Beautifully Restored 4BR 3 Bath Home on Connecticut River
- Minimum stay:N/A
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:Yes
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Welcome to North Star House and the Connecticut River Scenic Byway. Located on 700 acres in Cornish and Claremont New Hampshire, North Star House is the result of our year-long top-to-bottom restoration of this 1855 historic home. We’ve retained all of the historic features – slate roof, antique hardware, wavy glass windows, hand-carved millwork – while providing modern comforts, including a gourmet kitchen, two new full baths and a Jotul glass-fronted woodstove.
The house includes the traditional farmhouse first-floor front and rear parlors, with the rear parlor featuring a large south-facing bay window and wood stove. The front parlor includes a pull-out couch that can sleep two. Also on the first floor are the dining room with French door access to a south-facing patio, the large, sunny, eat-in kitchen, a screened porch with views of the Connecticut River and Mount Ascutney, a full bath, an indoor storage area for skis and kayaks and a two-car garage. Upstairs, North Star House features a master bedroom with views of the fields and the Connecticut River, three smaller bedrooms and two additional full baths. The house complies with modern energy codes, being fully insulated to keep the place warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
North Star House’s kitchen features fine custom cabinetry made in Vermont with counters of soapstone. There’s plenty of space for preparing exquisite meals, including a large central island with custom-made soapstone prep sink. Appliances include a “French door” stainless steel refrigerator, 36” gas stove with griddle and extra large oven, dishwasher, microwave, Cuisinart food processor, coffee maker and toaster oven. The kitchen is well stocked with copper, stainless and cast-iron cookware, dishes, glassware (including an extensive collection of wine and cocktail glasses), flatware and kitchen tools. Radiant floor heat warms the custom oak-strip floor. An oak kitchen table that seats 4 to 6 is perfect for eat-in meals or when the kids need a break from the dining room guests.
The front and rear parlors at North Star House include restored birch flooring, historic mouldings and restored wavy glass windows from the 1800s. A large woodstove keeps the two rooms cozy on a cold winter’s day or a chilly morning in the spring or fall. The front parlor includes an entertainment center with 32” Sony flat-screen TV with cable, DVD player (with our eclectic library of DVDs), 300 CD changer, turntable, audio unit (with iPod connection) and speakers. With our line of sight to Mount Ascutney, there’s great cell phone coverage, including 3G broadband modem service. Hgh-speed internet via cable is included with wireless access throughout the house.
North Star House is located on NH Route 12A (the Connecticut River Scenic Byway) in the historic Cornish Colony area. Nestled among working farms, the river and hundreds of acres of forest, the property offers almost unlimited recreational opportunities. With more than a quarter mile of private river frontage, North Star House provides direct access to fishing, swimming, kayaking and canoeing. Our neighbors at North Star Canoe Rentals can outfit you with canoes, kayaks and tubes for half- and full-day river excursions.
The home is furnished with everything you need for an enjoyable stay in our area, including towels, linens, a collection of movies and a well-equipped kitchen. During the spring, summer and fall, enjoy our many acres of landscaped gardens, lawn and fields. A delicious crop of blueberries awaits you during late July and early August, as do early fall apples and pears. Neighboring farmstands and farmers’ markets provide locally grown corn, tomatoes as well as countless other fruit and vegetables, locally made cheeses, chickens, and more!
North Star House’s 700 acres include a vast network of trails for casual strolls, cross-country skiing, serious hikes and mountain biking – both single track and double track. Connecting trails to the Cornish Town Forest are available for seriously technical biking, as well as hiking access to some great views of Mount Ascutney and the Vermont countryside. For a daytime (or nighttime) get-away, check out our restored sugar house with its woodstove and rustic collection of maple sugaring gear.
For weddings, North Star House offers a large flat lawn that is perfect for a large reception tent with views of the mountains, forests and river. Fields across the way provide virtually unlimited parking for your major event. We can provide contacts for local caterers, tent suppliers, musicians and even officiators! The restored 1820s Trinity Church, located just up Route 12A in Cornish, is a beautiful location for a traditional wedding ceremony.
