Experience the Bay at Gwynn's Island Cottage!
About the property
- Cottage1150 sq. ft.
- Bedrooms2
- Sleeps4
- Bathrooms1
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay2 - 7 nights
Charming Waterfront 2 Bdrm Chesapeake Bay Cottage w Private Beach
Gwynn's Island Cottage is waterfront cottage with its own private beach located in Mathews County, VA.. The Cottage offers breathtaking, panoramic views of Hills Bay and the Chesapeake Bay beyond. Modest but comfortably furnished, the Cottage sleeps 4 guests in 2 bedrooms, one with a queen and one with 2 twins. The northwest orientation provides spectacular sunset views over the water from the house, deck, yard, or beach. From the master bedroom, guests can see out to the Chesapeake Bay.
A fully equipped kitchen, an updated bath, and a washer and dryer are available for guest use. From the great room and dining area guests can enjoy panoramic views of the water.
Just a few steps down from the yard is a small but private sand beach where guests can swim, fish, crab, kayak, float on a raft, lounge or enjoy an adult beverage. Hills Bay is a clean, shallow, sandy-bottomed body of water, perfect for children and explorers alike. After a quick rinse in the outdoor shower after a day on the beach, guests can use the charcoal grill for cooking up the day’s catch or fresh seafood from the nearby market. Your day is capped off with a sunset over the water.
The Cottage has Dish TV and wifi. In the Shed, 3 bikes are available to explore Gwynn's Island, a natural sanctuary with much history. Guests also can use the single and double kayaks, stand up paddleboard, rafts, crabpots, crab net, beach and camp chairs and table, grill utensils and charcoal, croquet set, and pup tent and hammock.
Pets allowed!
Smoking is not.
Please also see the Cottage's website: www.gwynnislandcottage.com.
(Please note that VRBO disables the link to our own website so you will need to cut and paste it to your browser.)
We encourage you to visit it and especially our What's Going On At the Cottage page, with photos and stories from our guests' own experiences.
Property Manager
CLewis
- Response rate:
- 100%
- Response time:
- within a few hours
- Speaks:
- English
- Calendar last updated:
- May 24, 2018
About CLewis
I'm the lucky manager of Gwynn's Island Cottage who enjoys introducing guests to the Cottage, Gwynn's Island, Mathews County, and the surrounding areas on Virginia's spectacular Chesapeake Bay.
CLewis purchased this Cottage in 2015
Why CLewis chose Gwynn
People like family introduced me to Mathews County a couple of decades ago. Friends introduced me to Gwynn's Island, a true slice of heaven.
What makes this Cottage unique
The breathtaking view of Hills Bay and the Chesapeake beyond, with frequent sighting of blue herons, bald eagles, swans, osprey, bufflehead ducks and dolphins, along with the boating life and sunsets over the water. The Cottage's private beach, a perfect place for guests to lounge, launch a kayak or paddleboard, enjoy adult beverages, swim, crab, fish, or start a sand pit fire. Gwynn's Island, where you slow down and maybe step back in time as soon as you can cross the bridge.
Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Satellite or Cable
- Kids Welcome
- Fireplace
- Heater
- Internet
- No Smoking
- Parking
- Pets Welcome
- TV
- Washer & Dryer
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4
- Bedroom 11 queen, Bed faces window with view of opening to Chesapeake Bay
- Bedroom 22 twin/ single
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
- Bathroom 1toilet, combination tub/shower, There's also an outdoor shower, near deck and beach.
- Well lit, clean and updated with view of water.
Location Type
- DowntownMathews has a quaint downtown area with a historic court square, shops, restaurants, kayak launch, a great library, a community arts center and school, and a farmers market on Saturday mornings.
- RuralGuests can explore Gwynn's Island on bikes or by kayak. Mathews County is friendly, with lots to do, and the only stoplight is on the bridge to the Island.
- BeachfrontThe Cottage's small but private sand beach is just steps away from the house.
- Water ViewView of Hills Bay and the Chesapeake Bay from the great room, dining area, deck, lawn and beach.
- WaterfrontThe Cottage offers breathtaking, panoramic views of Hills Bay and the Chesapeake Bay beyond. Boats, dolphins, and water foul all share a love of Hills Bay. Guests enjoy sunsets over the water.
Theme
- Romantic
- Family
- Away From It All
- Historic
- Budget
- Sports & Activities
- Tourist Attractions
- Adventure
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- ParkingDriveway has two entrances with plentiful parking.
- Air ConditioningCentral AC. Ceiling fans in both bedrooms and Great Room for guests' comfort.
