One of the benefits of staying at a B&B or Inn instead of a hotel is the personal service you get from your innkeepers...in addition to the fabulous breakfasts :)  A B&B is not just a place to put your head at night, it is a part of the vacation experience!  Below are descriptions of some of our Innkeepers' favorite hikes...not just the ones you find listed in the guide books.  Let's just consider these our little secrets ;)

Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail
Paula and Rob from Little River Bed & Breakfast in Peterborough had a hard time picking just one but decided on the Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail.  It is a newly marked trail that connects downtown Peterborough with the peak of South Pack Monadnock. The trail passes through an open field, past some wetlands, and then follows a wooded path along a stream before starting to climb.  It then passes alongside very secluded Cranberry Meadow Pond, and up again as it meets Miller State Park and the climb to the top of South Pack.

Heald Track and Sheldrick Forest
Anne from Auk's Nest in Temple suggests the Heald Tract and Sheldrick Forest which combined have over 1200 acres and eight miles of trails in Wilton and Temple.  Several ponds, is home to nearly every species of mammal in Southern NH including moose, fox, otter, blue heron, and a magnificent seventy five foot wide and seven foot tall beaver dam!

Goose Pond
Marilee and Dave at Carriage Barn B&B in Keene like to send their guests to Goose Pond which is beautifully scenic and takes about 45 minutes to hike around.

Rhododendron State Park
Carole and Ken at Ashburn House in Fitzilliam say the Wildflower Trail on Little Monadnock in Fitzwilliam is the best kept secret in the area.  Beautiful any time of year with views of Mt Monadnock, this trail in 2700 acre Rhododendron State Park is at its peak in July when the wild rhododendron bloom.

Academy Ravine
Jacquie at the Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole suggests the Bellows-Knapp Memorial Trail at Academy Ravine where Mad Brook cascades over bedrock into a gorge while giant oaks, sycamores and hemlocks shade the mossy trail all season long.

Greenfield State Park
Barbabra and Vic at Greefield Inn say many of their guests enjoy walking the one mile it takes to reach Greenfield State Park from their inn.  The 400 acre ark has walking trails and a pond with a public beach.

Mt Caesar
Meg and Wayne at Inn of the Tartan Fox say one of their favorite short hikes is Mt. Caesar in Swanzey. The peak is 915 ft, there is a nice view of the surrounding valley from the top and it is a great place to spot birds.  One of their most memorable sightings was an owl they watched sitting in a pine tree.  On their way down the mountain he flew across the path in front of them.  This is an enjoyable hike that takes about an hour, no rock scrambles, but a nice combination of gradual up and a couple of steeper places.

Crotched Mountain
When people stay at The Inn at Crotched Mountain, Rose and John reccomend a hike up Crotched Mountain.  From their front door, it is 1 1/2 miles to the top with great views overlooking Powdermill Pond, the back side of Pack Monadnock and of course, Mount Monadnock.

Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
Leesa at The Historic Fitzwilliam Inn says the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail is a 114 mile trail that goes right past the inn.  It starts (or ends) at Mount Monadnock and winds its way South into Massachusetts all the way to Connecticut!