North Litchfield

Local Opinion

Verdict: For those in the know, probably the best of the three beach communities

Of the three non-gated beach communities in Pawleys Island, North Litchfield has the most space and the largest available properties.

It also has the deepest dunes, protecting the homes nearest the ocean from high storm tides. This is important in a time when flood insurance rates are skyrocketing, as they have in recent years. Both Pawleys Island and South Litchfield recently had dredging projects to rebuild their dunes, but storm waters shortly thereafter eroded a lot of that hard, expensive work. Because of its natural dunes, much of North Litchfield is more protected.

At the western side of the neighborhood, Flagg Pond offers some more waterfront options. I’m not positive, but I believe this pond does experience some freshwater flooding at times, though I doubt it threatens the structural integrity of the homes around it.

It’s position adjacent to Huntington Beach State Park means that some of the homes on Windover/Trace Drive back up to a wooded preserve that will remain wooded indefinitely. These homes offer a true rarity in Pawleys Island: walkable beach access and a ton of privacy. In my opinion, if you’re looking for property with direct access to the beach, these are among the best you can get without being behind a gate.

North Litchfield has public beach accesses along Parker Drive, though unlike South Litchfield some of the walkovers do include parking areas. The access across from Eutaw Lane has a handicap-accessible access, with ramps on and off of the walkover.

The large v-shaped building on the second row is Litchfield Retreat, a condo community within North Litchfield. Many of these condos are short-term rentals, and this area is often active with tourists in the summer months.

North Litchfield has direct access to the northern section of the Waccamaw Bikeway. In fact, the bikeway cuts through the neighborhood, turning down Boyle Drive and following the westernmost row of houses before returning to the highway via Trace Drive.

North Litchfield is part of the Litchfield Beaches Property Owners Association, the same POA as South Litchfield. POA members can enjoy discounts on cable, internet, and trash and recycling pickup.