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"Absolutely The Best Place We've Stayed in on The South Shore, Nova Scotia"

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Knotting Hill's cozy charm whispers autumn romance
Start your day off with a coffee and a sunrise as birds sing & deer visit daily
Take a leisurely stroll to the coast and discover its breathtaking beauty
A spacious open plan living room/dining room combo with seating for 6
Share life's meals and celebrations with loved ones in an inviting atmosphere

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6110.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Gym
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Mahone Bay, NS
  • Have A Yarn
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Cocoa Organic Spa & Boutique
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Mahone Bay Swimming Pool
    ‪5 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

"Absolutely The Best Place We've Stayed in on The South Shore, Nova Scotia"

Welcome to Knotting Hill – your peaceful hideaway set on 2 acres, tucked beside the charming seaside village of Mahone Bay and a 10 minute drive to Lunenburg. This tranquil retreat invites you to start your day with a quiet coffee on the deck as deer graze on the lawn. Surrounded by nature, you’ll be greeted each morning by gentle birdsong and the soft rustle of leaves. Thanks to our private, serene location, you’ll enjoy a restful escape far from the noise and rush of everyday life.

Step into history in our charming 1895 post-and-beam home, thoughtfully decorated in seaside blues and maritime touches, inspired by Nova Scotia’s coast. While this peaceful gem isn't ocean view, with two acres of space and the water only a 400 meter stroll away, you'll have the best of both worlds.

THE SPACE:

-TWO INVITING BEDROOMS: an extra large King suite with a King size bed and a futon, and a second Queen size bed lobster-themed room featuring a unique stained-glass lobster window.

-A FULLY STOCKED KITCHEN: complete with spices, cookware, and everything you need to prepare a special meal.

ONE AND A HALF BATHROOMS: A full bathroom on the main floor, and a powder room on the upper level servicing both bedrooms.

-FAMILY FRIENDLY AMENITIES: including a high chair, portable crib, dinnerware for little ones, a selection of board games, puzzles, books & crafts.

-COZY AND SPACIOUS LIVING AREAS: filled with maritime décor that guests love.

-OUTDOOR ADVENTURE: badminton net & rackets, two 2 person inflatable kayaks and more outdoor games.

-FIREPIT: gather around the fire pit under the stars while you tell questionable ghost stories.

In this local gem, we have won the hearts of our guests with our sparkling clean accommodations and a friendly, responsive host. Designed with togetherness in mind - it's perfect for couples, families, friends, or bridal parties.

This coastal retreat offers a sense of peace you never knew you were missing, and won't soon forget. Come and experience it for yourself. Book your escape today and let the warmth of Knotting Hill welcome you home - where special memories are made .

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Gym

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

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:
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Food waste/organics in the bin with paper bag - cans/plastics blue bag - paper products clear bag - all other garbage black bag.
Please take garbage/organics to the end of the laneway. Organics go in the green bin marked “26 Mason rd” and garbage goes in the black bin with the same address.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

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
Parties and events are allowed on site
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
Property Registration Number STR2526D7462

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Maders Cove

Located in Maders Cove, this holiday home is in a rural area and by the sea. Lunenburg Waterfront and St John's Anglican Church are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cocoa Organic Spa & Boutique and Bluenose II. Travelling with kids? Consider For The Birds Nature Shop and Have A Yarn. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Mahone Bay, NS

What's nearby

  • Have A Yarn - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Cocoa Organic Spa & Boutique - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Northern Sun Gallery & Gifts - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Mahone Bay Swimming Pool - 5 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Oak Island - 19 min drive - 17.6 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Tim Hortons - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Kitch Inn - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Barn - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Lightship Brewing Company - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Mug & Anchor Pub - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "Absolutely The Best Place We've Stayed in on The South Shore, Nova Scotia" pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "Absolutely The Best Place We've Stayed in on The South Shore, Nova Scotia"?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "Absolutely The Best Place We've Stayed in on The South Shore, Nova Scotia"?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is "Absolutely The Best Place We've Stayed in on The South Shore, Nova Scotia" located?

