A Wonderful Rustic Cottage on Skaneateles Lake

At the risk of sounding too much like Goldilocks, this property is just right! It's not too rustic and not too modern, offering modern conveniences like a microwave and internet but with an old fashioned feel. It's not too far from town, but it's not too close either. It's nice to be away from hustle and bustle while still having grocery stores and restaurants close by. The hosts are friendly and helpful, but they also let guests enjoy their time without interruptions.

Three generations of us stayed at this cottage and all of us enjoyed it! We walked up the lane to enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding area, picked berries, relaxed on the front porch and marveled at the view, greeted the mail boat from the dock, played in the lake, and made fantastic memories. I really cannot say enough about what Pinewood Cottage offers families. Skaneateles Lake is a lovely destination, and there's no place we'd rather stay than Pinewood Cottage.

I just returned from a very relaxing week at Pinewood Cottage. I stayed with my wife, brother, sister, two nieces, and my two medium/large dogs. The only thing I wish I could have changed, would have been spending two or more weeks, instead of only one. Pinewood is private and peaceful. Always a nice cool breeze on the deck. Few mosquitoes. The lake was surprisingly quiet for this time of the year. Much less boat traffic compared to several different places we've rented on Owasco Lake. The cottage itself is very well stocked. Everything needed for cooking, eating, showering and sleeping was already there. All the beds were comfortable and everyone slept exceedingly well. Plenty of fans provided, if desired. Lots of room for dining and relaxing, both inside and out.

The dock was nice, and space was available for my canoe, and a power boat that we rented one day. There was plenty of room on the shore to leave my kayak. There are two parking spaces right next to the cottage. Lots of extra parking space available 100 feet or so from the cottage. The ability to walk up and down steps is necessary, especially to get to the lake/shoreline/dock.

Access to excellent swimming was paramount to us, and Pinewood Cottage did not disappoint. The water was always clear, weed free, and delightfully cool, but not too cold. The lake bottom is rocky, so water shoes were used by some, but not all. Approx four feet deep, 25 feet from shoreline.

Smallmouth bass fishing was excellent. I caught 13 while out on my friend's fishing boat one day, 10 more over a few different days from my kayak (within a 1/4 mile paddle from the cottage), and several smaller ones directly from the dock/shore. We caught a few 18 inch smallies, many in the 14-16 inch range, and two northern pike. Also caught a lake trout jigging in 90' deep water.

Owners Barbara and Ken were perfect hosts. Never intrusive, but available any time you need them. They greeted us upon our arrival with a plate of freshly baked cookies, a nice card, and two large dog treats. They spent about 5 minutes showing us around the cottage and grounds, and then left us alone for the remainder of the week.

Several good hiking areas are within 20-25 minutes. Skaneateles Conservation Area and Bear Swamp were favorites. Lots of room on the property above the cottage for the dog's regular bathroom duties.

Thank you Barbara and Ken. We'll be back the next time we visit Skaneateles Lake.

This little cottage is nestled in the woods with a lovely view of the lake. The owners are just wonderful. Barbara baked us a plate of cookies, which were especially welcome after our 6+ hour drive. They were wonderful neighbors, available and helpful when we wanted and nearly invisible when we wanted to be by ourselves. It felt like we were staying in the guest house of old friends.

The house is an old hand-built cabin with few frills, but a nice open kitchen, decent sized dining table, and living room overlooking the lake. The covered front patio was our favorite place to sit and take in the fantastic view. There's no beach, but easy access to the lake for swimming. The water is bracing, but crystal clear (it's the water supply for Skaneateles). While there are motor boats in the lake, they mostly steer clear of the shore so swimming feels very safe and relaxing. The beds are comfortable and the cottage had everything we needed. It's by no means fancy, but it feels very authentic. You can imagine people sitting in the cabin 50 years ago doing exactly what you are doing (minus the cable TV and WiFi). And the mail boat really is fun. Also, the house is a real bargain, reflecting the lack of (utterly superfluous) frills. We loved this home and hope to return soon.

This cottage and location was perfect for our family holiday, we were able to completely relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the lakes. We arrived very late but Barbara and Ken were there to welcome us and explain everything. Throughout our stay they could not have been a more friendly couple and encouraged our 3 young children to "just have fun"... which they did! The cottage was very clean and cozy and had everything we needed. The lake was crystal clear and ideal and safe for swimming from the deck. The cottage is not easy to find at first and we would recommend bringing any provisions you need for the stay, park the car and just enjoy the location without having to go anywhere. Thank you both for such a great stay. We hope to be back when we are in the USA again.

We chose this cottage because it has so many great reviews, and after spending a restful week there, I can confirm that the reviews are accurate. The owners are next door down a small path and are extremely helpful and accommodating. We felt welcome from the moment we arrived. This clean, cozy, rustic little cottage has everything you need - sheets, towels, cookware, internet service (not that we used it), an outdoor grill, picnic table, beach chairs and local TV. I'd recommend this place to anyone who doesn't require a 5-star hotel. Barbara and Ken are 100%, 5-star owners, and we miss them already! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for allowing us to stay in your lovely cottage. Our dog Banjo misses you too!!!!