Today OTH begins a series of posts about Weir Farm National Historic Site. The reason is, that in addition to being an interesting historic site, Weir Farm offers a setting for a short walk in a beautiful tranquil bucolic landscape. If you’re looking for a relaxing walk through some old farming fields and by a few rock walls, this is the place to go. Weir Farm is located in Wilton, CT, on the border with Ridgefield, CT.
J. Alden Weir, an American painter, thought by many to be the father of American impressionist art, purchased the farm in 1882 as a summer retreat. It remained in the family until 1990 when it was acquired by the National Park Service and made into a National Historic Site. For complete information about Weir Farm, maps and directions, and the many programs offered, visit http://www.nps.gov/wefa.
From a walking perspective, Weir Farm and the adjoining Weir Preserve (not part of the National Historic Site) offer a variety of walking experiences, all on the easy side. This post will focus on on the fields around the NPS Headquarters and visitors center. Future posts will describe other parts of the Historic Site and the Preserve.
Depending on how you count them, there are about five or six fields around the NPS buildings. They connect and paths are mowed through the high grass-like vegetation through each field. The fields are bordered by rock walls built many, many years ago through what must have been back breaking labor. To walk through all the fields probably only takes 30-40 minutes. But the real pleasure of walking through the Weir Farm is not seeing how quickly you can traverse the fields. It is taking your time, perhaps sitting on a rock for a spell and taking in the landscape which is a mixture of red farm buildings, fields, rock walls, gardens, and, of course, hardwoods.
On a recent walk, OTH saw two wild turkeys, about 50 feet from the barn. 25 years ago seeing a wild turkey would have been quite an event. Today they are are common. The habitat must have become more favorable to the species. The Weir Preserve woods that adjoin the Farm are home to deer and many small mammals.
Weir Farm is not a destination for a strenuous hike. But for a pleasant walk through a series of meadows surrounding an appealing collection of old farm buildings, it would be hard to beat Weir Farm National Historic Site.
I hope you treated yourself to a glass of Wild Turkey when you got home!
Well, it wasn’t Wild Turkey but the Bacardi & tonic tasted pretty good.
It felt like I was on the hike with you! Cheers!
I wish you had been. Maybe sometime in the future!
I do envy your beautiful blog!