What’s New in Hampshire County: Head out to the Hilltowns
Rainbow over a field in Worthington
Photo by Lynne Graves
Tucked bucolically between the Pioneer Valley and the heart of the Berkshires, you’ll find the Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts — a collection of 39 communities that span areas of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. For anyone curious, the Hilltowns of Hampshire County include Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington. Now repeat the list 10 times fast.
OR, just put this area on your short list of Massachusetts tourist attractions to visit ASAP, because there’s a lot going in these often overlooked former mill towns. A creative economy is taking hold, with a mix of tourism, art, history, and local food. Spend the day scouring the local farm stands, or book a room and spend the entire weekend wandering. Check out a farm using horse-drawn plows. Buy some clothbound cheddar made from the raw milk of grass-fed cows. Savor a few precious moments free of national chain restaurants and enjoy the local flavor of the food, art, and people.
The Hilltown Mobile Market — The Hilltown Mobile Market is an innovative project that aims to increase the availability of fresh, local, and affordable produce to Hilltown residents. For ten weeks in 2019, they’re offering two "pop-up" farm stands in Worthington and Huntington, with produce from multiple local farms. Anyone can shop, and cash, credit, debit, SNAP, WIC, and Senior FMNP Coupons are all accepted.
Gateway Hilltowns — Looking for interesting things to do in Massachusetts? Gateway Hilltowns is a collaborative group of six towns in Western Mass, including Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, and Russell. On their new (and beautifully designed) website, you can find an interactive map with things to do and places to visit, along with suggestions for where to stay and how to make the most of your time there.
Chesterfield General Store — After closing in 2014, the Chesterfield General Store will be reopening as a grocery store and cafe, with an emphasis on all things local. The newly renovated space will have WiFi, a liquor license, lots of local offerings, and wood-fired pizza (made on site in a beehive brick oven).
The Williamsburg Snack Bar — Is it new? Not really. But it may be new to you! The Williamsburg Snack bar has become a local institution — serving up the very best burgers, dogs, fresh seafood, fish tacos, legendary overstuffed lobster rolls, and more. Find them year round on Route 9 in Haydenville.
Sawyer Farm — Sawyer Farm is an organic, horse-powered family farm in Worthington, MA, run by Lincoln Fishman and Hilary Costa since 2010. The couple, inspired by the Golden Age of Agriculture (1860s-1930s), runs the farm free of chemicals and with horses instead of tractors. Check out their farm store, open daily from 9am - 7pm, at 19 Sawyer Road in Worthington.
The Fiddlehead Inn featuring the Rabbit Hole Restaurant — The Fiddlehead Inn is a new overnight sanctuary in Worthington, offering guests a scenic and peaceful stay in the Berkshire foothills of Western Massachusetts. Unwind and recharge in one of their cozy guest rooms, or just come for the scratch kitchen fixings of the Rabbit Hole Restaurant.
Velvet — Velvet is the new, mostly organic, farm-to-table restaurant at the Links at Worthington (formerly known as the Worthington Golf Club). Situated on the eastern edge of the Berkshire mountain range, the dining opens up to gorgeous views in all directions.
Zoe Johnson Hand + Made — Zoe Johnson is an artisan hand making small batch goods in her Ashfield studio. TECHNICALLY, the physical space is just outside of Hampshire County. But it was too close and too good to leave out. Zoe sells her amazing leather bags (and more) through her website and on Etsy.
Grace Hill Farm — Grace Hill Farm is run by Max and Amy Breiteneicher in Cummington, MA. The vision for their farm grew out of their shared interests and values, including a love of good food made with integrity, a love of nature, and of living and working closely with animals and the land. We recommend the creamy Hilltown Blue, made by hand from grass-fed raw cow’s milk.