Welcome to Ditchley Place

01 · Pulling in

Getting here

Follow the drive in and park wherever suits you. There is plenty of room, so no need to be precious about it.

Park at the roundabout, the end of the driveway, or right in front of the garage.
The main entrance is on the side of the house away from the water.
Use the smart lock code, then tap the check mark and you are in.

Aerial view of Ditchley Place with the property outlined, showing the pier reaching into the North River

The lay of the land

All six acres, traced in pink. The pier runs from the yard straight out into the North River, the roundabout and garage sit behind the house, and the wooded stretch along the left edge is the boots-on, watch-for-poison-ivy part.

02 · Warmth and light

Set the mood

Everything is set comfortably for your arrival. Change any of it to taste.

The smart thermostat is in the hallway, set to 72 degrees. Adjust it however you like.
Living room lights run off the rotary dial on the square walnut end table.
Each bedroom has a small remote for the overhead lights.
The master lamps are touch lamps. Give them a tap.

Good to know. One master bulb sometimes flickers on the first touch. Just tap it again and it settles right down.

lighting

03 · Sound and screen

Music and movies

The TV remote lives on the walnut end table, beside the lighting dial. The television plays through a Sonos surround system automatically, so it just sounds good.

Use my streaming logins, or sign in with your own. Whatever is easier.
Install the Sonos app to run music through the Living Room, Screened Porch, Garage, and the portable Sonos Move.
The Sonos Move is meant to travel. Carry it right down to the river.

audio

04 · The kitchen

Help yourself

Fully stocked with cookware, utensils, dishes, and appliances. Anything you find in the fridge or pantry is yours, so dig in.

There is a Keurig with coffee pods in the cabinets.
No microwave and no dishwasher here, so it is a wash-as-you-go kind of kitchen.
Dish towels are beside the sink, and extra trash bags are under the kitchen sink.
The tap water is okay to drink, but I recommend the bottled water. You will find plenty in the kitchen fridge, the drink fridge, and the garage fridges.

05 · Rest easy

Bedrooms and bath

The master has a queen bed. The second bedroom has bunk beds, which the kids tend to fight over in the best way.

Fresh linens Towels Extra pillows Toiletries Sunscreen Bug spray Beach towels Washer and dryer Detergent

06 · The main event

Out on the water

This is why you came. Six acres of shoreline, a new pier, and a garage full of gear waiting to get wet.

Take out the two kayaks or the stand up paddleboard whenever the water is calm.
The pier is the best seat in the house for sunrise and sunset.
Life jackets, paddles, and muck boots are all in the garage.
Drinks in the garage refrigerators are yours to enjoy.

Fishing rodsCamping chairsGames Inflatables Electric pump Life jackets 2 kayaksPaddleboard Muck boots

A field guide to the neighbors

Who you might see

There are two pairs of binoculars next to the Sonos Move. Early mornings and evenings are the magic hours, so pour a coffee and keep watch.

🐬

Dolphins

Dawn & dusk

They cruise the North River more often than you would guess. Scan the open water and wait for a fin.

🦅

Bald eagles

Morning

Watch the tall trees along the shoreline. Once you spot one, you will start seeing them everywhere.

🐟

Ospreys

All day

The great fishers of the river. If one hovers and dives, you are in for a show.

🪶

Herons

Low tide

Tall, patient, and impossibly still along the water line until they strike.

🦦

Otters

Early & late

Playful and quick. Check the pier pilings and quiet edges of the shore.

🦊

The foxes

After dark

Two friendly young foxes drop by the backyard some nights. Say hello from a distance.

A star-filled night sky over Ditchley Place

Then look up

Away from the city glow, the night sky here goes on forever. It is worth staying up for.

07 · After dark

The porch and the fire pit

When the sun drops, this is where everyone ends up.

Outdoor cushions are tucked inside the porch storage trunk.
Firewood is behind the house, near the brush pile.
Roasting sticks, graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate are ready for s'mores.

08 · A few local tips

Good to know

Going barefoot around the yard is encouraged. It is that kind of place.
Wear shoes in the woods. There is some poison ivy in the trees and along parts of the shoreline rocks.
If the foxes visit at night, enjoy them, but let them keep their distance.

09 · Off the property

Provisions and good eats

Everything you need is about fifteen minutes up the road in Gloucester. Stock the fridge on your way in, then leave the cooking to someone else for a night.

🛒

Stock up

Walmart Supercenter

GroceriesEverything else~15 min

Your one-stop for almost anything you forgot, from groceries to sunscreen to fishing tackle. If you need it, it is here.

Aldi

GroceriesRight by Walmart

Just down the road from Walmart. Great for a quick, cheap grocery run. Bring a quarter for the cart.

🍴

Grab a bite

Duke's Aloha Eats & Tiki Bar

CasualSandwiches & saladsHost pick

Very casual sandwich and salad spot with a tiki twist. It is pretty darn good, and the covered patio is a nice place to land after a grocery run.

Patriots Grill

Local jointBar & grill

A dive-bar-style local haunt on Main Street. Nothing fancy, but solid, and about as Gloucester as it gets.

Fast food row

QuickNear Walmart

All the usual fast food suspects cluster in the same shopping area, so a quick bite is always close by.

Gloucester Brewing Company

BreweryDrinksMain Street

The local brewery, and the spot if you want a drink. Rotating taps, live music some nights, and usually a food truck parked outside.

🥂

Make it a night

Porter's On Main

Fine diningMain StreetDate night

The fine dining option in town. Cozy, speakeasy vibes, great cocktails, and worth dressing up a little for. Reservations recommended.

Olivia's In the Village

Casual diningSame owner as Porter's

A solid casual spot run by the same operator as Porter's, just a few blocks away in the village. Dependable seafood and comfort fare.