The Best Bed and Breakfasts in Vermont

The pristine white clapboard frame and giant bay windows of the Four Chimneys are a grand sight through the trees on the outskirts of Bennington, set back from the main east-to-west road that runs through the town. The current structure of this Vermont bed and breakfast was rebuilt from scratch following a fire in 1910 which destroyed the 1783 original. The local businessman who carried out this ambitious project did a good job – the 11 guest rooms are ample in size and decorated in an old-world style, while providing every modern comfort. Wake up each day to a hearty country breakfast served in the dining room.

At Whitford House, on a country road with views of the Adirondack mountains, you can stay in either the main house, the separate guest house or the self-contained twin view barn, an unheated rustic seasonal rental sitting in 20 acres (8ha) of lawn and meadows. The main building of this B&B in Vermont is a restored, 18th-century New England farmhouse – enjoy a warm seat by the fire in the Great Room, with its 11ft (3m) local Panton stone hearth beneath an original hand-hewn timber beam ceiling. Breakfast includes local and organic options, steel-cut oatmeal, granola and home-grown seasonal fresh fruit.

On a hillside above the village of West Dover, Deerhill Inn has views of the forested slopes of the Deerfield Valley with the Green Mountains beyond, including Haystack Mountain and Mount Snow. The latter is just 4mi (6km) away and has some of the best downhill skiing in the Eastern United States. If you’d prefer a more sedate activity, speak to hotel staff to book a romantic ride in a red Vermont sleigh behind a pair of black Friesian horses. Many of the 13 guest rooms at Deerhill Inn have mountain views, private decks, jetted tubs, rainforest showers and fireplaces. The country breakfast is cooked to order and can be enjoyed in the dining room or within your lodgings.

Built in 1764, the original inn, one of the oldest and best bed and breakfasts in Manchester, Vermont, features a formal living room, gathering room and library. All 10 guest rooms have a fireplace and four-poster bed, and some have a jacuzzi. Breakfast begins with a choice of cranberry or orange juice, a parfait of yogurt, home-made granola and fresh fruit, followed by a different hot entrée each day. The Green Mountain views in the Conservatory make it a great place to enjoy your meal.

Swift House Inn is a great base from which to explore Middlebury, one of the prettiest towns in Vermont. It comprises three historic buildings in 4 acres (1.6ha) of grounds, just a short walk from the town center. There are 20 rooms, each with a private bath and many with a jet tub, wood or gas fireplace and seating area. For breakfast you’ve a choice of savory and sweet cooked-to-order entrées – you can’t go wrong with the egg scrambler: two eggs cooked with your pick from a selection of extras, while cold options include cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit and inn-made granola.

Built in 1793, the Quechee Inn was originally the home of Colonel Joseph Marsh, Vermont’s first lieutenant governor. This Vermont bed and breakfast has since been expanded to 22 guest rooms and three suites adorned with Queen Anne furnishings and period antiques. From the multi-paned windows, there are great views out towards Dewey’s Mill Pond, the Ottauquechee River and the spruce and hardwood trees that surround the property. The food at the inn is pure old Vermont – try the black pepper-encrusted top sirloin steak, which is pan-seared in a bourbon sauce with cream, dauphinoise potatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables.

On Route 100 in the village of Pittsfield, Amee Farm Lodge is a fully renovated post-and-beam farmhouse with 15 guest bedrooms. It’s all about hand-hewn wooden furniture, wide-planked pine floors and memory-foam mattresses on the beds, while the showers, lined with stone, come with large rain showerheads. You can’t beat the wraparound porch as a spot to lean back in an Adirondack chair and check out the Green Mountains scenery. The lodge sits in 40 acres (16ha), with two ponds, a waterfall and a network of hiking and biking trails.

This authentic, federal-style inn, overlooking the green in Middlebury, has deep roots in the town, having been built in 1803 by Loyal Case, a young lawyer and abolitionist who purchased the land from the town father, Gamaliel Painter. The 12-room bed and breakfast in Vermont is run by the Griggs, Vermont natives who donate a portion of their revenue each month to local charitable causes. The rooms are painted in bold, earthy tones and the continental breakfast, which includes Green Mountain yoghurt, warm steel-cut oats and buttermilk waffles, is delivered to your door. Choose from fresh berries, dried fruit, nuts and granola to top it off – with whipped cream and maple syrup for a sugary fix.

Waterbury has lots of attractive features, not least the fact it’s the home of Ben & Jerry’s main factory. If you’re going to be filling up on ice cream you’ll need somewhere good to stay, which is where the Old Stagecoach Inn comes in. Built in 1826, it’s been a tavern, stagecoach stop and the private residence of a 19th-century millionaire. The rooms all have air-conditioning and most have a private bath; several are big enough to accommodate families or groups. Downstairs is a large parlor with original antiques throughout – easy chairs, tapestries, oriental carpets, a working organ – and a friendly African gray parrot named Sophie. The hotel is even said to have a resident ghost. Breakfast is a loaded buffet table.

The Blue Horse Inn is a federal Greek revival-style house situated in the heart of Woodstock, with grounds overlooking the Ottauquechee River, Mount Tom and Middle Covered Bridge in the center of town. There’s a heated outdoor pool at this B&B in Vermont, or you can enjoy a walk by the river or in the gardens. Amenities in the rooms include complimentary William Roam skincare products. Breakfast starts with gourmet teas and locally roasted coffee served at your private table for two, with home-made granola and organic yogurt before the signature entrées of the day. Next door you’ll find the Woodstock Town Hall Theater, a neoclassical concert hall that’s home to music, theater and film events.

This Victorian mansion outside of Wilmington is a perfect base for exploring Southern Vermont and the nearby Mount Snow Resort. The White House Inn is situated on the crest of a hill surrounded by formal flower gardens and hardwood trees, and has 14 fireplaces, incredible molding and woodwork and original light fixtures. There’s also hand-painted wallpaper, an antique servant call system, a hidden staircase and even a haunted bank vault. Each of the 18 guest rooms have a private bath and are furnished with unique pieces.

On the outskirts of the small town of Waterford, the Rabbit Hill Inn is a 19-room bed and breakfast in Vermont with a range of room styles, including traditional, American country, modern and transitional. The Luxury Rooms, with whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, are worth a bit extra if you can afford it, and many rooms have views of the White Mountains. It’s inn policy not to have any landline telephones or televisions in the rooms to free you from distractions. There’s an Irish-style pub and for breakfast, try the corn and couscous pancakes with apple relish, house-cured and smoked ham and plenty of Vermont maple syrup.