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Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach

Photo gallery for Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach

A dock with a boat, a small shed, and two Adirondack chairs.
A dining area with a wooden table and chairs, a fireplace, and a television in the background.
A two-story house with a red door and white trim, surrounded by autumn foliage and a lake view.
A wooden staircase leading up a rocky hillside, surrounded by dense foliage.
A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, a comfortable sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a bookshelf filled with books.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • By the lake
    Guests love the beautiful lakefront location.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View in a map
Hector, NY
  • Place, Standing Stone Vineyards
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Watkins Glen State Park
    ‪22 min drive‬
  • Place, Cornell University
    ‪43 min drive‬
  • Airport, Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional)
    ‪56 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach

This cottage is nestled at the end of the lane, below the vineyards and farm meadows, beside the lake. Three bedrooms offer queen size beds in two of the bedrooms and a double bed in the third bedroom. A modern kitchen is equipped with a full size refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, Keurig and a drip coffee maker, dishes, serving ware and a full complement of pots and pans to serve homestyle meals; including paper products, bottled drinking water and spices. Games, books, internet and TV, provide entertainment. The outdoor grill delivers delicious meals on the deck overlooking the lake. Enjoy the solitude and gorgeous views from the deck and living area windows. A newly built staircase leads to your private beach. Cliff house sits above the lake on an ancient shale cliff. Sturdy railings surround the deck and overlook areas, however, always supervise children at all times for safety. You may use our two kayaks, a canoe, life jackets, dock and beach chairs. The beach has a fire pit for evening campfires.

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10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (7 reviews)
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Cottage on cliff. Railings deck overlook areas.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Ensure all heating units are turned off.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 759095vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Hector

Located in Hector, this cottage is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen State Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center, or consider a night out at Scale House Brewery. Kayaking and waterskiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and horse riding nearby.
View more Cottages in HectorOpens in a new window
Map
Hector, NY

What's nearby

  • Standing Stone Vineyards - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Watkins Glen State Park - 22 min drive - 26.1 km
  • Watkins Glen International - 32 min drive - 35.7 km
  • Cornell University - 43 min drive - 59.6 km
  • Keuka Lake - 56 min drive - 70.2 km

Getting around

  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dandy Mini Mart 13 - ‬38 min drive
  • ‪Toni's Diner - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Idol Ridge Winery & Alder Creek Distillery - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Off Leash Brewing - ‬37 min drive
  • ‪Scale House Brewery - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach?

As of 17 Aug, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach on 26 Oct, 2026 start from S$1,320, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Nestled Above Seneca Lake in the Heart of Wine Country With Private Beach located?

Situated on a lake, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Seneca Lake and Standing Stone Vineyards. Penguin Bay Winery and Sheldrake Point Seneca Lake Tasting Room are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 178 out of 196 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 196 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 196 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 196 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 196 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Anna E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome location!!! Very pretty, quiet and natural setting.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Barry K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Well maintained property in a location that offers both privacy and convenience - we had a great time! (And can't complain about the weather either!)
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bryna G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My husband, our two teenagers, and I had a great vacation here!Host communication was above and beyond - checkin info & directions all great. We experienced a minor power outage as a result of a storm (obviously out of their control) and host checked-in to make sure everything was ok. We loved the easy lake access and had fun fishing off the dock and using the kayaks, canoe, and beach firepit. Fans and window AC helped us keep cool despite record heat wave - although on the hottest nights we opted to use the sleeper sofa instead of the bedroom without AC. Bottle of wine welcome present and extensive area recommendations were nice touches. Missing just a couple things that we have seen at other similarly priced places - enough toilet paper for the length of stay (we ended up buying more), complimentary coffee... Overall pretty clean, but could use a more thorough cleaning in harder to reach areas.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Henry H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location right on Seneca lake. House was comfortable for both hanging out and sleeping.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the location. The perfect vacation place on Seneca Lake and close to everything! And the home was perfect for 2 couples to relax and enjoy time together in a beautiful setting.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Shari J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Cliff House was the perfect fall getaway. The view of the lake was spectacular.
Great view!
So relaxing
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michelle E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I loved the property, especially that it was right on Seneca Lake. It was close to the event we were going to which made it even better!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mary Louise S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Welcomed with a bottle of local wine. Spectacular lake view. Cozy atmosphere.Comfortable beds. Wonderful fall experience. Lots to do nearby!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Anna E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Seneca Lake

