Beautiful Secluded Country House

Spacious farmhouse on 80 acres with sweeping views of rolling hills. New FIOS cable to the house means fast and reliable internet, including strong ZOOM capabilities. Rambling old house offers many comfortable places, inside and out. It's private and quiet here but not fancy. With no lights in the landscape, it's great for stargazing, a bonfire and sleeping. Visit restaurants in Northampton, local swim holes; walk our trails and dirt roads. Note: Nightly base price is for up to 6 guests. This is a wonderful old house lovingly cared for, updated and added onto over more than two hundred years. Spacious farmhouse kitchen is well equipped (but no granite counters!) The house has lots of comfortably furnished common spaces with bright and sunny southern facing windows and lovely views of the hills and meadows. With the exception of the attic, garage and a small storage room on the first floor, the whole house and grounds are available for your use. There is a cabin with a queen bed which is included in the base price, but is not counted in the list of beds within the house. The cabin is an "extra" bed option. It has electricity but no plumbing. In many cases, especially in cold weather, Ingrid may be at the house to welcome guests upon their arrival - to demonstrate use of the wood stove and other house systems. Otherwise you will have complete privacy but can reach Ingrid by phone or text for any questions or issues that may come up during the stay. Cummington was the boyhood home of American poet William Cullen Bryant and his beautiful restored homestead is nearby and open to the public. The Old Creamery Co-op is a great place for local and organic fruits and veggies, ice cream, coffee, baked goods, wine, prepared food. Beautiful natural areas to visit nearby include the Chesterfield Gorge (operated by the Trustees of Reservations) and the Bend where locals swim in the Westfield River. Also in Cummington are the Greenwood Music Camp and Shire Village Camp. Families coming up for concerts at Greenwood or picking up campers may enjoy staying at Sweet Water Farm for their visit. Pioneer Valley: A half hour's drive brings you to Northampton which is a fun town with lots of restaurants and shops in addition to Smith College's Museum of Art and the beautiful Victorian greenhouse and botanical gardens. Also in the Pioneer Valley are the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College and Hampshire College as well as the Eric Carle Museum of Illustration. Food: The closest big grocery stores are in Northampton and in Pittsfield. Close by, we recommend Cummington’s Old Creamery Food Co-op for its great selection of organic produce, baked goods, prepared foods, wine/beer, eat in or take out and friendly vibe. Visiting the Berkshires: Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, The Mount, (Edith Wharton's home in Lenox) and many other wonderful cultural experiences are a 45 drive from Cummington. The house is best accessible by car and there is ample parking. It's a 40 minute drive to lively Northampton and 30 minutes to Pittsfield where there are big grocery stores and more. The closest public transportation is by bus to Pittsfield or Northampton. Extras to note: We have a gas grill on the deck, new for 2020 season. We have a Mr. Coffee coffee maker machine and filters as well as a Keurig and also a coffee bean grinder. Cell/WiFi Service: There is ok cell service at the house, however there is poor cell service on the roads in the area so you need to have your directions in hand before setting out. A new FIOS system was installed in September 2020, so WiFi service in the house is strong. Water use: we have a hot water on demand system which means that there is no hot water tank with a set amount of water which could run out. Instead, our system heats water as it is “demanded”. Our system works well for one shower at a time, even for a large group. However, it cannot provide enough hot water for two hot showers at once or for one shower and the dishwasher/washing machine/bath use at the same time. Using a map service: there is a Pleasant Street in nearby Plainfield, (while we are on Pleasant Street in Cummington), and some mapping services will try to route you there instead of to our house in Cummington. Parking: There is parking at the house for up 6 cars comfortably, 10 cars is possible Being Outside: There is no poison ivy on the property. We recommend a tick check after being in the woods and fields. It's an old farmhouse in the country - nature is all around! Despite screens on doors and windows, moths and other insects may follow you in, especially at night if the lights are on.