The Inn at Ormsby Hill

The Inn at Ormsby Hill is your ultimate choice for a Manchester, Vermont bed and breakfast getaway.

Our southern Vermont bed and breakfast is the premier romantic New England getaway to Manchester, Vermont. We are a truly romantic and luxurious Vermont bed and breakfast country inn - a perfect New England vacation destination for intimate getaways, honeymoons, celebrations and relaxing escapes. The Inn at Ormsby Hill is proud to be the only inn in Manchester, VT that provides AAA 4 Diamond service. We are one of only two 4 Diamond Vermont Bed and Breakfasts. One luxurious evening with us and you'll know why...

"The Inn at Ormsby Hill commands panoramic views of the Green Mountains from its beautiful dining conservatory and beckoning porch. Dating to 1764, the rambling Federal mansion has been immaculately restored into a romantic bed and breakfast of the highest caliber." -Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report

"...a breakfast that'll knock your socks off..."

"...the elegance of the bed chambers and public rooms is matched

by the sumptuousness of the inn's breakfast offerings."

"The conservatory dining room resonates with light and has a hand-carved hearth - and equally amazing breakfasts." Three times an Editors' Pick - Yankee Magazine Travel Guide

Click Here To See Additional Awards & Accolades

The Inn at Ormsby Hill has some of the finest common space that you will find in an inn. With only ten guest rooms and given the quantity and quality of common space, you will never feel cramped for a space to call your own.

Our front living room, which is always quiet and peaceful, features a commissioned bonnet-top highboy with slipper feet, designed after a Townsend-Goddard piece, as well as a comfortable sofa and relaxing chairs, which allow for viewing the fireplace. The fireplace, with its connecting operational Dutch oven, and the hand-hewn beams are all believed to be circa 1764.

A second common room, referred to as the Gathering Room, well deserves its name. This is where the largest fireplace in the inn is located (just one of 14!), which features the original iron cooking ware, circa 1764. Walls feature floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, containing many first editions and nineteenth century books belonging to the Isham collection.

The Gathering Room always has classical music in the background. A six-board chest serves as the coffee table, surrounded by wingback chairs and an extremely comfortable sofa just inviting you to sit. Two leather wingback chairs surround a leather-topped library table, which Isham had originally used in his library. Some shelves are occupied by Ted and Chris's collections, including samplers, bunnies, and violins made by Ted's dad. Some of the hooked rugs made by Ted's mom are scattered on the floor. This is one of those rooms which feels like a good-fitting shoe.

The Conservatory never ceases to produce WOWs upon first viewing. It has a wonderful wood-beaded ceiling, with nothing but windows on two walls. The short wall, which is curved and faces east, is designed to make you feel as though you were on a river boat - but not just any river boat. This landlocked one has a fireplace with an ornately carved European mantel. It not only serves as our dining room but has a sitting area where you can watch the sun come up and the birds feed, all while listening to classical music. It also affords access to a very large slate patio and a wonderfully large, authentic Colonial porch (complete with a hammock), both offering wonderful views of the Green Mountains.

Our warm hospitality, attention to the smallest of details and

countless romantic amenities are what separates us from other Inns and Bed and Breakfasts in Manchester, Vermont and beyond.

Some Rooms Feature:

Two-person steam-saunas ~ Private decks ~

Wood-burning fireplaces available year round
Views of the fireplace from the Jacuzzis ~ Private refrigerators

The Inn at Ormsby Hill is the PERFECT Four-Season Vermont Escape!

At Ormsby Hill we give you permission to eat splendid food in our Conservatory without having to feel guilty about it!! Our reputation for excellent food is nationally acclaimed and your dining experience will be truly one of the highlights of your visit. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed in your room with a plate of very special cookies baked by Chris -- from a poppyseed Madeleine to an almond crescent to a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie. They are all irresistible.

