61 Shandelee Lake Road, Livingston Manor, NY 12758

A charmer of a 1940s cottage, where original timber beams, a stone fireplace, and mature flower gardens are thoughtfully blended with modern comforts. Set on just over an acre atop Shandelee Mountain, the three-bedroom home feels wonderfully tucked away, yet sits just moments from Livingston Manor and the Catskill Park. Inside, a heart-shaped key latch is the first of many characterful details. The entry opens into an intimate living and dining space centered around a stone-surround wood-burning fireplace and cocooned beneath original timber beams. The adjacent kitchen has been renovated from the studs, with newer appliances, botanical wallpaper, and direct access to the garden. Two bedrooms and a freshly renovated full bath occupy the main floor, while an unassuming panelled door reveals a staircase to the unexpected third bedroom upstairs—a vaulted retreat with a reading nook and storage tucked into the eaves. Outside is where the property really comes into its own. Years of thoughtful planting have created mature gardens filled with hydrangeas, dahlias, coneflowers, vegetables, herbs, and seasonal flowers. A large fenced garden sits alongside an almost-secret seating area and outdoor shower, while a wildflower meadow stretches out behind the house toward neighbouring farmland and a pond where cows gather on summer afternoons. A newly built elevated deck makes the most of the view, with space for outdoor dining and a modern hot tub for soaking under the stars. A detached garage has been converted into a home gym/flex space, while the full walk-out basement provides additional utility and storage. It’s the kind of setting that makes you feel far removed from civilization, but the reality is quite different. Livingston Manor, with its lively collection of restaurants, breweries, specialty grocers, shops, and galleries, is just minutes away. The pristine rivers and trails of the Catskill Park are equally close, and NYC is less than two hours away. Whether you’re enjoying a drink beside the fire, tending the garden, or soaking in the hot tub as the sun disappears over the meadow, Shandelee Mountaintop Cottage works just as well as a full-time home as it does a weekend retreat and basecamp for all the mountains have to offer.