The less developed western end of Martha’s Vineyard was my refuge for a week. Although distances here are fairly short, it made it easier to be based smack in the middle of the island near West Tisbury for quick access to trails both east and west. Plus, driving through a landscape of rolling hills and old stone fences encircling centuries-old farms is just pure bliss. Spend at least a day here going from trails to trails and stopping in between at art galleries.
I need my morning walk when traveling and how convenient that my AirBnB was within walking distance to Long Point Wildlife Refuge. Although the long, bumpy dirt road leading to it is a bit of a drag, the miles of trails awaiting are worth it.
It starts in a pine-oak forest, trees just starting to wake up from the winter slumber, with well-maintained trails criss-crossing to bring you to different viewpoints and ponds.
Arrive at Tisbury Great Pond, a large body of water where you might spot various small boats and kayaks.
A sandy path going up across sandplain grassland will bring you right to the ocean’s edge.
Time for a lovely seaside stroll by the Atlantic Ocean with waves splashing loudly and glimmering under the morning sun. This wide, beautiful, and isolated beach is just the invigorating walk you need to start the day.
If you’re up as early as I am, you might just leave the first human footprint in the sand that day…
Turn around and you’re right on Long Cove Pond with its much gentler waters… a favorite of swimmers and paddleboarders.
After about 3 miles you’ll be back amid the oaks and pines retracing your route to the start and feeling like a million bucks!
West Tisbury
West Tisbury is your quintessential New England village with its historic main street and farmers market.
Stock up on essentials and perhaps a few gifts too at Alley’s General Store, the oldest retail store on Martha’s Vineyard.
Original mailboxes and other vestiges from long ago give the shop a unique atmosphere and you’re likely to meet old timers sipping their coffee on the front porch. Go around the back to find 7a Foods, a delicious sandwich shop perfect to pick up breakfast or lunch (and one of their freshly baked goods too) with lots of ingredients coming straight from their farm nearby.
The Grange Hall is a defining landmark of the village center and where the farmers market is held from mid-June through October, so I was sadly too early in the season.
Right across the street, you won’t be able to resist taking a look at the Field Gallery.
The outdoor sculpture garden is filled with joyfully dancing figures and will no doubt put you in an equally cheerful mood.
Right outside of town, the Granary Gallery at the Red Barn has a nice collection of folk art, landscape paintings, and photography, all from artists with some connection to the island.
Polly Hill Arboretum
Trade sculptures for gorgeous trees at the nearby Polly Hill Arboretum, a not-for-profit sanctuary devoted to preserving a mix of almost 3,100 native and exotic plants, many threatened by extinction.
You’re free to roam the beautiful grounds in perfect tranquility, getting up close to the extraordinary specimen that bloom from early spring well into fall.
Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary
Spend the afternoon exploring the trails in the north part of West Tisbury for pleasant woodland walks and views overlooking Vineyard Sound. The Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary has trails through wetland habitats, forests, and on the beach.
Waskosim’s Rock
End your day with a final walk at the Waskosim’s Rock Reservation with almost 200 acres great for hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, and picnicking.
The reservation is named for a huge glacial boulder that once marked the boundary between lands of the native Wampanoag and property claimed by English settlers in the 17th century.
The rock is some 50 or 60 feet in circumference and split diagonally in half. Today it sits astride the Chilmark – West Tisbury town line.
