Treat yourself to a stay in the Nantucket Cottage...at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast.

The Nantucket ocean-view Cottage at the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast

Luxury, comfort, quiet and total privacy or warm, unobtrusive hospitality....with ocean views, self-catering or breakfast included.  Inside the scenic, historic Fort Hill Area of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Eastham, MA.  We still have a couple of weeks left in the summer...shorter stays too!  Give us a call. (2 Adults, no pets, no smoking, as a B+B or Guest House accommodation)

Nantucket ocean-view Cottage

Nantucket cottage living room with gas stove (seasonal).

18' X 20' with ocean view, AC and comfy seating

This sofa opens to a queen bed (in case one of you snores!)  

The bedroom is on the second floor and has its own whisper-quiet ductless AC.

The perfect place to watch the sunrise over the ocean with your morning coffee.

Plenty of books, games, puzzles, DVDs 

Original artwork by local artist is for sale 

Nantucket Cottage kitchen has an induction burner, pots and pans and utensils.

Microwave, Keurig coffee maker, farm sink.  

Inside the island you will find drip coffee maker, tea kettle, waffle maker, salad spinner and more!

This handy convection toaster oven will allow you to roast as well as broil if you desire.

Bedroom has queen bed. We provide fine linens...you provide the romance.

Sitting area in the cottage bedroom.

What's for Breakfast?

Here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast we serve a full, hot breakfast cooked especially for our guests from fresh, local ingredients.  The entree may contain fresh herbs or vegetables from our organic garden.  This morning we offered one of our signature dishes: Cheesy chive egg soufflé along with  fresh fruit cup and herbed heirloom tomatoes. 

Blueberry cake adds another dimension for those with a sweet tooth.  








And, as usual, the sideboard holds our home-made almond-maple granola and freshly made yogurt.  Sound good?  Why not join us one morning  here on scenic Fort Hill, in the National Seashore, overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic.

Sitting on a pot of Gold: Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, Overlooking the Atlantic

A picture really does not do this awesome sight justice.  It was a fast moving thunderstorm, leaving a clear, cool blue sky behind it that produced a double light-show rainbow.  We feel so lucky to live and work here at Fort Hill.  How many people can look out their kitchen window and know that they are sitting on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

You could be lucky too!  We still have a few vacancies in the house and cottage.  Give us a call before we are full!

June in Bloom!

Here at Fort Hill we brave the winds of winter, always looking forward to June...the garden month!  The organic veggie garden is in (more about that later) and the perennial garden is strutting its stuff.  

Come see it in person. We have vacancy for June 8-10 in Emma Suite.  We are just 10 minutes from Wellfleet Center and a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life! 

Warm hospitality, a gourmet full breakfast and private, top notch accommodations...Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic!

Emma Suite June 8,9,10,11...Join Us!

If you are looking for a lovely, spacious, private suite for a  2-4 night stay you are in luck.  A last minute cancellation has opened up the gracious Emma suite for the nights of June 8-11. We serve a great full breakfast and can help you plan your day.  Our location in the National Seashore on Fort Hill is second to none!  Read our reviews to see what others say about us and then contact us.

Emma Suite (2 adults) offers:

• Warm, yet unobtrusive hospitality from seasoned, professional hosts

• Direct access to National Seashore Fort Hill Area (scenic views and trails)
• 3 acres of gardens/lawn
• Tastefully decorated rooms with quality furnishings, wood flooring
• Queen Bed 
• Quality cotton bed linens
• Private bathroom with full size, modern fixtures
• Cast-iron soaking tub/tile shower combo
• Fluffy towels, Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities
• Hairdryer
• Bathrobes
• Daily light housekeeping
• Quiet ductless AC 
• Ample lighting, books, 2 Comfortable chairs 
• Separate, private sitting area 
• Piano 
• Quiet, Adult-only, pet-free environment
• Cable TV, flat-screen with DVD
• AM/FM radio 
• Free high-speed WiFi
• Guest Refrigerator
• Beach towels, chairs, umbrella
• Early morning beverage (coffee/tea)
• Light daily housekeeping
• Complimentary, served 3-course breakfast 
• Organic herb, vegetable, flower gardens
• 24 hour Tea Cart 
• Iron/ironing board
• Free ample parking

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.  

Wellfleet Audubon Sanctuary....a peaceful escape.

We were tourists yesterday!  Yup, we got away from the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast to take a nice long walk in the Wellfleet Wildlife Sanctuary, an Audubon area on the Bay side encompassing acres of marsh and upland in North Eastham and South Wellfleet.  We came across this shorebird that gave a surprising flash of white when it flew off.  A Willet?  That's what we are thinking....any better ideas?

Our favorite walk to Coast Guard Beach

Walking through Paradise on the way to Coast Guard Beach in Eastham!

 This is one of our favorite walks because it always changes with the season and it directly connects to our favorite beach, Coast Guard.  Notice the goldenrod in the foreground and the pale golden hue in the marsh....just magnificent!  Of course, Fort Hill is our favorite walk, with vistas out to the sandy beach and Atlantic ocean, wildflower meadows, and forest, but for a beach walk we always choose to walk to Coast Guard Beach in the National Seashore.  

Here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast we still have vacancy in our ocean view Nantucket Cottage, as a guest house accommodation (self-catering),  for Oysterfest weekend, October 16-20.  Send us an e-mail if you are interested in staying in this fully heated, luxury cottage with gas fireplace.  

