Entire home

Escape to nature, unwind and relax

Photo gallery for Escape to nature, unwind and relax

Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Parking available

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Escape to nature, unwind and relax

Unwind among the serenity of this natural paradise just 3 miles from the heart of downtown Chapel Hill, 15 minutes from Duke, and 30 minutes from RDU Airport and NCSU--with groceries and restaurants under a mile away!

Acres of sprawling meadow, walking trails, swimming pond, fenced backyard, compact chef's kitchen+Big Green Egg™ & propane grill, wide open skies, seasonal thunderstorms, wildlife sightings & more.

All queen beds, primary bedroom with full bath ensuite

Dovefield Cottage is picturesque country living meets modern convenience in a premium location to UNC/downtown Chapel Hill, Carrboro and more. Wake up to your own private viewshed over field, pond, and forests as you escape from stresses to find a slower pace. The 1970s home (boasting all-new-everything as of spring '22) is situated in the heart of a carefully-restored historic homestead in the 'rural buffer zone' of the town of Chapel Hill, with full guest access to dozens of acres of open meadow and private forested walking trails-- making this space truly one of a kind. Dogs of course love it here, too!

We are situated in the south of Chapel Hill....

1.4 miles (3 mins) to Carolina Meadows Retirement Community
3.2 miles (6 mins) to UNC
13.5 miles (20 mins) to Duke
19.2 miles (23 mins) to RDU International Airport
27.8 miles (30 mins) to NCSU
53.8 miles (57 mins) to Greensboro Coliseum

Guests enjoy full use of the cottage and surrounding property, including porch, front & back patio, propane grill & Big Green Egg, plus fields, .5 mile walking trail loop, pond and dock.**

Owners live in separate dwelling on-property not visible from the cottage, so the space is very private. The cottage is on a secluded private drive with any visible traffic or activity limited to occasional yard maintainence and delivery vehicles.

(Guest access does not include green-roofed storage barn, or other outbuildings. These are not living spaces).

**E-SIGN WAIVER REQUIRED FOR POND USE, contact host for info**

Owners reside on site and may be encountered walking or completing yard work and other maintenance, though we value the privacy of our guests and limit interaction unless needed.

Just 3 miles from downtown Chapel Hill/UNC campus and ten minutes to I-40, the cottage is tucked into a verdant natural setting that disguises any awareness* of surrounding development and commercial conveniences nearby (*beyond occasional traffic sounds from road 1/2 mi through woods, and helicopter flights headed to/from nearby UNC hospital). There is a shopping center approximately 1 mile away that includes several (excellent!) dining options, groceries and more. Also sited conveniently to Governor's Club, Southern Village, Fearrington Village, Briar Chapel community, and Meadowmont neighborhoods.

Rideshare platforms (Uber, Lyft, etc) are a convenient option and used often from the cottage. There are also park-and-ride opportunities within five miles for sporting events at UNC. For scheduled airport pickup/dropoff, we recommend Townie Transportation.

Our kitchenette includes a compact Subzero™ undercounter refrigerator with icemaker (and VERY limited freezer space otherwise), which allows maximized use of countertop space for shorter stays and smaller groups. Please be advised there is no full-sized fridge available when shopping and packing groceries. We are happy to supply an additional drink cooler if needed.
Maximum of two dogs (No cats, please). No pets on furniture. Please note our fence is *not* secure for smallest pups.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Firepit
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

192962
Escape it All! Private Retreat w/ Ponds & Trails Chapel Hill

About the neighborhood

Map
Chapel Hill, NC

What's nearby

  • Dean Smith Center - 6 min drive - 5.3 km
  • University of North Carolina - 6 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Kenan Stadium - 8 min drive - 5.9 km
  • UNC Medical Center - 8 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Franklin Street - 8 min drive - 7.3 km

Getting around

  • Durham Station - 30 min drive
  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Friends Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Merritt's Grill - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Coco - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Escape to nature, unwind and relax pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Escape to nature, unwind and relax?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Escape to nature, unwind and relax?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Escape to nature, unwind and relax located?

