SEACOAST WALKS

This rural walk through tall pines, open fields and gardens reminds us of the days when family farms dominated local real estate. We wandered through on a lush July afternoon.

If Kingman Farm seems large by Seacoast trail standards – it is. The 335-acre Madbury family farm is currently owned by the University of New Hampshire. The public is invited to walk along an extensive trail system. But be sure to download the map before you go because there is little signage on site.

UNH acquired the Kingman Farm in 1961. Besides its educational value to the university, the public is invited to use the land in a variety of ways. According to a UNH web site, Kingman is available for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and foxhunt training for dogs. There are also a series of mountain bike races held in the fall to raise money for the UNH ski team. It is also heaven for dog owners. An extremely detailed guide to plants found along the nature trail Is available online (see below). You can also find video footage of mountain bike riding, both recreational and racing, on YouTube.

Our walk was thankfully bike free. We parked below the main entrance to the farm that houses a number of offices. There is a gravel spot and a sign at the trail head. Be sure to bring the bug spray. The mosquitoes can be as thick as the wooded trail that reveals a variety of scenes – open fields, farm land, logging trails, and a riverside area along the Bellamy. We hit a lot of muddy areas on a warm day and saw kids floating by on the swollen river from the nearby camping area. "You have my permission to use this photo without copyright infringement," one of the kids shouted as he paddled by. -- JDR

DIRECTIONS: Route 155 in Madbury, New Hampshire.

Official UNH web site click here 
Trail map PDF file click here