Best Lobster Shack on Cape Cod

Looking for some of the best Lobster in New England?  Right here in Eastham, just a couple of minutes from the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, you will find one of Yankee Magazine's Top Picks for the Best New England Lobster Shacks.  Yum...butter dripping down your chin and maybe even a round of miniature golf and and ice cream cone to cap off the summer season!

Breakfast Delight...Panna Cotta at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast!

It's a busy time here at Fort Hill...the summer has been glorious and the beaches at their best! This morning we had home-made vanilla bean panna cotta and fresh fruit topped in a berry compote as a first course. it was a big hit! Here is a before and after picture as well as an easy recipe I picked up while we were in Italy last fall. I double the recipe for the B+B gang.

Fort Hill Panna Cotta

Serves 4-5

1/2 cup half-and-half
1 envelope unflavored powdered gelatin
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup plus 2 Tb. Sugar
2” piece vanilla bean, split
grated zest of 1 lemon or 1 small orange, optional

Butter five 1/2-cup ramekins.
Pour gelatin on half-and-half. Stir to dissolve.
In medium-heavy saucepan, mix cream, sugar, vanilla bean and gelatin mixture.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until the mixture begins to boil. (Don’t boil over pan!)
Cook until the mixture begins to thicken slightly, then remove the pan from heat and discard the bean.
Stir in lemon zest if desired.
Pour into ramekins, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (5 hours) or overnight.

To un-mold: run a knife around the sides of the ramekin. Place a serving plate on top and invert the mold on the plate. Or dip each mold quickly in hot water and then invert.
Serve with fresh fruit, shaved chocolate or make a caramel sauce.

Best use for Garlic Scapes!

It's garlic scapes time! Here's one of our favorite recipes...among several that use garlic scapes.  Don't you just love the way these tender green shoots look in a harvest basket?  They taste even better than they look and are prized for their delicate garlic flavor.  We grow our own organic garlic and harvest their tender green shoots in June.  

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast's  
Cannellini Bean and Garlic Scapes Dip

Ingredients:
15 ounces cannellini beans, canned, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup garlic scapes, chopped
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
1/2 cup very good extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon joice
1/4 teaspoon seas salt (or to taste, depending on beans and cheese)
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
1. Add beans to bowl of food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times. Add the garlic scapes and olive oil. Process for 30 seconds.
2. Add the lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper and process until the dip is thick and creamy and the garlic scapes have been incorporated into the beans. If the dip is dry add a bit more oil. Serve with whole grain crackers or sliced baguette.

CNN: 20 Best Places to Visit in USA.....Cape Cod is #12

Wow! CNN thinks Cape Cod is #12 on the 20 Best Places to Visit travel guide. The picture in the article is of the Eastham Coast Guard Station on Coast Guard Beach. Yup...that's the beach we look at here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast and the one pictured below, taken by Gordon.

We have vacancy in the ocean view cottage from June 29-July 5 with a 5-night minimum. Come on Down!!  Full Breakfast, great beaches, lots to do...what's stopping you?

Coast Guard Beach in Eastham

June is busting' out all over!!

It's June...our perennial gardens are popping! The crowds have not arrived yet, but summer will be in full swing soon. If you have not made your reservations to visit #CapeCod and Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast this summer you should start to pick your dates. We still have vacancy in July but you can bet that our vacancies won't last long! 

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, inside the Cape Cod National Seashore

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, Overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, Eastham, Cape Cod, MA

Coast Guard Beach, National Seashore, Eastham, MA

Our guests never get tired of visiting this world class beach.  Coast Guard Beach in Eastham is regularly listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the USA, so it's no wonder that so many people want to stay on the outer cape, close to the sea!  One of the big advantages of staying at Fort Hill B+B is the easy access to 2 National Seashore Beaches, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Lighthouse Beach.  There is a small fee for parking at these beaches but did you know that if one of your party is over 62 that they qualify for the Golden Pass?  Yup, stop at the Salt Pond Visitor's Center in Eastham to purchase a $10 lifetime pass that will allow the driver and passengers to enter and park free for life.  The pass is good for all National Parks.

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast's favorite beach:  Coast Guard Beach, Eastham

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 at Fort Hill B&B

Cape Cod is beautiful in the Spring and Fort Hill is the the place to be!  Come join us here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast to walk the National Seashore beaches and trails, to bike the Rail Trail or just to sit a spell under the cherry tree.  Check out our web site and availability/rates at www.forthillbedandbreakfast.com

Fort Hill is in Bloom!

Have you ever seen a yellow Magnolia?  We know that spring has arrived here at Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast when "Butterfly" is showing her colors!  Time to get those windows washed and mow the lawn....Spring has arrived!  We have vacancy for most dates in 2014 but the phone is beginning to ring so be sure to make your reservation soon if you want the best choice of accommodation. The Nantucket Cottage gets the ocean view AND a view of the Magnolia!

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast-Overlooking the Atlantic

info@forthillbedandbreakfast.com

Mother's Day Escape

Give her a couple of nights away from the work of every-day life!  Kick back, relax and renew.   We have a 2-3-night vacancy in the Lucille Suite this weekend.  Full Breakfast, quiet adult-only, luxury accommodations in a knock-out seaside location in the Cape Cod National Seashore Fort Hill Area of Eastham.  We are known for our warm hospitality and for the privacy of our historic accommodations.
You won't be sorry.....she'll love it!    :-)

Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast, overlooking Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic

Spring.....the Cape is coming alive again...finally.  We have vacancy in the main house this weekend with reduced spring rates in effect.  Come join us and recharge.  You know where we are!!!

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
www.forthillbedandbreakfast.comwww.forthillbedandbreakfast.com

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.