- Linens Provided
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
- FireplaceGas logs in decorative stove near the master bedroom.
- HeatingCentral Heat and a Gas Fireplace near the master bedroom.
- GarageIn the Shed for our guests: 3 bikes, double kayak, single kayak, stand up paddleboard, rafts, beach chairs, croquet set, BBQ supplies, crab pots, camp chairs, hammock, camp table.
- InternetWiFi. It is the best internet on the island, but it's satellite and can be slow depending on weather.
- Towels ProvidedBath and beach towels.
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Living RoomPanoramic views of the water from the living room.
Kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Oven
- Microwave
- Coffee MakerCoffee and sweeteners are provided to guests.
- Toaster
- Pantry ItemsSalt and pepper, cooking oil, and coffee and sweeteners are kept in the kitchen for guests.
- Dishes & UtensilsGuests who like to cook say we have a well supplied kitchen.
- KitchenUpdated kitchen with range/stove, fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, blender, cookware, utensils, and serving ware that could be needed. There is an outdoor charcoal grill as well.
Dining
- Dining Area
- DiningFrom the café-height dining table, guests can enjoy the panoramic views of the water.
- comfy seating for 6 people
Entertainment
- Television
- Satellite / CableDish TV. Bandwidth is limited to that available on the island, so gaming and streaming not optimal.
- StereoUnder-cabinet radio/CD player in kitchen.
- BooksGame/book/puzzle closet has books for all ages and readers. Take a book or leave a book.
- GamesGame and book closet has a great collection of children and adult games, puzzles and books.
- ToysIf you consider bikes, rafts, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards to be "toys," then yes!
Outside
- Lawn / GardenSmall grassy lawn overlooks the water.
- Kayak / CanoeSingle and double kayaks available for use along with safety vests and oars/paddles.
- BicyclesBikes for guests' use to explore Gwynn's Island along with a bike lock, bike helmet and bike rack for car.
- Outdoor GrillPermanent grill on bricked hardscape. Charcoal briquettes and tools for grilling are in shed and available to guests.
- Deck / PatioDeck has expansive views of Hills Bay and its opening to the Chesapeake Bay. Comfortable deck furniture and a large table for coffee or outside dining. Steps down to grassy lawn and private beach.
- Water Sports GearKayaks and paddleboards with life preservers.
- GolfPiankatank River Golf Club is 20 minutes away. Tides Inn Golf Course is about 25 minutes away.
Attractions
- theme parks
- churches
- marina
- museums
- playground
- library
- live theater
- restaurants
- ruins
- health/beauty spa
- festivals
Leisure Activities
- sight seeing
- walking
- antiquing
- eco tourism
- beachcombing
- bird watching
- paddle boating
- horseback riding
- scenic drives
- boating
- shelling
- shopping
- wildlife viewing
- photography
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- deepsea fishing
- swimming
- cycling
- fishing
- golf
- wind-surfing
- water skiing
- hunting
- sailing
- jet skiing
- pier fishing
- rafting
- snorkeling
- sound/bay fishing
- surf fishing
- water tubing
- kayaking
Notes
- Port Fun is a wonderful playground located about 2 miles from the Cottage next to the Mathews County High School off St. Rt 198.
House Rules
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
44 Reviews
Latest reviews
It's a lovely place for 2-4 people.
First off, the property is wonderful. 180 degree views of Hill's Bay and a nice little beach for swimming or launching kayaks. The inside living space is nicely finished and comfortable. The kitchen, while not large, is adequately supplied with utensils and cookware, and there is a nice, good-sized dining room table. A few things to be aware of: 1. There is no dishwasher. 2. The water, though there is a filtration system, smells pretty strongly of sulfur. 3. TV reception is good, however the channel selection is limited. No sports channels at all if you need your daily dose of ESPN. No local or network channels. 4. The neighbor's cats roam freely and got into some of my stuff left out on the back porch (artificial bait). They also use the beach for their bathroom and seem to prefer the area right below the last step.
I found the owner to be very responsive to both phone calls and emails.
Gwynn's Island in general is a lovely place, but might not be the place for you if you need a lot of outside stimulation. I was there in May and the one restaurant was not open yet, nor was the fish market. The town of Matthews is just a short drive away, though, and you can get provisions there. There is very little public shore access on the island, so it is better if you have your own means to get out, such as a kayak. If you're looking for a quiet place to get away and enjoy some down time and be on the water, Gwynns is the ticket. There is a good seafood market in Deltaville, about 20 minutes away--awesome crab cakes can be had there.
Thanks for your review Andrew! We're glad you enjoyed your stay.