Breakfasts at Ormsby Hill are truly memorable. On quiet mornings, a full breakfast is served at 9:00. On busier mornings, a buffet is served between 8:00 and 10:00, with a hot entree served at 9:00, followed by dessert (yes, dessert!). Some examples of hot entrees are a breakfast bacon-and-egg risotto, a risotto with wild mushrooms, polenta, Chris's famous baked pancakes that look like a top hat, maple bread pudding, ricotta cheese pies, scrambled eggs in puff pastry, almond creme brulee french toast, and a sautéed apple, caramelized onion, and bacon frittata. Here are some examples of those mouth-watering desserts: sautéed apple and pear cobbler with a cheddar cheese crust, blueberry crumble with vanilla ice cream, peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, warm gingerbread with vanilla ice cream. You get the picture - YUM!!!

With advance notice we can accommodate most dietary restrictions. The advance notice is critical.

 Visit our Website to see our exclusive Ormsby Hill wine and beer list, featuring mostly 90-or-above rated wines and local Vermont micro brews. You may purchase wines and beers by the glass and wine by the bottle. If you choose to have your wine or beer in our common areas and would like a taste of Vermont cheddar on Vermont crackers, just let us know.

Give us a call if you would like a bottle waiting in your room upon arrival. We would also be happy to deliver a bottle of champagne or ice wine to your room chilled for after dinner.

Within a short drive, the Manchester, Vermont area has much to offer.

Shopping - We are very fortunate to have four important Vermont-owned shops for our guests to enjoy. Visit Orvis's new flagship store complete with fly-fishing school and trout-filled ponds. This is also the home of the Vermont Country Store. Also visit Northshire Bookstore, a well-known family-run bookstore and Epoch 18, a gallery of Vermont artisans.

Outdoor Activities - From golf - Glen Eagles at Equinox, Stratton and TaterHill, to skiing - Stratton Mountain and Bromley Mountain - to Merck Forest and Farmland Center - there are endless outdoor activities. The famous BattenKill River in which to fly fish or canoe is very close. Two local outfitters are: Fly Fishing Guide Service & Outfitter and Vermont Guided Fishing Vacations. Get off the beaten track with Backroad Discovery Tours. Our valley is also perfect for bicycling.

Antiquing - Vermont is known for its antiquing. Just a couple of note are Equinox Antiques and Antique Quilts.

Art - Visit the Southern Vermont Arts Center with its changing exhibitions. Also visit the finest art gallery in Vermont - Tilting at Windmills.

Performing Arts - Close by are the Manchester Music Festival, Dorset Theatre, Weston Theatre, and the Riley Center at Hunter Park.

Restaurants - Within a short drive you will find everything from white tablecloth dining to more casual dining. Some of our guests' favorites are: Chantecleer Restaurant, Mistral's at Toll Gate, Pangaea, Inn at West View Farm, Perfect Wife and Laney's Restaurant.

Historical Site - Hildene is an estate built by Robert Todd Lincoln who summered at Hildene between 1905 and his death in 1926. Lincoln and our own Edward Isham became best of friends and law partners, and Lincoln was a frequent visitor to Ormsby Hill. It wasn't until Isham died that Robert Todd Lincoln was able to purchase the land behind Ormsby Hill now known as Hildene. The 24-room home and gardens have been meticulously restored and are well worth the tour. The gardens, designed to look like a stained glass window, are known particularly for their peonies. From the end of the garden there is an impressive view of the valley and of Mount Equinox.

