Secluded, Peaceful Cape Cod in National Seashore
'The Back Woods,' Wellfleet Vacation Rental - ID 13080

This was a lovely place to stay if you like peace and quiet, being in the woods, and feeling like you are off the grid and a part of history. The house has incredible access to some of the most exquisite ponds and beaches in cape cod. The open dining/kitchen area was perfect for large gatherings of loved ones. The outdoor shower is the best!

We love this house ! It's perfect for families who want privacy and it's not fussy. The location is ideal - our grown kids enjoyed themselves - the dog was in heaven. We walked to swimming areas and cooked at the house. It's like the Cape used to be. We will return!

This house is a rare and wonderful piece of old Cape Cod, from the sandy access road and the woodland setting to the house itself with its own unique personality and the sense of a much-loved place with a rich family history. There's a nearby kettle pond that's very peaceful and beautiful for swimming and a longish walk down a sandy road will get you to the ocean. Route 6 and downtown Wellfleet aren't far away, but you would never know it when you're at the house.
We were a party of 7, including 3 grandparents and 2 toddlers. The study worked well as a bedroom for the oldest one of us and has a bathroom right next to it. The two children were each able to have their own room which was very helpful for naps and when one of them woke up extra early. The separate studio was a useful getaway for sleeping or some timeout and would also serve well as a bedroom for someone who didn't want to have to use either of the stairways in the house which are both fairly steep. The kitchen/dining area is spacious and has everything needed for making meals. It has a long table that could seat up to 10. There's a setup for composting and recycling which is a welcome addition. The outdoor shower is also great to have.
We felt very lucky to have found this place and would be happy to go again someday.

This house is in my favorite area of the Cape, and it's great place to enjoy all the area has to offer. Quite near tranquil freshwater ponds, and close to the beach, you don't really need to get in the car once you're there. However it's a short ride to town, and not too far from Provincetown as well if you want a little nightlife. The kitchen is perfect for cooking, even for multiple cooks, and it has indoor and multiple outdoor tables to gather. There is also a sizable yard if you want to play games or run around with a dog. Inside everything seems as it was in a simpler time, with books and art hinting at the area's history as place for creative inspiration.

My family and I had the opportunity to stay in this lovely, yet unpretentious, hideaway cottage in the woods of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It is roomy and comfortable for ten people. All the nooks and crannies of the upstairs layout of four bedrooms provide an extra level of charm.

The owner also describes it as a gathering place. We were part of a larger family (staying elsewhere) and were able to comfortable feed all on the outside patio for lunches with the well-stocked kitchen.

It is close to a few of the more secluded kettle ponds on the Truro border which afforded quiet swimming and fishing opportunities. The outdoor shower was an added bonus. The living room and other 1st floor rooms provide a peek into the lives of the owner's family with their extensive historical library and reading interests as well as providing comfortable places to nestle for one's own reading. Other than the steep stairs which were a problem for a couple of our more senior members, this rental is a pleasant hiatus from the crowds of Summer. I think it is a good idea to note the steep stairs so a renter could be forewarned. I know many older homes have this so it is often a characteristic of renting an older home from a different generation.

We truly enjoyed our stay here and Annamarie was very responsive to all our questions. Thank you for this opportunity.

This property is a dream! Bohemian house grows on you day by day -- wonderful kitchen and living room. The wooded walk to a pond and ocean -- absolutely magical. Cannot wait to go back.

truly a magnificent place to relax and unwind. walk to kettle ponds and ocean for swimming. so quiet and peaceful. the house is beyond charming, comfortable and well equipped for cooking. lots of awesome books. the outdoor shower is fantastic. the dinner table and patios are perfect for meals and games. the book about the house is very useful. I can't say enough and we will be back again for sure!!!

