In the beautiful Berkshires, there are many wonderful places to go and things to do. We have briefly described some of our favorites below.
Antique Shopping - Throughout Berkshire County, antique shops abound. The highest concentration is along Route 7 from Great Barrington south through Sheffield to Connecticut (about a 25-minute drive from Blantyre). Dealers offer a wide variety of antiques including furniture, silver, jewelry, art, pottery, and textiles, as well as appraisals and auctions for the novice or serious shopper. For further assistance visit berkshireantiquesandart.com.
Fishing - Tight Lines is run by Chris Windram, one of the most delightful fly fishing instructors we have ever met. Advanced reservations are required. Or you can take advantage of our membership and fish on a private, well-stocked lake in Becket, MA. They provide all the equipment. Individual or group reservations available. Please contact the Front Desk Staff at Blantyre.
Gardens - Ashintully Garden
in Tyringham, MA, is located on Tyringham Road about 7 miles south of
the junction of Route 102. It is maintained by the Trustees of Reservations.
Berkshire
Botanical Garden is a small but lovely botanical garden at the junction
of Route 183 and Route 102, Stockbridge, MA.
Golf - Cranwell
is a public 18-hole course as well as a Golf School adjacent to Blantyre.
Please contact the Front Desk Staff at Blantyre.
Stockbridge Country Club is a private club in Stockbridge with limited
booking availability. Please contact the Front Desk Staff to book advance
reservations.
Taconic Golf Club is located in Williamstown. Reservations cannot be made
until 3 days prior, in order to give their members time on the course.
Please call us and we will make a note on our calendar to assist.
Hiking or Walking Trails -
Many of these walks or hikes can be done on your own. Should you wish
us to assist with a guide, please call in advance.
Bartholomew's Cobble and Tyringham Cobble offer good South County walking
or hiking trails. Do inquire at BerkshireWeb
or call Blantyre for details.
Mount
Greylock is the highest point in Western Massachusetts and can be
accessed by driving to the top (45 minutes from Blantyre) or stop at the
Visitors Center and hike the mountain!
Monument Mountain is located about 20 minutes south of Blantyre. The access
for this trail is on Route 7 north of Great Barrington.
Bash Bish Falls is a good hike to a waterfall in southern Berkshire County.
It is great after a summer rain or to enjoy the fall foliage.
Pleasant
Valley Bird Sanctuary is part of the Massachusetts Audubon Society
and located about 4 miles from Blantyre. It offers wonderful walks, hikes,
nature lectures and tours.
Historical Houses - Arrowhead
is the home of Herman Melville. The novel Moby Dick was written here while Herman
Melville looked toward Mt. Greylock. Located in Pittsfield, MA about a
20-minute drive from Blantyre, this small museum is charming.
Edith Wharton's home is located at The
Mount. It is currently under renovation and the restoration tours
are fascinating.
Mission
House is part of the Trustees of Reservations properties located in
Stockbridge, MA.
Naumkeg
was the home of Ambassador Choate, Ambassador to Great Britain in the
late 1800s. His daughter developed the gardens, designed by Fletcher Steel,
and upon her death, donated the entire property to the Trustees of Reservations
who have maintained the house as it was in the late 1800s.
Horseback Riding - Eastover Stables offer Western trail riding. Some of our guests take English riding lessons at Undermountain Farm.
Hot Air Ballooning - Ballooning in the Berkshires with Paul Sena, Worthington, MA can be arranged for individuals or small groups. Cost is about $250.00 per person.
Museums - Berkshire
Museum is a fine local museum.
Chesterwood was
the home of Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial. It
is a wonderful museum with beautiful gardens. Open from May until mid-October.
Crane Museum of Papermaking
traces the history of papermaking in the United States.
Frelinghuysen Morris
House and Studio sits on a 46-acre estate next to Tanglewood. It was
the home of American abstract artists George L.K. Morris and Suzy Frelinghuysen,
and now showcases many of their works. Open July 4 - Columbus Day.
Hancock
Shaker Village is a 20 minute drive from Blantyre. It is the best
Shaker museum in the country, with 12 restored buildings and a gift shop.
It is open daily all year round.
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, or MassMoCA,
is located about an hour north of Blantyre in North Adams, MA. Set in
renovated industrial buildings of the former Sprague Electric complex,
this vast setting provides an extraordinary space for contemporary art
and sculpture.
Museum of the Gilded
Age at Ventfort Hall is currently under renovation. Located on Walker
Street, Lenox, MA, the property has limited tours available.
Norman Rockwell Museum
is a 20-minute drive from Blantyre. It houses the world's largest collection
of original art by America's favorite illustrator. His studio and a gift
shop are open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day).
Sterling and Francine
Clark Art Institute is a gem of a museum located in Williamstown,
MA, featuring an outstanding collection of Impressionist paintings, silver
and sculpture.
Williams College
Museum of Art, part of Williams College, is in Williamstown, MA.
Music - Tanglewood
is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and features concerts
in July and August.
Shopping -Antique shopping is available throughout
the Berkshires, with Route 7 from Great Barrington to Sheffield boasting
the most shops in a short distance. See more details under the "Antique
Shopping" section.
Outlet shopping is available in Lee, MA, on Rt. 20, about
1/2 mile east of the Mass Turnpike entrance.
The local villages, especially Lenox and Great Barrington, all have a
delightful assortment of small shops offering unique gift and clothing
choices.
Skeet Shooting - Stockbridge Sportsman's Club (a 15-minute drive from Blantyre) offers lessons for individuals or small groups. Advance reservations only.
Theater & Dance - Performances
are mostly (but not exclusively) during the summer months. Do check the
web sites below or contact Blantyre for more information.
Barrington
Stage Company is a local summer stock theater located in Great Barrington.
Berkshire Theatre
Festival is the third oldest theater in the nation and has been active
for more than seventy years. The theatre is located in Stockbridge.
Berkshire Lyric
Theatre is a community music organization with a professional-level
community chorus.
Berkshire Opera Company
has a new permanent location in Great Barrington.
Jacob's Pillow Dance
Festival hosts dance groups from all over the world.
Shakespeare and Company
presents indoor and outdoor productions of Shakespearean plays from May
to October. The company has a new permanent home on Kemble Street in Lenox.
Williamstown Theatre
Festival is one of America's preeminent theatres.
Weather - The weather in our area can change rapidly. Before your visit do check the local weather and plan accordingly.
