Cheshire
.jpg)
Cheshire is a town in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Portions of the town are on Mount Greylock and must be accessed from adjacent towns if traveling by vehicle. Cheshire has a small population and mostly outdoor activity offerings.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]MA Route 8 runs through Cheshire, with Adams to the north and Lanesborough to the south. Lanesborough also runs parallel with the lower half of the western border of Cheshire, and Route 8 can be accessed via US Route 7 from Lanesborough via Old Cheshire Rd off of Summer St. MA Route 116, which originates in Springfield, cuts through northeast Cheshire as it goes from Savoy to Adams. Taking Wells Road off of Route 116 will take you to the town center of Cheshire.
By bus
[edit]The Route 1 line operated by Berkshire Regional Transit Authority stops in Cheshire Center on Railroad St, near the post office. The line runs from Pittsfield to North Adams and makes stops in Lanesborough and Adams. The schedule can be found on the BRTA website: https://berkshirerta.gov/plan-your-trip/route-1-schedule/
On foot
[edit]You can enter along the Appalachian Trail: from the north take the trail from Mt. Greylock, either in Adams or Williamstown, south into Cheshire, passing through New Ashford (there are no exits on the New Ashford portion). If coming from the south, enter from Dalton.
You can also enter from Adams on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and south by the same trail from Berkshire in Lanesborough. Be mindful that snow and ice can make the path treacherous to walk on.
On bicycle
[edit]The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is open to bicycle, though snowfall during late fall into early spring sometimes renders the trail impassable.
Get around
[edit]
The best way to get around Cheshire is by car. Most destinations are in the town center or on MA Route 8. You can also traverse the town on foot via the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Similarly, the Appalachian Trail runs through the town and has multiple entry and exit points, including in the town center. Much of the Cheshire town center area is paved or otherwise easily navigable on foot. The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail also allows bicycles, and the town center area can be entered and navigated on bicycle; there are no designated bike lanes off of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.
See
[edit]
- 1 Stafford Hill Memorial, HVFM+RR Cheshire, Massachusetts (Stafford Hill Rd/Wells Rd) (accessed on foot from the Stafford Hill Wildlife Area South parking lot.), ☏ +1 413-743-1690 x100, admin@cheshire-ma.gov. A stone monument on the burial site of Joab Stafford, a founding settler of Cheshire.
- 2 Old Churchyard Cemetery (Jenks Road Cemetery / Stafford Hill Cemetery), 918 Jenks Rd (take Jenks Rd off of Wells Rd; access Wells Rd from either Main St in Cheshire town center or MA 116 to the northeast.). One of the oldest cemeteries in Cheshire and on the US National Register of Historic Places. Three of the first settlers of the town are known to be interred here.
- 3 Cheshire Town Hall, 191 Church St, ☏ +1 413-743-1690. Built in 1898, the town hall complex is an example of Colonial Revival architecture. It is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.
- 4 Hall's Tavern, 41 North St (MA Rt 8). Now a private residence, this building was once a tavern. Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places, it was built in 1804 and reflects the Federal architectural style of that period.
- 5 Farnams Village Historic District, Lanesboro, Quarry, and Farnam Rds (if coming from Lanesborough, take Summer St, then turn onto Old Cheshire Rd; the destination is where this becomes Lanesborough Rd. If coming from MA Rt 8 in Cheshire, take either Lanesboro Rd near the town center, or, further south, Farnams Rd across Cheshire Reservoir to the junction with Lanesboro Rd). A National Register of Historic Places former limestone mining village. Farnams Village was a mining village whose associated mining and lime production was active from the 19th to mid-20th century. The junction of Lanesboro, Quarry, and Farnams Rds is the center of the former village. Remnants of the quarrying activities stretch west up onto Mt. Greylock, and can be accessed via Quarry Rd. Old equipment, work buildings, worker housing, and public buildings can be found. The area is of great interest to industrial archaeology. The village buildings display Greek Revival and Gothic architecture.
Do
[edit]- 1 Cheshire Reservoir. A dammed reservoir that offers boating, swimming, and fishing activities. It is bisected by Farnams Rd, which is a barrier to watercraft. There are boat launches for the northern and southern halves of the reservoir.
- Cheshire Lake Boat Ramp, S State Rd (MA Rt 8) (right on Rt 8, at the Cheshire Reservoir lookout and parking lot on the northern tip of the reservoir.). Boat launch for the northern half of the reservoir.
- Cheshire Boat Ramp, Farnams Rd (access Farnams Rd from MA Rt 8 to the east or Lanesboro Rd on the west side.). Boat launch for the southern half of the reservoir. Also works as a small swim beach.