This family-friendly Chapel Hill vacation home is located on the waterfront, within 3 mi (5 km) of University of North Carolina, Southern Community Park and Governor's Club. The Carolina Basketball Museum and Morehead Planetarium are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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Escape to nature, unwind and relax Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10

Our most favorite place to stay while visiting family. The hosts are the best and made this trip very special for us!!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10

After recently moving away from Chapel Hill, we needed a pet-friendly, quiet space close to those we came to visit. The cottage was fun, cozy, and just as advertised. Bonus for coyote yips and snarls while making s'mores! Great job by the hosts.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10

Everything about this property was perfect - the house, the yard, which is partially fenced-in and great for dogs, the open field, the ponds, the trail through standing pines & tons of birds feasting on the bird feeder!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2025

10/10

This cozy cabin was such an incredible find! It was such a relaxing place to unwind after our day trip. Loved the trail, and all the song birds. Perfectly set up for everything we needed. Very clean and the beds were really comfortable. I hope to return. -Amy
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10

We have stayed at many places over the 2 years of traveling for work and the wife and I loved this one the most. Caught 2 bass in the pond and enjoyed several evenings on the porch overlooking the grounds great place to stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

Wonderful place. Beautiful setting
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Erin and Evan have done a wonderful job making this cottage a comfortable stay. It is clean, well decorated, well appointed, and is located in a peaceful and quiet setting. Communications with the hosts was easily accessible.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10

Beautiful property and outdoor space. The owners are delightful and helpful at every turn. Accessible to UNC, Chapel Hill which made for ease on a busy weekend. Highly recommend for a relaxing getaway or college weekend stay!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10

In a wooded natural setting, yet close to restaurants, etc. Peaceful and beautiful. Excellent caretakers. Would definitely stay when we visit our daughter, who lives ten minutes away.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10

This was a terrific spot, in a surprisingly undeveloped area just a few minutes outside Chapel Hill. Property description was accurate, but I think still undersells just how nice the meadow and lake are for the house. We're definitely rebooking next time we come back to the area.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10

Cottage was quaint and perfect for a nice relaxing getaway. Easy to get to, and close to restaurants and downtown. Property was picturesque and excellent fenced in yard for the pups. Kitchen was on the sm side, would suggest an extra fridge in the laundry room.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10

We had a wonderful stay at Dovefield - the cottage was spotlessly clean on arrival and so cozy. Kitchen was fully stocked with anything we needed - the fridge and freezer drawers were the perfect size for our needs. Both bedrooms were comfortable with plenty of space. We were able to enjoy the beautiful porch and patio with view of the field and pond - it was quiet and serene. Wonderful communication with the owners throughout the booking. We will certainly return any time we are in the area as we left relaxed and renewed after a busy summer. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10

We spent 4 nights with our 2 dogs and had a lovely vacation to see our daughter who starts post-grad studies at UNC Chapel Hill. Grocery store close by and downtown was only 3 miles away. The home was well equipped with everything we needed; bed was comfy; and Wi-Fi worked well to watch movies on cold nights. But the property was tremendous for our 2 dogs! We loved walking the lower pond trail and enjoyed the fire pit. The owner even supplied the firewood! There is a nice fenced in area for the dogs to go out at night and a large field in the back with a pond that the dogs loved running around. Erin was responsive to communications and check in-out was a breeze. I would definitely recommend this property!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10

We enjoyed our recent three night stay! The location is convenient to Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Fearrington and Pittsboro. Check-in was a simple process. The rustic-but-updated cottage is as pictured/described, very clean and the bedding was quite comfortable. The porch is a wonderfully cozy spot to enjoy the quiet views and wildlife; the easy walking trails around the pond and lake are well-trod and serene. We appreciated the farm fresh eggs for breakfast! The friendly hosts are responsive, but your stay will be secluded and private. Additionally, it was convenient to have EV charging as well as a large fenced area for our dogs. The only dog-friendly things I would suggest adding are a dog water bowl, dog waste pick-up bags and a way to close off the porch entry. Thanks for an enjoyable stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10

Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

10/10

This home is perfect to enjoy being out in the country while being close to chapel hill and Durham. Great hosts and very clean property. The lake and trail was perfect for our pup to enjoy some outdoor time.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10

Great location and lovely accommodations. We will return.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023