Tag: Holderness

We woke on our 7th wedding anniversary to a chilly morning with mist on Squam Lake.

When we got to Weirs Beach, there was just as much mist on Lake Winnipesaukee and not the best day for a boat trip but our wedding reception was held on a boat on the Thames and we have celebrated on the water ever since … no day too grey!

We went aboard the MS Mount Washington and took a few atmospheric photos then retreated indoors for hot breakfast rolls and coffee.

The lake covers 72 sq miles and contains some 365 islands, albeit a few only the size of a rock, but we really didn’t see it at its best. Some people disembarked at Wolfboro which claims to be the oldest summer resort in America, but we stayed onboard and returned to Weirs Beach.

The day didn’t look likely to improve, so we stopped at Squam Lake Marketplace for essential provisions of prosecco, homemade soup to reheat later, feta pies and broccoli salad and retreated to our cosy cottage for the rest of the day!

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Awaking to a chilly but sunny morning, we saw a dusting of snow on the mountains as we drove to Benton’s Sugar Shack for breakfast.

The Benton’s have been making maple syrup for five generations then 30 years ago opened a small eating place for skiers which looks like its hardly changed and now they open year round for breakfast at the weekend. We waited a while for a table which we then shared with another couple and breakfast certainly kept us going all day.

We made a quick stop for Blair Bridge …

… then continued to Holdness where we are staying at Cottage Place on the edge of Squam Lake, in a cute little cottage all to ourselves.

We were quickly out again, not wanting to waste any of the sunshine and drove a short way so we could take a hike with views of the lake. It was just a couple of miles on the flat to explore the Five Fingers Trail but we got some lovely pics.

Still on pancake power, we went for a viewpoint too, a half mile up to Eagle Cliff where we could look out on the lake from above.

We went to Squam Lake Inn Kitchen for a very cosy dinner with a portobello mushroom stack for Chris and pork chop for me. Across the room, some of the Autumn Watch crew including Chris Packham were having dinner. They have been here in Squam Lake for a week or so and will be broadcasting a New England special from 17-19 October, so with the wonders of science and the Virgin app I’ve managed to set it up to record so we won’t miss it! It does seem that the best of the fall foliage colour has yet to arrive here as we haven’t seen the the vibrant reds that we saw in the mountains.

Fortunately our cottage has an efficient heater and plenty of blankets as the temperature tonight might hit freezing again.

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