Private island - only our cottage - best view of harbor - lighthouse - ocean

Gooseberry Island is a seasonal rental, and is only available from MAY through OCTOBER each year.To get a complete accounting of your rental costs please enter your rental dates in the upper right corner of the site and look for an instant quote. Please note : Gooseberry island has only one dwelling on it and is completely private . It is only accessible by boat . See " NOTES " section for many additional details.

Gooseberry Island is a small private island located in Portsmouth Harbor adjacent to the Maine shore at Kittery Point. Formerly a retreat for business associates, family, and friends, Gooseberry Island has remained in the same family for nearly 100 years. Gooseberry is the only inhabited private island in Portsmouth Harbor, and has fantastic unobstructed views of historic Whaleback Lighthouse, Ft. Constitution and it's lighthouse, Ft. McClary, and the open ocean with the Isles of Shoals in the distance. With hundreds of feet of completely private waterfront , beaches , and tide pools , it is a wonderful little paradise , especially for children .

The dwelling is a classic New England style two story saltbox. It is available for rent from May through October and is accessible only by boat. The first floor consists of a modern kitchen with tile floor, cherry cabinets, and granite counter tops. The bathroom, located directly off the kitchen, is also designed with cherry cabinetry, a pink New Hampshire granite vanity, and beautiful custom shower with a solid glass door and custom tiled interior. An additional spacious shower room and changing area with hot and cold water from our drilled well is located on the back porch. The front of the house is comprised of a large L-shaped room which incorporates the living room and dining area. French doors open onto a classic semi-enclosed, shingled front porch furnished with vintage Woodard wrought iron furniture, and a panoramic view of the mouth of the harbor and open ocean .

On the second floor, the master bedroom has a chaise lounge, two period bureaus, and a king-sized bed. Adjacent to this room is a loft bedroom containing two single beds, two child beds , a bureau, and bedside tables.The cottage is best described as a well designed house for four, with ample space for an additional two or three young children or PERHAPS another adult.

Adjacent to the main cottage there is a rustic cabin that contains two bunk beds, TV, refrigerator, bureau, and desk. A large double window affords an excellent view of the boat harbor ; a special place just for kids!

This unparalleled island location includes all the amenities that one would expect on the mainland. There is a drilled well and pump house which supply excellent water that must be used sensibly for showers and kitchen use. The bathroom is equipped with an odorless electric composting toilet which requires minimal attention to operate – less than 30 seconds per day and actually functions better than a conventional one! The island is powered by submarine cables and has electric central heat. With the exception of the tiled kitchen and bathroom, all floors throughout the house are polished hardwood. As island living goes, it is luxurious. Gooseberry is a change of pace destination for guests anticipating a pristine setting with all the comforts of modern living. The cottage and cabin are the only dwellings on the island. No other people have access to the island without permission from the residents. Gooseberry island is accessible only by boat.

Transportation and secure parking are arranged from either our private pier or from the town landing . Our pier is approximately one mile from the island, the town landing one quarter mile. Guests may also access the island with their own boats. The dock at Gooseberry Island can accommodate a boat up to 50’ in length. Launch service is available any time throughout the day as requested. The launch can ferry you to various points throughout the harbor as well as our dock or the town dock at a nominal price . Transportation upon arrival and departure is aboard our boat, the "Anna D ", and is included in the rental price. The "Anna D " is also available by arrangement for fishing trips, whale watching, or sight seeing . We are available 24\7 for emergency purposes. A 24' Carolina Skiff with 90 hp Honda is available for rent to qualified guests upon request.

Portsmouth, N.H., and York, Maine , hospitals are only 10 or 15 minutes from our dock. Boston's world famous Mass. General Hospital as well as many others of equal renown are only one hour away. Additionally, one of our close friends is a surgeon and partner at Portsmouth's Sports Medicine Atlantic Orthopedics clinic , ten minutes from our dock.

There are six kayaks and an aluminum row boat on the island for our guests' use . These boats may be used to travel to our home dock, or to the town landing where there is a general store as well as an excellent restaurant. Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, a locally famous restaurant where guests can select their own lobsters from live tanks, is just a short paddle from the island. Dining tables are outside on a deck built over the water with an unspoiled view of the creek and the opposing shoreline.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are only an hour and a half away. World famous L.L. Bean and Cabela’s are each within 45 minutes. Portsmouth NH with its fabulous restaurants, shopping, live theater, beautiful parks, and historical sites is just at the other end of the harbor. The famous Ogunquit Playhouse is twenty minutes distant by car. The York Beaches and Wild Animal Kingdom are located in the neighboring town of York, Maine. For rainy days one could consider shopping at the renowned Kittery Outlet Malls. During June, July, and August rentals are by the week, running from Saturday to Saturday unless by arrangement with the owners.


Keywords: Cottage, saltbox

Cancellation Policy: I offer a cancellation policy of 100% of amount paid if you cancel 90 days prior to Check In.