A small update to my previous review - scroll down to the review of our June 2016 stay to understand why this is the perfect house for anyone who loves the National Seashore and its quiet kettle ponds, its sand roads and its winding trails, its dunes covered in pine and oak forests and its wild strand. We have now spent our 10th year in the house we still affectionately call the "red house"- and, no it hasn't been red in years. We wouldn't change a thing. But… I do want to flag that the recent addition of a booster for the cellular signal means that the hotspot now provides some basic internet at the house. Not enough that you cannot easily escape the feeling of constant connection if you want that seclusion, but just enough that you can check your email without going into town or stream some music at happy hour. So overall: a positive addition!

The house provided the perfect venue for a soft re-entry after the pandemic. Quiet and serene, but only a quick drive to Wellfleet center, Truro and Provincetown. Short hike to the beach, wonderful wilderness surrounding the property, and excellent star-gazing at night. I've never felt so close to the sky. Plenty of bedrooms, and plenty of room to spread out during the day.

A real gem. We even impressed our local Cape Cod friends with such a unique find!

We loved our stay in this home! Peter, the owner, was a pleasure to communicate with prior to our arrival. The house itself is a bit of magic, with portions dating back to 1790. We loved the feeling of being steeped in this long history. The house has a wonderful library reflecting I'm guessing the passions and interests of prior generations who lived there. Old Baedekers, local history dating back to the Mayflower, and on and on. And this is just the icing on the cake.

We also loved the proximity to Herring Pond down a small trail, the walk over to the ocean, the easy access to bike trails and all the rest! We feel very lucky to have found this place, and hope to return next summer!

We have stayed in several houses along Black Pond Road - searching for the perfect house. This is it. It's secluded, set back from the road in its own clearing, with large lawns and trees surrounding it on all sides. Two decks, on east and west sides of house for outdoor dining both morning and evening. A hammock and outdoor shower and a grill. A large kitchen with everything you need and open dining area let's the whole crowd hang out and cook and talk. Once we arrive, we never put on our shoes but to drive to town to shop for dinner. It's a short walk along sand roads to all the ponds that you want to swim in: Herring, Slough, Horseleech, Higgins, Gull and Round. A little further takes you along a path to the ocean - but away from the crowds. Easy access to miles of sand roads and single track trails through the hollows and hillocks of the seashore.

This is the house for people who love the Cape Cod National Seashore and want to feel like they are spending a week at their own family's house. Everyone grew up and moved away - but every year you go back and feel so lucky to be able to reconnect to the idyllic summers past.

Review From Guest Book in house, therefore no rating.

We had a perfect week at the Matson house. Stayed here with a family we know much better now. The weather cooperated beautifully. Our three boys loved playing together in the yard, on the beach, in multiple ponds, riding bikes on say back roads. Our dog love being outdoors all the time and a couple of hikes are still not our of the question givens she's 12. Thank you for sharing your house we us. We did have a perfect stay and can't wait to be back in this neck of the woods next summer.

Review From Guest Book in house, therefore no rating.

Another great vacation. Don't change a thing!

Review From Guest Book in house, therefore no rating.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful home. We loved everything about our stay here. Saw deer, a coyote, a fox, lots of birds and rabbits and tons of frogs. Really enjoyed your books too-everyone four something good to read. Boys learned how to surf — Dad made blueberry muffins and we ate a lot of seafood. Even the weather cooperated. 2 weeks of blue skies and good waves. Our dogs like sitting in the yard with no worries about traffic. It's hard to go home.

Review From Guest Book in house, therefore no rating.

Tucked in the wood
Your gem of a home
Became our home for a week...
Again if we could - we HAPPILY would
Ramble and roam
swim, fish and seek [heart]

We loved your home so much. Thank you for sharing and making memories for our families.

Review From Guest Book in house, therefore no rating.

Another wonderful and relaxing time at the ''Cape House''. The four of us utilized all that was offered and more memories were made! It just keeps getting better every year. Thank you.

Review From Guest Book in house, therefore no rating.

A truly lovely week, with the spirits of the house in attendance. Extraordinary to be here.. In such congenial silence. No other such place on earth.