Leamington in Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head Island
A gated neighborhood at the south end of Palmetto Dunes with its own association, a lighthouse, and golf-cart access to the beach.
- Size: 460 acres
- Gate: Gated and private
- Beach: Direct access, with golf carts allowed
- Rentals: Short-term only on the villa side
Leamington, on Hilton Head Island, is a 460-acre neighborhood at the south end of Palmetto Dunes, on the Atlantic side of the island. It is really two neighborhoods: a private residential side of single-family homes, and a villa side of oceanfront and second-row condos. Leamington has its own property owners association, separate from the one that runs the rest of Palmetto Dunes, so check which side of it you are looking at.
The Leamington Gate and Beach Access
The residential neighborhood is gated. You need a pass to drive in, the same as for the rest of Palmetto Dunes, and you pick it up before you reach the Leamington Gate. What sets Leamington apart, according to its association, is that it is the only private beach community on the island where residents can use their own golf carts inside the gates. Owners can ride one to the beach without leaving Leamington.
Everyone else in Palmetto Dunes gets around another way: personal golf carts are not allowed in the rest of the resort, and Leamington is on the route of the seasonal Dunes Buggy shuttle. See the Palmetto Dunes guide for how the gates and passes work.
The Leamington Lighthouse
The island’s other lighthouse shares the neighborhood’s name: the Hilton Head Rear Range Lighthouse at 53 Leamington Lane. It is an 1880s iron range light standing between two holes of the Arthur Hills course. The outside is free to see with a visitor pass, and the tower is closed.
Renting in Leamington: Villas That Allow Short-Term Stays
Short-term rentals are not allowed on Leamington’s residential side, so a vacation stay here means the villa side. These are the Leamington-area complexes that allow short-term rentals. Each page shows what the units are like:
Hampton Place at Palmetto Dunes: two five-story oceanfront buildings with a private boardwalk, oceanfront pool, lap pool and hot tub, by the south gate.
Barrington Arms at Palmetto Dunes: one- to three-bedroom villas right next to the shared oceanfront pool, with a boardwalk to the beach.
Barrington Court at Palmetto Dunes: the oceanfront Barrington building, five stories with balconies facing the Atlantic and a boardwalk to the beach.
Barrington Park at Palmetto Dunes: one- to three-bedroom villas with pond and resort views, sharing the Barrington oceanfront pool and beach access.
Huntington Villas at Palmetto Dunes: two- to four-bedroom lagoon-view villas with screened porches, a pool and spa, right across the street from the beach.
Wendover Dunes villas at Palmetto Dunes: two-bedroom and larger, screened porches, a heated seasonal pool and a three-minute walk to the beach.
Windsor Court at Palmetto Dunes: two five-story buildings just past the south gate, next to Hampton Place, with a pool, hot tub and private boardwalk.
Windsor Place I and II at Palmetto Dunes: oceanfront condos with two large pools, a kids' pool with a waterfall and a private boardwalk to the beach.
Somerset, South Shore Commons and the Townhomes at South Shore are residential and do not take vacation guests. Guests who prefer a house should see Palmetto Dunes home rentals, and the full list of rentals is on Palmetto Dunes rentals.
Leamington Homes for Sale
Buyers looking at Leamington are choosing between a home on the residential side, where no short-term rental is allowed, and a villa on the villa side, where it is. The association also sets its own rules and fees. Homes here are on our Palmetto Dunes homes for sale search, which covers the whole resort, and that page explains what owners need to know about gates, decals and renting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leamington part of Palmetto Dunes?
Yes, it is a gated neighborhood at the south end of Palmetto Dunes, but it has its own property owners association and its own rules.
Is Leamington gated?
Yes. The residential neighborhood is private and gated, and visitors need a pass before the Leamington Gate.
Can you rent a vacation home in Leamington?
Not on the residential side, where short-term rentals are not allowed. The villa side does allow them, and complexes such as Hampton Place and the Barrington buildings are on that side.
Can you take a golf cart to the beach in Leamington?
Residents can. Leamington’s association describes it as the only private beach community on Hilton Head where residents may use personal golf carts inside the gates.
Where is the Leamington Lighthouse?
At 53 Leamington Lane, inside the Leamington gate.
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