How about your own ocean-view cottage...with luxury?

Greetings from Gordon and Jean at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast,

Gordon and I are wishing you all a Happy Spring. It is time for us to start “gearing”up for the arrival of our B+B guests, trying new recipes, washing windows and spring cleaning the house and yard! We want everything to be perfect for you, our best guests!

We want to let you know of the improvements we have made in the Nantucket cottage to make that popular, cozy space even nicer for a 3-6 night stay, or for a weekly stay this summer either as a B+B accommodation or as a self-catering Guest House accommodation. Some of you already have made your reservations and we want you to be aware of the improvements before you arrive. If you have not made a reservation yet, we hope that Fort Hill B+B will be in your vacation plans this year if you are able to sneak away to Cape Cod!

*The cottage is now air conditioned with the installation of 2 powerful, whisper quiet, ductless units installed in the bedroom and the living room. Each indoor unit has its own thermostat and operate so efficiently and quietly that you will never want to leave! We hope these additions will make your stay in the cottage during the increasingly hot, humid summers more comfortable.

*The Kitchen can now live up to its name as a place to prepare an entire meal....not just breakfast or a snack! Once the weather breaks I will be planting some herbs by the cottage door so you can help yourself! And of course, the organic veggie garden is aways just a few steps away.

*New for 2016 is the addition of a butcher block island with an induction burner and pots and pans....perfect for boiling, sauteing and simmering! The pull up table under the windows has been outfitted with stools for dining. Or, the table in the living room and the outdoor table give a couple of other options for sitting down to an eat-in meal.

*In addition to the existing microwave drip coffee maker and refrigerator, the kitchen now also boasts a convection toaster-oven and Keurig coffee maker. We will provide a few starter k-cups with a variety of flavored coffees for the Keurig and encourage guests to use the refillable single cup holder with their own favorite coffee.

If there is anything else you can think of that would make your stay in the cottage more comfortable we would love to know. In the meantime, we will be posting pictures on our Facebook page which you should all be able to access.

Stay well. We hope to see you soon!

The National Seashore Beach belongs to all of us.....on foot.

An open letter to anyone who loves the National Seashore Beach in Eastham,

As a long-time resident of Eastham, in a location which overlooks Nauset Marsh and Coast Guard Beach, I would like to express my dismay at the prospect that, contrary to Eastham's bylaws, vehicles may be allowed to drive on Eastham's portion of Coast Guard/Nauset Beach. While others in Orleans may bemoan the closure of the vehicular access at the Eastham line, I applaud it. The spit belongs to all of us, on foot or by boat...not exclusively to Orleans residents who want to drive on Eastham's section of the fragile spit.

Granted, I have a vested interest in seeing the pristine sand spit remain free from the hoards of vehicles that populated it before Eastham enforced its bylaw against vehicles on the beach last year. For over 28 years we have looked out from Historic Fort Hill in the National Seashore to much the same seascape that was witnessed by Captain Edward Penniman in the early 1900's. It is a rare and lovely sight to see... the rolling farm fields, marsh, sand dunes and ocean in their natural form, with walking beachgoers,  picnickers, fisherman and boaters enjoying the serenity of the spot.

Contrast that with the view (after the break moved further north) of the same section of beach in Eastham , populated with vehicles from Orleans. 

The portion of beach shown in both photos above is in Eastham as seen from Fort Hill. When the “break” was further south, several year ago, there was a long section of Eastham's beach north of the break; ALL visitors and residents of Cape Cod had access to the beach and “break”, by foot or by boat. The historic view from Fort Hill was serene.

When Mother Nature shifted the sands to move the break further north several years ago, Eastham's access to its own beach became limited to boat access only, and encroachers in cars and trucks from Orleans moved onto the spit, claiming ownership. The historic view is destroyed....the beach became a parking lot for Orleans residents.

The beach in question is in Eastham. Eastham has a bylaw prohibiting vehicular access, preserving one of the most precious scenic views in the National Seashore. The National Seashore and Eastham are in agreement...no vehicles on the Eastham section of Nauset Spit.  

Oysters and Lupins!

Love Oysters? This is the weekend to be here on the outer cape enjoying Wellfleet Restaurant Week....it starts today!

And Fort Hill is in bloom.  Get a load of the lupins in bloom with Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Marsh in the background.  It's right out the door...come join us!

We have a 2-night min vacancy in the Lucille suite here at the FortHill Bed and Breakfast...just 10 minutes from some great restaurants in Wellfleet and in the middle of the best views on Cape Cod! Give us a call or drop us an e-mail. 

View over Fort Hill to Nauset Marsh, Coast Guard Beach and the Atlantic

Plein air artist...Serendipity at Fort Hill!

