Chalet romantique au bord du lac avec vues magnifiques

Welcome to The Book House: a small, book-filled cabin on a narrow stretch of Lake Champlain, built for people who actually want quiet: no TV, a wall of good books, a gas fireplace, and a soundtrack of loons, crickets, owls, foxes, the occasional passing boat, and a distant train whistle. One bedroom (half-open to the living room) with a double bed, plus a couch that folds to a twin if someone snores. Full kitchen, covered deck, fire pit out front with plenty of wood and Adirondack chairs, and a little lookout with stairs down to the beach.

Please read before booking: this is a rustic, one-room-feel cottage. The tub/shower sits behind a Thai screen in the main living space, and the toilet is in a small closet off the kitchen — there's no hallway or separate bathroom. If you need real privacy from whoever you're traveling with, this isn't the right fit. The stairs to the beach are sturdy but steep, and may not work for guests with mobility issues.

You're 10 feet from the water, so expect country-cabin quirks — the odd spider web, some dust when a window's open. It's part of the charm if you're here to unplug; it may not be for you if you're not.

On the water: a canoe for two and kayaks, great bass fishing right off the shore, and enough of a narrow channel that you can paddle to inlets on the New York side. Slate beach below for fires, beachcombing, and building rock sculptures. S'mores and toasting sticks provided.

Setting: a quiet dead-end dirt road with only a few cottages and almost no traffic — dogs love it, squirrels are plentiful, cars are not. Nightly sunsets over the Adirondacks, some of the darkest skies in the Northeast for stargazing, and great birdwatching (bald eagles, woodpeckers, hummingbirds).

Around you: 5 miles to the Bridport Country Store and town green, 13 miles to Middlebury College, 14 miles to restaurants (Fire and Ice, The Black Sheep). Hiking at Snake Mountain and the Trail Around Middlebury, waterfalls, Revolutionary-era forts and Fort Ticonderoga across the bridge, farm stands with fresh bread, eggs, syrup, and seasonal picking, plus local wineries and breweries.
WiFi included, no TV. Charcoal and gas grill. No smoking.

A note on the septic: the tank is close to the lake on a ledge, so please go easy — if it's yellow, let it mellow, and use the bathroom wastebasket for paper. We spray organically for ticks.

I'm in a cottage down the hill behind a fence — close enough to help if you need something, far enough that you won't hear from me otherwise.
This place isn't for everyone. If you want quiet enough to hear yourself think, it might be exactly what you're looking for.