- 2 Rounds Rock Trailhead, 14-18 Rockwell Rd (take W Mountain Rd off of MA Rt 8 to the terminus at Greylock Rd. Turn right onto Greylock Rd. Continue to the terminus at Rockwell Rd and then turn left onto Rockwell Rd. Continue to the destination. Rockwell Rd can also be accessed from Lanesborough via Greylock Rd off of N Main St). A hiking trail that is part of the Mount Greylock State Reservation.
- 3 Cheshire Cobble Trailhead, Notch Rd (near the junction with Windsor Rd. Take E Main from Church St. E Main will become Windsor Rd. Turn right at the junction. The parking area is just past the junction.), ☏ +1 413-684-1646. Part of the Chalet Wildlife Area. The terminus of the hiking trail is a junction with the Appalachian Trail at the Cobbles, which offers a breathtaking view of the town and surrounding hillsides.
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
[edit]
- 4 Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, ☏ +1 413-499-7003. A 10-foot wide, 11-mile long paved rail trail path. The Ashuwillticook (ash-oo-will-ti-cook) Rail Trail runs parallel to Route 8 through the towns of Cheshire, Lanesborough and Adams. The southern end of the trail begins at the entrance to the Berkshire Mall off Route 8 in Lanesborough. The northern end is at Adams center. The Trail passes Cheshire Reservoir, the Hoosic River, and several wetland habitats with abundant wildlife. Parking lots and restrooms are available along the way. A pamphlet with maps is widely available. Walking, cycling, and rollerblading are all common activities, the trail is pet-friendly and wheelchair accessible. Accessibility for the respective activities and disability can be limited by seasonality and weather. Cheshire has multiple access points for the trail. Access points with parking are listed below.
- 1 Nobodys Rd, 18-22 Nobodys Rd No formal parking; Nobodys Rd is a dead-end with space to park on the side of the road.
- 2 Farnham Rd, Farnams Rd (access road cuts through the Cheshire Reservoir)
- 3 Route 8 crossing (junction with Route 8)
- 4 Railroad St, Railroad St (junction of Railroad St with Church St, Main St, and the Appalachian trail), ☏ +1 413-442-8928
Appalachian Trail
[edit]
- The Appalachian Trail entry and exit points, as well as an exclusive campsite, are as follows:
- 1 Appalachian Trail at Outlook Ave, Outlook Ave
- 2 Appalachian Trail at MA Rt 8 North St, MA Rt 8 (North St) The trail crosses MA Rt 8 here
- 3 Appalachian Trail at Fisk St, Fisk St junction with School St The begins running concurrent with Fisk St here, at the junction with School St
- 1 Father Tom Campsite, 6 Main St (from the beginning of the Fisk St concurrence, go on Fisk St and then turn right onto Railroad St. Continue until you reach the junction with Church St, Main St, and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The camp is south, across Church St/Main St, behind the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail parking lot.). A campsite in the center of town exclusive to Appalachian Trail hikers.
- 4 Appalachian Trailhead at Furnace Hill, Furnace Hill (take Main St east across the bridge over the Hoosic River, at the fork in the road take the right onto E Main St, then turn right onto Furnace Hill. Continue to the terminus of Furnace Hill, then enter the trailhead.).
- 6 The Cobbles. View Mt Greylock, Cheshire Lake, the town, and surrounding countryside. Connects with the Cheshire Cobble Trailhead in Chalet Wildlife Area, which can serve as an entry and exit point.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Whitney's Farm Market & Garden Center, 1775 S State Rd (MA Rt 8), ☏ +1 413-442-4749. 9AM=6PM daily. Large farm and garden center that includes seasonal pick-your-own fruit orchards and fields
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 2 Harbour House Inn (Elements Hotel & Spa), 725 North State Road, ☏ +1 413 743-8959, harbourhouseinn@aol.com.
Go next
[edit]Visit neighboring Adams, New Ashford, Savoy, Windsor, and Lanesborough, or the nearby cities of Pittsfield and North Adams or the nearby towns of Hancock and Williamstown. Further north is Bennington, Vermont and further south are Lee, Stockbridge, and Great Barrington. Westward is Albany and the New York Capital District, and east is Springfield and Amherst. If on the Appalachian Trail, north are New Ashford and Williamstown, and south are Washington, Becket, Tyringham, and Lee.
| Routes through Cheshire |
| North Adams ← Adams ← | N  S |
→ Lanesborough → Pittsfield |
| Springfield ← Deerfield ← | S  N |
→ Adams → Ends at  |
| North Adams ← New Ashford ← | N  S |
→ Becket → Lee |