Sunday Driving

It's a short drive from the Dover Plains train station to our little house - barely 50 miles- yet the scenery that unveils itself on both sides of the road makes you wish the journey would never end.

From the gorgeous estates, or 'cottages' as they say, to the sweeping landscapes and humble New England villages, it’s no wonder many of the Romantic artists drew their inspiration here, and New Yorkers and Bostonians alike caravan through the hills in all seasons.

Every time we drive out, I think of certain landmarks that capture my attention. It could be raining, snowing, or bright sun, and certain of the landscapes just have an aura about them. In the mist, many of the lower hills really are as dreamlike as James Taylor told us many years ago.

And so, in this post, I highlight the natural beauty of the Berkshires. Stay tuned for upcoming posts with my photos of some of the most marvelous country farms and summer 'cottages', as well as my favorite spots in Lenox, Stockbridge and northwest Connecticut. Hope you enjoy the views as much as I do.

Above: Undermountain Farm - Undermountain Road, Lenox, MA. I think I've photographed this view a dozen times.

Above: The intersection of Interlaken and Hawthorne, Lenox, MA - just across the street from Kripalu and Tanglewood

Above: Highlawn Farm, Lee, MA. What used to be a small local dairy has become a serious player in the organic dairy business, with distribution to Boston and parts of New York. Although we can't yet buy their milk in NYC, I'm sure there is a plan in the works.

Above: Mill Pond - just outside of South Egremont, MA. This vista lays at the intersection of Mt Washington and North Undermountain Road. A turn past this swamp and you head towards Jug End State Reservation.

Above: View to a cattle farm off North Undermountain Road (Route 41), Egremont, MA. Two summers ago we stopped to take pictures and ended up meeting the owner. Amazing operation - the butchering is done on premises and he takes special orders. In the distance, you can see the cows. They're smart enough to stay out of the sun and catch a nap under the trees.

Above: This cow is actually from a different farm near Sharon, CT - not sure the name. There are no fewer than a dozen cattle farms on our drive. This cow seemed interested in my camera - or perhaps it wanted to charge me. Or maybe it was daydreaming. We'll never know.

Above: Although this is not a scenic vista, I had to include it. Sweet Williams in Salisbury, CT is our regular shop and bakes the best pastries I've ever had - and I'm including Paris (oh, the shame!). I mean, it's that good. We stop here every time we drive back to the train.

Above: A tasty scone. It won't last long.

Above: In addition to horse and cattle farms, there are several boarding schools along our drive, including the Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA. The campus is just as gorgeous as the stone wall that frames the entry, and I'll share pictures in one of my upcoming posts.

Above: A backyard near Sharon, CT. The laundry looked so beautiful in the sunlight, I couldn't help but take a photo.

Above: A grand entry drive near Sharon, CT. In addition to cows, mountains and boarding schools, there are all number of the most amazing homes in the Berkshires. We know these homes as summer 'cottages', but they're all straight-up estates- distinguished, graceful, charming estates of yesteryear, lovingly maintained by very wealthy people with really good taste. I particularly like the symmetry in this frame.

Above: Tory Hill near Salisbury, CT - arguably my favorite view of the trip. Just breathtaking.

Above: Cemetery somewhere near Salisbury, CT. New England is full of old, extremely photogenic cemeteries. This one happens to be along our route.

Above: A farm just about 10 miles outside the train station at Dover Plains, NY. Brian actually spotted this scene and we couldn't get over it: the cows were marching along, eating in a line, just mowing down the grass and enjoying the sunshine.