The newly renovated 1850 farm house is set high on a fifty-five acre farmstead, surrounded by ten acres of open fields that lead to a spruce-fir forest. In front of the house, across the road, are three acres of field with 450 feet of frontage on Cobscook Bay. The screened porch looks directly at the water and beautiful sunrises. The climate is temperate and offers sea breezes that cool the house on the warmest summer days.

This four-season, completely furnished house has a large light filled and fully equipped kitchen, with a dishwasher and pantry. The kitchen has a table that accommodates up to 6 people, a high chair for toddlers is also provided. The dining room has a large table that can accommodate family and friends. The three-quarter bath on the first flood has a spacious tile shower with chair, grab rail and both fixed and hand-held shower heads. A full size washer and dryer are also located in the downstairs bath.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms that can comfortably accommodate eight persons, and a bathroom that includes a full size tub and hand shower. The front bedroom, which faces east and the water, contains a queen size bed. The middle bedroom has a queen size bed and crib. The large rear bedroom has one double bed and two extra long twin beds. This space is easily converted for use as a studio, if the twin beds are not needed.

All bedding, bath and table linens are provided.

Other features include a combination TV/DVD, wireless broadband, and both local and long distance phone service.

A modern three-zone hot water heating system provides a comfortable indoor environment during cold weather.

There is a sitting area at the rear of the house, accented by a rock boundary and perennial gardens. Night time in the backyard affords unprecedented stargazing, with zero light pollution. The level lawn on the north side of the house provides a safe and comfortable place for small children to play. The screened and furnished front porch is a great place for morning coffee or evening cocktails.

Around the House

The shore in front of the house provides access to the bay for kayaking to explore the nearby sheltered coves and islands of the bay. We provide two light touring kayaks and related gear for this purpose. The town landing, approximately 15 minutes away on Hersey Neck, offers deepwater access for larger craft at all tidal levels via a floating dock and boat ramp; ample free parking is provided. There is a public beach at the end of Leighton Neck Road, approximately 1.25 miles from the house.

On the southeastern end of the Neck, at Mahar Point, there is a town park where you can view the Reversing Falls. The tidal flow alternately fills and drains both Whiting and Dennys Bays through a half mile long and three-hundred yard wide gap between the Neck and Falls Island. Salt water flows into and out of the bay system at twenty-five knots, causing falls, violent currents and small whirlpools. It’s a great spot to watch seals and bald eagles, listen to the water, hunt for fossils and have a picnic lunch.

Leighton Neck is located in the Cobscook Bay, a 40 square mile body of water. The Bay’s 200 miles of coastline embrace nine Maine and two New Brunswick communities. Cobscook Bay is unique among the estuaries of the eastern seaboard, as it is still a pristine marine ecosystem supporting hundreds of species. It provides the nesting area for the largest population of Bald Eagles in the Northeast, and these birds can often be seen feeding or resting along the shore in front of the house. While sheltered by narrow access to both the larger Passamaquoddy Bay to the north and the enormous Bay of Fundy to the east, Cobscook is still subject to the massive Fundy tidal flows.

Numerous lakes and rivers, with public access, are within 45 minutes of the house, affording swimming, boating, and fishing. There are saltwater sandy beaches at Roque Bluffs State Park, near Jonesboro, and at Herring Cove Provincial Park on Campobello Island, NB. Campobello is easily reached by a bridge at Lubec. Whale watching cruises by schooner are available from both St. Andrews, NB and Eastport. Eastport offers a lively arts community. The dramatic West Quoddy Head park and lighthouse are located just south of Lubec; the park includes a trail along high coastal bluffs and a boardwalk through an upland bog. The Bold Coast Trail, located in Cutler, has a truly spectacular coastal trail on high bluffs that offers views of Grand Manan Island. There, one can access cobble beaches, tidal pools, coastal meadows, and view whales and seals in the Grand Manan Channel.

The Moosehorn National Wildlife Reserve, 25 minutes away, has more than 24,000 acres in both the Baring and Edmunds Divisions. Miles of trails are open to hikers and cross country skiers, and fishing is permitted in some locations. It is the northern-most US refuge in the Atlantic Flyway, a migratory route that follows the eastern coast of North America. The Reserve is an important nesting and feeding habitat for many bird species.

The historic and picturesque resort village of St. Andrews, NB, is an hour’s drive from the house; it offers an interesting change of pace, with a unique public garden, charming waterfront, and a good selection of shops and restaurants.

There are public golf courses in Calais (30 minutes), Herring Cove on Campobello (60 minutes), and St. Andrews, NB (60 minutes).

Downeast

Pembroke is on the eastern most edge of the US. The term “downeast” has a nautical origin: ships sailing along the Maine coast from Boston to Eastport had to sail “down wind” (the wind at their backs) in an easterly direction.

The nearby towns of Calais, Eastport, and Machias offer a typical array of stores and services, and Pembroke has two convenience stores for gas and daily necessities.