easy and nice to communicate with and she answered all questions via eMail very quickly. We highly recommend this rental to anyone looking for the Mendocino experience who does not wish to stay at hotels and/or B & Bs; we give it the highest rating!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

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• A piece of paradise

  A piece of paradise

  • Guest Debi
  • Date of stay 05/17/12
  • Review Submitted 05/21/12
  My husband and I stayed at St. Clair House on the recommendation of friends and we weren't disappointed. We were charmed immediately upon driving up to the house, and fell in love once we passed the threshold. We couldn't have asked for a better place to spend an anniversary weekend. From the beautiful garden with myriad blooms to the quaint bedrooms and seaside decor — the only thing lacking was more time to stay. A fully equipped kitchen made cooking easy in an unfamiliar environment; it truly has all the comforts of home. The market in Manchester (about 4 miles south) has just about everything you need to stock the refrigerator and cupboards; if you plan to eat out, be aware, the closest spots are in Point Arena (9 miles south) or Elk (13 miles north), and points farther on. One of the unexpected attractions we learned about was B. Bryan Preserve in Point Arena. They raise African hoofstock (zebra, two types of antelope and, soon, giraffe). They offer inexpensive tours ($20/pp for a 1 1/2 hour tour) in the afternoons at feeding time for up close encounters with these beautiful and endangered animals. It was well worth the price. If you enjoy wine tasting, there are myriad wineries in the area. Several can be visited in a circuit that is very doable for a day trip, and bringing the bounty back to St. Clair House, it can be enjoyed on the patio, overlooking the ocean watching the sunset. We will certainly be back. Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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• Just Right!

  Just Right!

  • Guest Sabrina
  • Date of stay 09/07/10
  • Review Submitted 09/22/10
  We found the perfect place for our girl's getaway. The St. Clair House is a lovely retreat, and our time there went by much too quickly. We enjoyed the stars and Milky Way from the hot tub on clear nights and the gas fireplace on foggy mornings; the friendly wildlife (quail, bunny, deer and the resident hummingbird who energetically defended his territory) and a sweeping view of the waves in the bay, Point Arena and the light station from the deck. Seeing whales travel by when we were down on Irish Beach was such a treat! The cottage's amenities are generous and well thought out: lots of music, movies, books, info on local places to see and things to do, a well-appointed kitchen and lots of little things available that give such a homey touch, like the beach chairs, tote bags, games, plenty of hangers in the closets and night lights throughout the house, a picnic basket and so much more. Donna told us about the annual Studio Discovery Tour going on while we were there and we had a blast finding some of the homes/studios of the local artists - what a fun adventure! Highly recommended!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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• One of my best vacation...

  One of my best vacation...

  • Guest Subbu
  • Date of stay 07/05/10
  • Review Submitted 08/15/10
  We stayed here during July4th weekend (after July 4th) and it was one of my best vacation. The location is so beautiful & pristine and all of us enjoyed the home, the view and everything surrounding it. Amazing view of ocean and comfortable deck and calm atmosphere. Truly a serene location to get some real rest & recharge. Donna & her son had planned the home very well and all details are taken care with great taste. We would definitely go back to this home again and as the sign out side the home says, it's definitely a 'Home away from Home'. Thanks Donna for giving us the opportunity. Regards & Wishes... Subbu

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with young children.

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• Amazing!

  Amazing!

  • Guest Paulina & Sophie
  • Date of stay 05/07/10
  • Review Submitted 05/16/10
  We had an amazing time at the beach house! Thank you so much for sharing such a great place, with all the comforts of home. The garden was beautiful, the deer were stunning and the house was darling. We enjoyed sitting on the back deck eating breakfast and watching the ocean in the comfy chairs. The music on the deck with the outdoor speakers was a nice surprise. The music, movie and book collection you keep there is wonderful. The amenities more then generous, the kitchen was great and had everything you could ask for. The beds were comfy and the electric blankets were great as it does tend to cool down at night. The fireplace was perfect and the mantel was beautiful. The spa was fantastic and great for nightly dips while enjoying all the stars in the sky. This was the place to relax with a glass of wine or read a book in the window seating area looking out at the ocean. This property was just charming and never felt like a scantly decorated rental, the best deal in Irish beach by far! The perfect girls getaway or romantic retreat ... Can’t wait to go back. P.S. The light house lamp by the fireplace was great!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing, tourists without a car, girls getaway, romantic getaway, families with young children, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Debbie & Rick
  • Date of stay 11/01/08
  • Review Submitted 04/29/10
  "Just wanted to let you now what a fabulous time we had at your beach house. The weather was fairly cooperative, and we enjoyed just getting away and walking on the beach and spending some precious time together. The house was absolutely great! The views were wonderful, even through the fingers of fog that greeted us each morning. We visited the beach at low tide and were able to see anemones and starfish galore! The amenities in the house were perfect, and even though we didn't take advantage of the hot tub, we probably would next time we visit. All in all, a lovely, but long drive, and wonderful times spent in the house and on the beach. Rick and I are hopeful that we can visit again and thank you for sharing such a beautiful place. We definitely feel like we've found the perfect beach getaway!"

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• Guest comment entered by owner

  • Guest Hal & Loretta
  • Date of stay 07/01/08
  • Review Submitted 04/29/10
  "We have stayed at Irish Beach a lot, but we have never stayed at a better home. The garden is a wonderful surprise! Few of the houses even attempt more than a few plants in pots. And the sweeping view to the lighthouse is delightful. Thanks again for sharing your good fortune with us."

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Additional information about rental rates

Cancellation policy:

Full refund if cancelled more than 10 days before arrival date. Deposit will be forfeited within 10 days of scheduled arrival if we are unable to re-rent the property.

Deposit by check will be held uncashed until after your departure and returned marked "VOID" if the house is left clean and undamaged. Full payment including tax is due 10 days before arrival to allow time to mail out the map, instructions and key access information.

Additional Fees and Taxes:

+ 11% Mendocino County Occupancy Tax