Bancroft’s Castle at Gibbet Hill Day Trip
Welcome to Bancroft’s Castle at GIbbet Hill
Originally an extravagant retirement home built in 1906, you can explore the ruins of Bancroft’s Castle situated at the summit of Gibbet Hill in Groton, Massachusetts (MA). It’s a quick hike to the castle structure, and you can also see fantastic autumn and sunset vistas over rolling hills that extend to several notable mountain peaks in MA and Southern New Hampshire.
How to get to Bancroft’s Castle (Groton, MA)
Plot directions to Bancroft’s Castle Parking on MA-40 (Lowell Road) in Groton. Park at the small pull off (spots for about 5-6 cars) by the two stone pillars marking the trailhead entrance (part of the Groton Trails Network)..
Hike up a (bumpy) dirt path for about a quarter mile where you’ll see the castle ruins. While the hike is short, wear sturdy shoes because there are small rocks and rugged portions on the trail that ascends/descends steadily.
An Update from my October 2024 Day Trip to Gibbet Hill
Bancroft Castle at Gibbet Hill is one of the most iconic spots in Massachusetts for fall foliage views, and this 2024 season was exceptional. Vibrant golden leaves framed the main castle tower.
Vibrant gold fall foliage surrounds the main tower of Bancroft’s Castle on Gibbet Hill.
And a short distance hiking up the grassy hillside, the autumn reds and orange blanketed the Groton, Massachusetts countryside. Gibbet Hill is great place to bring a picnic and linger to watch the sunset in autumn.
What to see at Bancroft’s Castle
When reaching Bancroft’s Castle at the Gibbet Hill summit, you’ll see it has two levels to explore; I suggest going into the ground level (like a small courtyard) to get a sense of scale and see the stone walls.
Then continue a few steps on the hiking trail o the main level at the top of Gibbet Hill summit. You can walk inside the structure walls including the main tower itself.
Looking left from the castle ruins, you’ll see a big metal gate that marks the start of a relatively flat, grass path with beautiful vistas of Groton and the rolling hillside. This is where many people take their autumn foliage pictures, including of this church steeple.
Tip: Walking about a block’s distance further from that first metal gate, you can avoid the onlookers and find space for your photos with the church steeple in frame.
You’’ll see the cow pasture that is part of the Gibbet Hill Farm as well as Black Angus cows grazing.
By walking further on the path that follows the fence line for another quarter mile, you’ll see openings in between the greenery for sunset and autumn vistas.
Tip: Continue walking all the way to where the fence line turns right for opportunities to view and photograph the landscapes. There is ample space to spread out and get great countryside landscape and sunset views even with the popularity of Gibbet Hill for fall foliage.
Dogs on leash are welcome, and you can bring a blanket and picnic set up to hang out for the evening and watch the setting sun. Be sure to stay on the mowed path to avoid ticks.
Have you visited Bancroft’s Castle at Gibbet Hill? What do you enjoy most about this spot?
Leave a comment below.
A note on visiting Gibbet Hill and Bancroft Castle:
Gibbet Hill Grill is a local farm-to-table restaurant that hosts weddings on the weekend, and this establishment kindly requests that visitors please avoid the area in the center of the lawn where there are wedding ceremonies set up. There is a kiosk, with a map, near the entrance of the driveway. Visitors are encouraged to start their hike at the kiosk and walk behind The Barn and to the right of the pond, where they will find the trailhead to the top of Gibbet Hill between the pasture fence and MA-40.