Keywords: Historic, farmhouse, barn, Connecticut River, Dartmouth, Scenic Byway, mountain bike, swim, waterfront, views, view, hike, Cornish Colony, mountain, agriculture, farming
Property Type
- House
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Suitability
- Children Welcome
- Minimum Age Limit For Renters
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms
- 4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10, Beds for 8-10
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
- Bedroom 3
- Bedroom 4
- Convertible bed(s)
Bathrooms
- 3.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
- Bathroom 2
- Bathroom 3
Kitchen & Dining
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Cooking Utensils
- Catering Available
- Dishwasher
- Ice Maker
Amenities
- Washing Machine
- Wood Fireplace
- Clothes Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Parking Off Street
- Parking For RV/Boat/Trailer
Other Amenities
- Connecticut Riverfront, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking,
Entertainment
- Stereo
- CD Player
- Video Library
- Television
- DVD Player
Communications
- Mobile Phone
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
- Deck / Patio
Location & View
- Water View
- Mountain View
Activities
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Golf
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Cross Country Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Kayaking
- Skiing
- Cycling
- Fitness Center
- Sight Seeing
- Shopping
- Sledding
- Boating
- Shelling
- Horseback Riding
- Wildlife Viewing
- Restaurants
- Live Theater
- Cinemas
- Museums
- Mountain Biking
- Snowboarding
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
Au delà de nos espérances!
Au delà de nos espérances!
- Guest Chikchoc
- Date of stay 05/05/13
- Review Submitted 05/13/13
Cette maison est vraiment très agréable, très grande et a été rénové de fond en comble il y a à peine 2-3 ans, et ça a été vraiment bien fait. Tous les équipements de la cuisine sont de très haute qualité. Nous avons choisi cette destination pour une semaine à vélo, et nous avons été ravi, par les petits villages environnants, les routes quasi désertes. Bref, plein de choses à découvrir et nous y retournerons probablement pour passer d'autres bons temps. Bravo aux propriétaires pour le travail effectué sur la maison et merci pour tout! Repos, plaisir, environnement superbe, à votre tour maintenant!Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Something for everyone, including the dog!
Something for everyone, including the dog!
- Guest Seana C.
- Date of stay 12/29/12
- Review Submitted 01/22/13
We so enjoyed this house and our stay. The house was so clean and inviting. The kitchen was very well appointed. And since we arrived in a fresh foot of newfallen snow, we were able to be the first to make tracks, which our 8 year old daughter loved! It truly did have something for everyone. There were bowls for the dog, legos and blocks for the kid, and an awesome woodburning stove for us grownups! It was so wonderful waking to the view of Mt. Ascutney. For activities, we hiked down from the house to the Connecticut River. Our dog loved leaping through the snow! Skiing at Sunapee was just 40 minutes away. My daughter and I went dogsledding at nearby Great River Outfitters in Windsor, VT. What a fabulous experience that was! The owners were so kind and accommodating. We are returning in February and we can't wait! This time I think we'll check out Okemo Mountain.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, pet owners, families with young children, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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White Christmas at the fabulous farmhouse
White Christmas at the fabulous farmhouse
- Guest Delfina C.