Several years ago Gordon, also known as Dear Husband, captured this artist painting one of our favorite views from Fort Hill.  

So it was quiet a surprise to greet our guests this weekend...one of whom looked vaguely familiar.  No...it couldn't be...could it!   Plein air artist  Arni Casavant of Mystic River Gallery apparently often paints and teaches on the outer Cape so it was a very pleasant surprise to have him as our B+B guest. He is currently showing his work locally at one of the popular galleries in Orleans, Gallery 31. 

If you love art, love to paint, take pictures, sketch or just look at art then the outer Cape is a great place to explore.  And we know just the place for you to stay! Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast-Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic

Cape Cod National Seashore from Fort Hill, Eastham

The National Park Service has worked hard over the years to preserve the Fort Hill Rural Historic Area much as it was in the late 1800's. Here is a recent late winter shot Gordon took of the Nauset Marsh at the base of Fort Hill with the dunes on the back side of Coast Guard Beach in the distance. This kind of view is just outside the door of the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.

We are taking reservations for 2014.....How about joining us for some warm hospitality and a chance to experience  REAL Cape Cod!

Vernal Equinox Sunrise from the Cape Cod National Seashore

To celebrate the first full day of spring we took an early morning walk to catch first light. It was SO worth it!

Sunrise over Nauset Marsh looking east from Eastham to Coast Guard Beach from Hemenway landing in the Fort Hill Area, a short walk from the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.

Today is one of 2 days in the year that the sun rises due EAST...and when you are in Eastham on the eastern most edge of MA, that means the sunrises with all of America at your back!   From now until the solstice in June it starts it's journey NE along the horizon. 

Fort Hill Area...The jewel in the crown of the Cape Cod National Seashore!

Here is another of my favorite shots of the Fort Hill Area, Eastham, MA! This one was an early summer shot... green meadows, forests and marsh. You can clearly see the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast across from the Captain Penniman House, as well as most of the Fort Hill Area of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The Red Maple Swamp trail runs along the lower left-center of this picture, obscured by the thick tree cover. The Fort Hill Area offers scenic views, walking trail, and historic tour as well as luxury lodging for adults who love a quiet, natural setting.

Please feel free to share this awesome bird's eye view. 
Visit our web site for availability and more photos.

Fort Hill Area of Cape Cod National Seashore
Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast (Sylvanus Knowles House)
Captain Edward Penniman House (red roof)

Bird's Eye View of Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

From time to time, some of our guests do a fly-by of Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast and they kindly send us the pictures they take! Here's a bird's eye view of the Fort Hill Area in the Cape Cod National Seashore, including the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, (marked with red arrow across from the Captain Penniman House, with red roof and whale bone arch), and Nauset Marsh.  What a special place!! 

If you are really interested in the history, culture and environment of the area take a look at this Olmsted Center Report of the Fort Hill Rural Historic District.    We are one of 3 National Historic Properties in the Fort Hill Area, Sylvanus Knowles House (that's us!), Seth Knowles House, and the Captain Edward Penniman House. 

Come Join us here at Fort Hill.  It's time to contact us for a reservation in 2014!

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast

Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic in the Historic Fort Hill Area

75 Fort Hill Road

Eastham, MA 02642

508-240-2870

info@forthillbedandbreafast.cominfo@forthillbedandbreakfast.com

Location, Location, Location!

Walk out the door of your private suite or cottage to some of the most breathtaking views on the outer  Cape.  Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast is the ONLY lodging located inside the Cape Cod National  Seashore's Fort Hill Area.

Nauset Marsh with Nauset Beach/Coast Guard Beach in the distance. Fort Hill is ocean-front with a full-moon-high tide filling the marsh and covering the grass. Soon the marsh will turn green and the fields will be filled with wild flowers.  The walking trails in the Fort Hill Area are among the most popular in the park.  Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast is a National Historic property that sits directly across from the historic Captain  Penniman House whale bone arch.

We feel so privileged to be located in the Fort Hill Area of the National Seashore and to be able to share this special place with our guests at the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.  Isn't it time to think about making your reservation for a stay?  We are located 5 minutes from Orleans and 10 minutes from Wellfleet.

It was a relatively mild February weekend and allowed us to get out on to Coast Guard Beach for a lovely winter walk. The beach is ever-changing so we never get bored walking the spit! It was low tide, sunny, 50 degrees with only a slight breeze...a rarity for sure on a February day at the Cape Cod National Seashore.  Some clever devil has collected all the flotsam and jetsam from the beach and crafted a make-shift lean-to.  I suppose it might be in the approximate location that was once Henry Beston's Fo'Castle shack on the outer beach that was washed away in the Blizzard of '78.  The beach is still changing...with every storm.  Aren't we lucky to be so close?

There is always something new to see when you come to Cape Cod!