"... You say you are searching for a sumptuous room with a fireplace and a Jacuzzi big enough for two, plus a gourmet breakfast lavish enough to last all day? Look no further ..." ~ Recommended Bed & Breakfasts of New England

"...diversions that make you want to hang a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door
for the duration of your stay." Boston Globe

"What a nice place to come home to... " Yankee

"... the best in this area ..." Selected a Romantic Hideaway -- The Discerning Traveler

"... Chris's otherwordly breakfasts ..." Frommer's New England

"... creating romantic sparks ..." Snow Country

"... impeccable and elegant, comfortable ..." New England Snow Country

"... a sumptuous affair ..." Fodor's New England

"... a world-class inn in a spectacular setting ..." America's Favorite Inns

"... elegantly restored ..." Vermont

"It's a wow... just beautiful ..." Recommended Country Inns

"... beautifully appointed ..." Country Inns Bed & Breakfast

"... a breakfast that'll knock your socks off ..." Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide

"... takes the breath away ..." Getaways for Gourmets

Awards:

Recipient of the AAA four diamond award since 2000
Selected a Romantic Hideaway by The Discerning Traveler
Our Ethan Allen Room was named a Waverly Room of the Year ("...for a beautiful use
of Waverly in a traditional setting") in the December issue of Country Inns Bed & Breakfast
Three times selected an "Editor's pick" - Yankee Magazine Travel Guide

Featured:

Boston Sunday Globe
HGTV If Walls Could Talk
Colonial Homes, November

We have been chosen by the following guidebooks:

VERMONT: An Explorer's Guide - Christina Tree and Peter Jennison
Best Places to Stay in New England - Christina Tree and Kimberly Grant
Getaways for Gourmets in the Northeast - Nancy Webster and Richard Woodworth
Weekending in New England - Betsy Wittemann and Nancy Webster
The Fireside Guide to New England Inns and Restaurants - Betsy and Ross Wittemann
Frommer's Northern New England
Fodor's New England Guide
Recommended Country Inns of New England - Elizabeth Squier
Vermont Inns and Bed & Breakfast Inns - Editors of The New England Press
The Annual Directory of American and Canadian Bed & Breakfasts - Tracey Menges
The Discerning Traveler's Guide to New England - David and Linda Glickstein
The Official Guide to American Historic Inns - Deborah Sakach
The Complete Guide to Bed & Breakfasts Inns & Guesthouses - Pamela Lanier
Bed & Breakfast Encyclopedia - Deborah Sakach and Tiffany Crosswy
Complete Guide to American Bed and Breakfast - Rik Barnes
Yankee Magazine's New England Bed & Breakfast and Inn Directory - Yankee Publishing
Frommer's Wonderful Weekends From Boston
The Unofficial Guide to Bed and Breakfasts in New England - Lea Lane
Romantic Weekends New England - Patricia & Robert Foulke
Journey to New England - Patricia Harris & David Lyon
Vermont - Don Mitchell
New England Snow Country - Barbara Radcliffe Rogers & Stillman Rogers
Play Hard / Rest Easy - New England - Malcolm W. Campbell
Lonely Plant New England
Karen Brown's New England

Our luxurious Manchester Vermont inn offers easy access to Southern Vermont's best historical, cultural and natural attractions. We are within minutes of spectacular shopping, including quaint boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. We are 70 minutes to Albany International Airport, 146 miles from Hartford, Connecticut, 189 miles to Boston, and 204 miles from New York City—a perfect New England vacation destination.

From New York
Route 87 North to Exit 23, then 787 North to 7 East (becomes 9 East at NY/VT border). Continue to 279 and proceed to 7 North. Take Exit 3, turn left onto 313, then right onto Historic 7A North. The Inn is 8 miles on the right.

From Albany Airport
Route 87 North to Route 7 East (Exit 7E, Bennington). Follow directions above from Troy*

From Buffalo/Rochester, New York
Take I-90 to Exit 24 to 87 North. 87 North to Route 7 East (Exit 7E, Bennington). Follow directions above from Troy*

From Brattleboro
Route 30 North to Historic Route 7A in Manchester. Turn left and travel south about 3 miles. The Inn is on the left.

From Boston
Route 2 West to I-91 North. Take Exit 2 into Brattleboro, then follow directions above from Brattleboro.

From Montreal
Route 89 South to Burlington. Take Route 7 south to Manchester. Continue south on 7A. The Inn is 8 miles on the left.