- Date of stay 12/22/12
- Review Submitted 01/16/13
A Christmas to remember! The North Star House is a wonderfully BIG and charming place to stay. It has lovely old wood floors, Oriental rugs, very handsome furniture, and some really neat photographs and bits of art on the walls. The kitchen is grand and utterly modern; it’s well-stocked with all the pots, dishes, and glassware you could need. The wood stove in the sitting room kept us warm and cozy on a couple of very cold New Hampshire nights. The beds are remarkably comfortable, with very pleasant linens. The surrounding grounds are quite pretty, with views of the mountain; a few hundred feet away the Connecticut River flows right by, which is beautiful to look at every day. This is really a great house in a most attractive place. So far we have visited twice and hope to stay there many more times.Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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Great Vacation
Great Vacation
- Guest eastsiders
- Date of stay 08/25/12
- Review Submitted 09/06/12
Staying here at the end of August was the highlight of our summer. The house has been lovingly and beautifully restored by Jenny & Bill, who are the perfect hosts. The kitchen is a dream, as are the patio and screened porch. The bed (at least in the master BR) is so comfortable that we slept longer than usual. The property is huge and well-maintained, and the location right on the river enabled us to swim every day (including laps between New Hampshire on one bank and Vermont on the other). They even have a badminton net and equipment, which provided additional activity. The hiking trails on the vast property are well-mapped, and access across the field enables interaction with the beautiful horses residing there. It's largely a farming community, and there are farmstands and farmers' markets all over the place. Home Hill Inn and Common Man, both recommended by Jenny & Bill, are restaurants well worth trying. All-in-all, a most relaxing and enjoyable vacation.Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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Perfect Vacation Place
Perfect Vacation Place
- Guest Anne
- Date of stay 07/21/12
- Review Submitted 08/06/12
We had the most wonderful week staying at the North Star House! It is a beautiful home that has been meticulously restored. All the charm of an older house remains, but with modern updates that are sure to please. The location of the house is perfect for as much or as little activity as you desire. We enjoyed a family vacation there, with ages ranging from 3 to 88, and each of us enjoyed the house and the area. The kids loved to see the trains go by, we swam in the river, and made many day trips to nearby attractions. We enjoyed preparing meals in the kitchen that provided modern amenities and plenty of space for several of us to move around. Wonderful place, wonderful owners. We hope to return to North Star House in the future.Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, pet owners, families with young children.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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Wonderful Summer Vacation Getaway
Wonderful Summer Vacation Getaway
- Guest Kristen
- Date of stay 07/14/12
- Review Submitted 07/25/12
My family and I spent a week together at the North Star House and experienced one of the most enjoyable and relaxing vacations we've ever had. The house is absolutely beautiful and exceptionally well-appointed (especially the kitchen), and Bill and Jenny seem to have thought of everything that a family with young children could need including wooden blocks, Legos, and nightlights to ease the kids into their first few evenings in new surroundings. As an earlier reviewer has commented, access to the river is down a somewhat steep slope and could be a bit challenging for some people, but after one or two trips up and down the hill and a good pair of water shoes to navigate the slippery bedrock, everyone in our group was happily swimming in an remarkably private and beautiful spot. Fresh blueberries to pick on the property, fresh corn just down the road, and some of the best smoked meats I've ever tasted from North Country Smokehouse in Claremont provided us with great at-home meal options, but there are also several good restaurants in the area including the 7 Barrel Brewery in West Lebanon. The house also is very well located for any number of day trips in Vermont and New Hampshire, and North Star Canoe and Kayak Rentals just up the road provides great options for full and half day paddles down the Connecticut River. In short, we couldn't have asked for a more lovely place to spend our summer vacation and hope to make a return visit next year!Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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A great place for a family getaway (and dog-friendly too!)
A great place for a family getaway (and dog-friendly too!)
- Guest KellieMattClover
- Date of stay 07/09/12
- Review Submitted 07/15/12
We spent a week at this home with our family in July. The farmhouse has been restored beautifully, with every amenity you could imagine needing, including a fully appointed kitchen - this was the BEST kitchen we've ever had in a rental place, and we put it to good use making family meals, including muffins with freshly picked blueberries from the bushes in the yard. Our dog loved swimming in the river - we even made daily crossings from the NH side to the VT side and back. River access is easy enough for hikers and enthusiastic kids excited for a summer swim - but might be a challenge for older folks or those with mobility issues. Getting there is half the fun right? There is a canoe and kayak outfitter within walking distance of the Northstar House, which is a great option for spending a day on the river. The river is beautiful and clean! We also took advantage of the miles of trails on the property, getting out on our mountain bikes and discovering the old maple sugaring shack. We also did some street riding - making the climb into Claremont to check out the local farmer's market. The Northstar House is an easy place to spend a week (or two!), just enjoying time with family. The screened-in porch is the perfect place to read a book, there is plenty of room for games and puzzles (including a great collection of choice at the house!), and there is a full media center with DVD library. Car traffic can occasionally break the tranquil feeling of the house - and though my husband thoroughly enjoyed watching the trains pass by, the nighttime crossings were a bit noisy. Bill and Jenny are excellent and gracious hosts, and they will doing everything to make sure you and your family are comfortable at the Northstar House. This is the best-kept secret of Claremont, NH!Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, pet owners, families with young children, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4
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Fun Fabulous Farmhouse
Fun Fabulous Farmhouse
- Guest Delfina C.
