695 Bound Brook Island Rd. STUDIO, Wellfleet

What a magical place! A beautiful 18th-century house in the middle of the National Seashore, utterly private and remote, just a 5-minute' walk from the bay. Though the house is more than two centuries old, it is comfortable and well-equipped, from ample bedrooms to wireless Internet access. A large brick terrace in front of the house, overlooking flower beds and fruit trees, has comfortable chairs and tables, a barbecue, and a fire pit. Outside the kitchen in the back, a large glass table & umbrella make a lovely shady place for breakfast and a late-night get-together spot after the kids have gone to bed. A relaxing hammock nearby was enjoyed by the kids. The owner promptly dealt with an early check-in problem. We will be back next year.

Manager's Response

Given the general condition of this simple and old house, the price of the rental would be exorbitant, if it weren't for the astounding location. This is not for everyone, but it is very attractive for visitors who love solitude and wilderness. View of a salt marsh and short walk to the beach. The mosquito problem (due to breeding in the many stagnant salt pools) was apparently beyond awful a few years ago (and you still get attacked during your walk to the beach); but there is larvicide spraying (among other measures, I believe), and the situation around the house is acceptable.

Manager's Response

This property will not be for everybody, but if you have a good sense of adventure, it may well be for you. The house is located towards the end of a mile-long, rutted, single lane dirt road (but 4-wheel drive is not necessary). The house used to be an old ice house with much of the wood planking preserved and heat delivered by a pot-bellied stove. There is an intriguing 3 to 4 mile loop trail right outside the back door. The beach is a 200 yard hike down the road and across the dunes. The beach is beautiful and, more importantly, not well used. There are loads of beach hiking adventures to be had in the immediate National Seashore area. Wellfleet is a perfect scenic Cape Cod seaside village (make sure to try the locally caught shellfish). Overall, we had a great time.

Manager's Response

We secured this rental last winter when COVID infections were spreading rapidly, in the hopes that we would be far from the hustle and bustle of town and crowds. The location of this house did not disappoint in that regard--it is very private, woodsy, and peaceful. But the mosquitos were so bad, we could not enjoy the outdoor spaces or the outdoor shower. We were also not able to walk to the beach because the mosquitos were relentless, even after covering every inch of our skin and spraying ourselves down with mosquito repellent. The house itself is rustic and unique, but very dusty. Upon our arrival, the bath mats in the shower/toilet area clearly had not been laundered, and the mirror above the bathroom sink had not been cleaned after the last guests. We felt the need to do some cleaning and wiping down of some surfaces before settling in. As expected, being in the woods, the house has lots of spiders and insect inhabitants, but many of the screens are also old and have large holes and gaps to allow them in. The house is advertised as having two bathrooms, but it only has one (unless the outdoor shower is considered a bathroom). The property management company was great and even called to check on us after the remnants of Hurricane Ida came through. (The house held up great with all the rain, by the way.)

Manager's Response

This property is billed as a short walk to the bay. True, except that the short walk is through a thicket of mosquitoes making it next to impossible to walk to the bay. The mosquitoes adjacent to the cottage were acceptable prior to rain but just getting to the car was horrible. I honestly think this property should not be rented at this time.

This property is ideal for couples or adult friends who value seclusion and natural beauty over amenities. It's a great place to read or sit around a fire or enjoy a nearly private beach. The property has been upgraded a few times over the years and has an interesting history. There's not a lot of privacy inside the house, and you'll feel a bit on top of each other if your group has more than four people. The road to get there is pretty wild - you'll wish you had an SUV if you don't have one. It's great if you want to experience the uncivilized side of the outer cape. One night we were sitting by the fire when the coyotes started howling nearby. It was kind of spooky and also pretty amazing.

Manager's Response