We had spoken for 20 minutes the morning you checked out and I don't recall your mentioning any of your 4 concerns about your stay then. The dishwasher is on our list of improvements. It's not about the expense of a dishwasher, but making sure that our septic system - built on an island where septic systems are problematic - can handle the capacity. The water we should be able to address. Our Dish cable DOES have ESPN and also network and local stations from the Tidewater arena. The cats are not something we can control as they are not ours, but we will let the neighbor know. We have never seen or heard of them using the beach in that way. We do have migrant geese who this time of year like a party on or beach and leave their remnants.
I am sorry we did not get a chance to discuss or address these issues during your stay. It sound like you had a good time nevertheless.
Thanks again.
Wonderful Cottage
The cottage was excellent. It was great to have the water just off the back yard. Really liked the extras provided by the owner that allowed for playing in the water. The folks that we rented the cottage from were very responsive and easy to work with. The small store up the street from the cottage was handy, the food was good and the people in the store were very friendly. One thing the owner can't control is the weather and we had some cool weather and rain. Beyond that it was extremely nice.
Thanks, Rick. I felt awful for the weather you experienced but it sounds like you enjoyed yourselves nevertheless! We hope to have you back soon.
Perfect Cottage on the Water
This was our second stay at this cottage. The place is neat as a pin and right on the water. Sit on the deck and enjoy waterviews with all types of birds including osprey and swans. Easy to put in kayaks a few feet from the door. Also the island offers great bicycling.
Thanks John. Hope we can get you back again soon.
Nice little cottage
My wife and I stayed at this cottage 4/6/2018 - 4/8/2018. It is a nice place. We didn't have great weather, but still enjoyed our stay. It's closer to the road than I realized when I booked the cottage, but the road noise wasn't too bad. A couple of suggestions for the owner that would've made this a better experience are 1) a roof over the front deck and 2) a dishwasher. A roof over the front deck would allow guests to be outdoors on rainy days and to get out of the heat on very hot days. Overall, a very enjoyable trip.
Cozy cottage with great views!
We enjoyed our stay at the cottage! There is everything you need to make quick meals in the well stocked kitchen. The weather was dreadful while we were there ( winter in Virginia, I guess) but we had plenty to entertain us including tv, games and books. Cheri is a delight to work with and we are planning our next stay in May. Thanks for sharing this great home with us!
Even in winter an oasis of peace and beauty
We have a family vacation with children, the cottage was everything what they said, comfortable, well maintained, the view of the bay, unforgettable. A great gateway, located close to nice diners, we discovered for the Kids at Toppings a Great YMCA fully equipped, during winter a great A plus. Restaurants around to remember as well.
Location
Gwynn's Island Cottage is located on Hills Bay which meets the great Chesapeake Bay within view of the Cottage. The Cottage's excellent location provides access to Gloucester and Yorktown to the south and east, and to nearby idyllic towns on the Bay and Rappahannock River such as Deltaville, Urbanna, Kilmarnock, White Stone, and Irvington to the north. The Cottage looks across Hills Bay to Deltaville and Fishing Bay Yacht Club so guests enjoy boats on the water almost year-round. The Cottage faces northwest, affording guests beautiful sunset views over the water from the deck, yard and beach. Gwynn’s Island is rich in history and natural beauty. Legend says that a Native American princess (possibly Pocahontas) is said to have almost drowned in the waters off the Island and was saved by Hugh Gwin, the island’s namesake, to whom the island was given in thanks by her father. The Island was the site of the Battle of Cricket Hill, an important Revolutionary War battle, and is home to an interesting Museum. A public marina for guest with boats 1/3 mile from the Cottage, and charter boats are available just across the bridge from the Island. The Island and Mathews County are known for excellent fishing, bird watching, sea life including dolphins, crabs, stingray, boating activities, and water sports. The Cottage is just 3 miles from “downtown” Mathews which was voted the #5 Coolest Town in America in 2014. There you will find restaurants, interesting shops, historic structures, grocery shopping, a library, and a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings 7 months a year. Other nearby destinations include Yorktown Battlefield, where the freedom of our nation was assured, Colonial Williamsburg (with Busch Gardens Theme Park and Water Country USA), and Historic Jamestown Settlement.
Rates & Availability
Additional information about rental rates
$190/ night for minimum 2 nights' stay. During Summer season - May 26, 2018 - September 8, 2018, weekly bookings only, Sat check-in to Sat check-out. Check-in is 4pm (430pm during summer months). Check-out is 11am. We look forward to having you soon at Gwynn's Island Cottage!