- Date of stay 06/16/12
- Review Submitted 06/24/12
The week we spent at North Star Farmhouse was filled with comfort, beautiful surroundings(both inside and out) and plenty of fun things to do. Bike riding and hiking on owners' property (maps provided); canoeing and swimming the Connecticut River; toured St. Gauden's; visited with family; had a great BBQ. Bill and Jenny have created an ideal vacation relaxation spot for anyone to be lucky enough to enjoy. We can't wait to come back. Thanks again, Bill and Jenny!Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
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Delightful house!
Delightful house!
- Guest VTinNJ
- Date of stay 04/06/12
- Review Submitted 04/24/12
We spent a lovely 10 days here with our whole family (parents. 2 daughters, son-in-law & 2 grandchildren ages 3.5 & 5 months). The house is very comfortable, with a very well-appointed kitchen. Our granddaughter really appreciated the large box of blocks and collection of legos. We were able to enjoy some warm weather on the patio, and expect that in the summer the screen porch would be a regular hang-out. And we also were grateful for the wood stove on a couple of cold days, when we got cozy in the adjoining parlors. All in all a great place to settle in and relax!Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6
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Long Islanders Experiencing Country Living
Long Islanders Experiencing Country Living
- Guest Janey
- Date of stay 02/10/12
- Review Submitted 02/13/12
Even on a cold winter weekend this home was cozy with zone heating and warm floors. The painted walls surrounded by white woodwork set off the antique furniture and imported rugs. The renovated kitchen is one to envy - wonderful for a large party or family dining. The house is well equipped with anything a guest might need. The trails and river looked inviting for warmer weather. We were content to watch the ice chunks flow down the river and the sun set over Mt. Ascutney.Recommended for: Age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 7/8
Rates
June 1 to October 22: $1300 per week (Sat. to Sat.) Dec 15 to March 31: $1000 per week (Sat. to Sat.) April 1 to May 31, October 23 to December 14: $800 per week (Sat. to Sat.) NH Rooms & Meals Tax (9%) Additional. Discount for Renting 2 Weeks: 20% Off Second Week Discount for Renting 2+ Weeks: 20% Off Second Week, 30% Off Additional Weeks Rental periods other than Saturday to Saturday may be available.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Before paying contact the owner to confirm payment details.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2010
About the owner: We've lived in the area since 1986 and love to make our out-of-town guests feel at home. Our interests include kayaking on the river, hiking with our dog, taking care of our trails and working to preserve this beautiful agrarian landscape for future generations.
Why the Owner Chose Claremont:
As locals, we want to share everything that the Upper Valley area of New Hampshire and Vermont have to offer.
Contact us
- Primary: 603-448-8738
- Secondary: 603-443-1080
Links to more information:
Photos
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North Star House with Vermont's Mt. Ascutney in the background
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The private North Star House access to the Connecticut River
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Master bedroom has views of Connecticut River and Mount Ascutney
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Middle bedroom with south-facing windows.
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Granite steps access to Connecticut River is perfect for swimming and kayaking.
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Jotul woodstove in the middle parlor with front parlor in the background
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Rear parlor (view of Mt. Ascutney in background) looking into dining room
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Pick your own blueberries at the house in mid/late July and early August.
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The friendly Suffolk draft horses at North Star House are eager to meet you!
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Front hallway features original woodwork and a locally made quilt.
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South-facing windows in kitchen look out at apples trees and blueberry bushes.
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North Star House bedrooms feature period furniture.
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The barn at North Star House (home in the background) and its field full of hay
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View of Vermont's Mount Ascutney & the Connecticut River from North Star House
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Perennial gardens and granite bench on the sunny south side of the house.
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North Star House kitchen is fully equipped for preparing gourmet meals.
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Front bedroom and south-facing windows
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North Star House gardens.
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Screened porch with view of the river and Mount Ascutney
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Dining room and French doors leading to patio and south lawn
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Cyclists head past North Star House on the Connecticut River Scenic Byway.
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Kayaking on the Connecticut River Scenic Byway at North Star House.
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Spring time view from North Star House with the barn in the background
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Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge is located 3 miles upstream -- a great kayak trip
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Date last modified - Saturday, February 23, 2013
603-448-8738