We keep returning to this place because we love the location and the house!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Paul O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My wife and I were join by another couple for a week at lake Seneca and we really enjoyed our stay here. The location was ideal for us as there were quite a few good wineries close by. The house was on the lake with great views from the deck. The owner Elisabeth was staying next door and she stopped by shortly after we checked in to see how we were doing and to see if we needed anything and had quite a few recommendations for us wrt wineries, restaurants, and golf. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Greg K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good and comfu

Great location and awesome amenitied
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liane D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

It was nice to be on the water and close to wineries and restaurants since that was the reason for going!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

LYNDA D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views

We came to relax and that’s exactly what we did. It was the perfect location to just sit by the water and unwind. Thank you so much for sharing your adorable cottage with us. We hope to use this cottage again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Darlene O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Two couples lived hiking and visiting wineries.

House is as described. Managed the drive down the gravel road.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

laura h.

Great location and great views of Seneca Lake

Property is well maintained and equipped with amenities for a country home...
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2016
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kevin R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

June Getaway

Relaxing trip to Lake Seneca in a home that is very secluded and private.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Emily B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The best view!

My second time staying here! Beautiful property, amazing view, and great communication!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mary Ann S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful cottage!

This cottage was just the right size for our family. We enjoyed the view from the deck. It was very close to the rest of our other family for our reunion.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Megan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The best time!

Paul and Betsy’s cottage was the best place we e stayed in 12 yrs of coming to the FLX. Comfortable spaces, amazing dock and fire pit area and great views on the deck. Perfect location to hot spots like Lucky Hare and Scale House. Would love to stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wolfgang R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

beautiful location

not easy to find, but worth the effort. very nice property. highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jamie K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sunset Spectacular!

Great home base! We loved staying at the Cliff House. It felt like home away from home. Wonderful first visit to the finger lakes!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Todd P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy
Overall we had a nice time at the Cliff House. Family vaca with our 19yo who is home from college for the summer. It did have its pros & cons though: What we liked:Great location, stunning views of the lake , lovely dock right on the water, gorgeous sunsets, really appreciated kayaks available for use. Well appointed kitchen which we used every day. AC in the bedrooms.What could use some attention (or what we didn’t like) The main dining / living / kitchen area gets very warm. Let’s face it summers are just getting warmer the past few years. Ceiling fan over the dining area is great but could use more fans. The layout is perfect for hanging out and we wanted to hang out more but it got hot in the afternoon even with all windows open and fans on. We also experienced a power outage one night due to a storm that blew through. While this of course isn’t the host’s fault, it became very stressful- us calling the power company for updates (and this was our vacation). The real challenge is that when the power is out there is no running water - no running water in the sinks, no running toilets. We could’ve toughed out the heat/dark but no water is pretty much a dealbreaker. We reached out to the hosts and didn’t hear back quickly - when we did, it was minimal info and they didn’t check in with us the next day to make sure all was well. Highly recommend investing in a generator at least for the water/fridge.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Jul, 2026
We agree it is very unfortunate there was a regional power outage. The power went out in the evening and was restored later that night. As you remember, we explained the delay in contacting you was because we silenced our phones during the NYC Ballet performance. As soon as we turned on our phones we contacted you and the power company for updates. Throughout the outage we contacted you via texts, phone messages and email. Best Regards, Elisabeth
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Elena K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect weekend with the family

Really enjoyed the property and the neighborhood. No complaints, only appreciation.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location and hosts

We spent most of a week here during a gorgeous autumn. Most of the time was spent hiking, visiting local wineries and cideries, plus a memorable trip to the Corning Museum of Glass. The hosts were friendly and available. The house was perfect for 2 couples.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie M.

We loved it!!

The perfect home away from home with gorgeous views of Seneca lake, cozy living room with fireplace and view of the deck and lake. We can't wait to book again!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar, 2020
Stephanie, We are so pleased you enjoyed Cliff House and hope you visit us again! Elisabeth and Paul

About the host

Hosted by Elisabeth Smith, Paul DeLaney

Host profile image
We love our Seneca Lake adventures and have been vacationing at the cottage next door to the Cliff House for many years with our children and grandchildren. We are pleased to share this beautiful place with you and hope you will enjoy being our guests at Cliff House.

Why they chose this property

Cliff House was built in 1956 on property belonging to my grandparents. In fact, Cliff House sits on farmland that has been in my family for five generations. Seneca people first inhabited this land and built a village nearby. On a quiet night, legend claims, you can hear the drums of the Seneca across the water.

What makes this property unique

The view from the deck takes our breath away and we feel at peace; a perfect place for morning coffee, yoga or sipping wine.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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