This family-friendly Maders Cove holiday home is located by the sea, within 3 mi (5 km) of Mahone Bay Swimming Pool, For The Birds Nature Shop and Jubilee Park. The Moorings Gallery is 3.1 mi (5 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 27 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 27 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 27 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Heather D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay in this part of Nova Scotia.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laurent M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very nice cottage in a great location. Very well maintained and super welcoming. Deserves 6 stars out of 5. :)
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joanne W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We absolutely loved everything!! Jacqueline was the best host ever- quick to answer any questions, offer suggestions etc. This property was supplied with anything you might ever need! And so beautifully decorated in a tasteful coastal theme. The highlight of our Maritimes trip! We would return in a heartbeat! Thanks Jacqueline for an awesome place to relax and explore.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Normand L.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Très bel emplacement et le chalet est parfait avec beaucoup de commodités

Chalet parfait
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joseph D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
If I could rate this a 10 I would. We travel lots and for us so far this is our #1 choice. The hosts have lots of planning into this property. Easy and fast communication with host. We will be returning and will be highly recommending to our friends and family. AAA
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Audrey G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We have stayed at more than twenty VRBO homes over the years and this one is definitely one of the best experiences we’ve had. Jacqueline is so thoughtful. Her replies were immediate. The home is lovely and very comfortable-the bed was great even for my husband who has a bad back. I usually cook more than I did this time and everything I would have needed was right there! Thank you for a lovely visit - we wish it had been longer.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Leanne Q.

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

Short but sweet stay

The property was in a great location for us visiting family in the area.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sue T.

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

What a wonderful place!

We spent 5 nights at this cottage and loved every second of it! It's located right outside of Mahone Bay and it is a short drive away from Lunenburg.The cottage itself was great - very roomy and extremely well appointed. My husband loves to cook and the kitchen had everything he needed (including a great selection of spices).We hope to come back to the area soon and will absolutely stay here again!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful and so comfortable. What an attention to detail in decorating. We were fortunate on a few occasions to watch the deer eating on the property.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne Marie

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Lovely spot.. well located and equipped with lots of amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carmela F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a very relaxing stay at Knotting Hill in August 2025. The host’s warm hospitality and special thoughtful touches were apparent leading up to and throughout our stay. Our 8 year old daughter noticed right away 2 Hardy Boys mysteries on the bookshelf and set to read both before we left. We played board games, enjoyed morning coffee and evening stargazing on the deck, grilled and enjoyed seeing so many deer in the yard during our stay.There was plenty of local information in the house to help you get acquainted with the area and the host shared suggested daily itineraries which were very helpful and eased our daily planning. I’d highly recommend this home in Mahone Bay for a memorable and relaxing trip to Nova Scotia.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen V.

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

Anniversary Getaway

This is a sweet Cozy well equipped Cottage. The hosts are very attentive ; checking in to ensure everything is ok. They have thought of EVERYTHING. So many added extras. The bed is very comfy like sleeping on a cloud! Very close to amenities and attractions. We look forward to a return trip.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

GORDON S.

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

A real Gem

Great renovated older cottage, tastefully decorated, everything you need at your fingertips, comfortable beds, great location, felt very homey, and owners were more than accommodating , 10/10.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca R.

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

Lovely cottage

Easy check in, very responsive host, and let us check in early and check out late! Beautiful property, complete with a family of deer! Would love to return during a warmer month to fully enjoy cottage life!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary Beth M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely the best place we’ve stayed in on the south coast of NS! Set back from the road, this two-storey open concept floor plan oozes charm and character and has everything you need for a relaxing getaway with all the comforts of home. With loads of room, comfortable beds, a fully-equipped kitchen, gas barbecue, washer and dryer, the house is tastefully decorated and immaculate! Secluded and quiet but with quick and easy access to Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, Chester and beyond. We really enjoyed sitting on the deck and watching the deer roam the property. The lobster stained glass window in our bedroom was a beautiful piece of artwork to wake up to each morning…lit up by the morning sun.Mahone Bay has many beautiful shops to explore, quaint pubs and outstanding restaurants! So glad we chose to stay in Canada this vacation and take advantage of this slice of East Coast paradise. We will definitely return. A special thanks to our hosts who responded within minutes to our questions and provided a wealth of information and suggestions on the Mahone Bay/Lunenburg area, both before and during our visit, that made our vacation special and memorable.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leslie E.

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

Knotting Hill

Lovely cottage on a private lot. Lots of amenities close by.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie P.

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

Perfect!

An absolutely beautiful place that exceeded our expectations. The hosts have thought of everything. One of the best places we’ve stayed!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane W.

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

Great house

The house is beautifully decorated and very clean. It's in a great location. We loved Mahone Bay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jill F.

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

Great location for a home base

We loved the home. Well stocked.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

laurie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This beautiful home/cottage was a great find. Would send anyone I know to this place. Host were so essy to communicate with and checked in with us to make sure we comfortable. Everything was exactly as it was in pictures.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laura P.

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

The best stay we had during our maritime Adventures

The property is perfect; cosy and has everything you would need. The hosts were so responsive and even thought of our downtime with games and knitting supplies. The deers visited us every day and we were in love. Perfect location between Mahone Bay and Lunenberg!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christine K.

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

Home away from Home

We came to Nova Scotia to find a property to purchase and it was so nice to come home every night to sweet Knotting Hill. Everything by was neat and orderly and comfortable and the owners so easy and helpful! They found us our realtor and she was also fantastic! 10 out of 10
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenn S.

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

Lovely! Will return!

We travelled from Ontario and were very impressed with the house and surrounding area. Close to Peggy's cove, Lunenburg/Bluenose and osk island. If in mahone bay try the chicken tacos at the mug n anchor. Watch for the deer from the deck at dusk, we saw them every evening!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Helena I.

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

Exceptional!!

First time using vrbo and couldn't have been better! Great property, quiet and private, as described and promised. Jacqueline's communication was great and she went over and above to accommodate us. Very clean and comfy. Thank you 😊 💕
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property.Loved Mahone Bay
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

About the host

Hosted by Jacqueline Cairns

Host profile image
Nova Scotia has captured our hearts with its natural beauty, rich history, and welcoming communities - so much so that we decided to become full time hosts and share this special place with others.

Together, we've spent our careers in emergency services, which has taught us the importance of care, compassion, and creating safe, comforting environments. Hosting allows us to carry those values forward in a new way - welcoming guests and helping them feel truly at home.

We're passionate about the outdoors and spend our free time fishing, camping and travelling. Travel is a big part of our lives - we've explored the US, Asia, Europe, Africa and across Canada - but no matter where we go, we're always happiest returning to the peace and charm of the South Shore.

We look forward to helping you create lasting memories here.

Why they chose this property

Mahone Bay is celebrated as one of Canada's top 10 most beautiful towns - and it's easy to see why. Just a short stroll from Knotting Hill, you'll find yourself at the water's edge, where you can enjoy a peaceful picnic while watching the sun set behind the town's iconic trio of churches. Wander through charming streets filled with unique boutiques, art galleries, and a cozy cafe, or savour a meal at one of the many delightful restaurants. The warmth of the community combined with its coastal charm and vibrant local culture, makes Mahone Bay an unforgettable destination - and the perfect setting for your home away from home.

What makes this property unique

Knotting Hill is a beautifully restored post-and-beam home built in 1895, nestled on nearly two acres of peaceful natural surroundings in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. This serene retreat is enveloped by apple trees and wild roses, where deer roam the property daily. We offer guests a truly immersive experience in nature. Spend your days kayaking along the nearby coast with our inflatable kayaks, enjoy a friendly game of badminton on the lawn, or relax with a morning coffee or evening beverage of choice on the spacious deck.

As the sun sets, gather around the fire pit to share stories and roast s'mores beneath the stars. Guests are welcome to pick apples from the property's trees and bake homemade pies in our fully equipped kitchen.

Whether you're seeking quiet reflection or outdoor adventure, Knotting Hill offers a perfect blend of rustic charm, thoughtful amenities, and maritime magic - making it a one-of-a-kind getaway on Nova Scotia's South Shore.

Languages:

English, French

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests