This roadtrip through Vermont takes you to see Lake Willoughby and farmland by driving west to Barton, and south to Danville and Peacham.
I set out early one morning to drive north from the Upper Valley to Westmore, Vermont to watch the sunrise over Lake Willoughby. While there is plenty to discover around the lake and neighboring Burke to the South, this was not the only pin on my map for the day. From Lake Willoughby, I drove west to Barton, then south to Danville via I-91 and Route 2. Next, I took Route 5 south to Peacham, stopping at a scenic overlook in Danville. Thanks to winter, perhaps by the angle of the sun, a band of color remained on the horizon most of the day. This made for an interesting sky throughout most of the day.
I was in search of an image of the lake against the tall fjords (Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor) that create the Willoughby gap. Yet, I stopped along my route to capture small scenes and details that caught my eye as I traveled south from Westmore to Ryegate.
Lake Willoughby
While I knew the best position for catching the sunrise would be the North Beach, I decided to shoot from South Beach, where the water is smooth and clear, and offers the quintessential view of Mount Hor (left) and Mount Pisgah (right) that rise up on both sides of the cove. There are a series of large rocks and logs that dot the shoreline that I worked into the foreground of my scenes. I anticipated the sun would rise and cast an orange glow on Mount Hor. I was correct about the side light, and was lucky to have a brief moment of color in the sky.
I hope to return in the late spring or summer when I can wade into the water with a wider lens to get closer and lower to the interesting rocks and clear water. With more time, and at sunrise and sunset, I could hike around the beach and nearby woods, where there are many details to photograph and many different vantage points to explore. And this is just simply at the lake! I have made no mention of the towns, destinations, and drives one can take to admire the scenery.
Below: Views from North Beach looking south to Willoughby Gap.
Peacham
I admit I had the highly-photographed, well-known scene of the church and red barn in my mind when I added Peacham to my list of stops on this road trip. I couldn’t find a public vantage point from which to make this photo. This is okay, as there is plenty more beauty to be found in this quaint village.
I passed sweeping fields and scraggly, winding trees in isolation. I drove up to a barn and silo across the road from a farmhouse that felt as though it had been placed just for me by Currier and Ives. Peacham did not mold into the notion of iconic Vermont, but is instead the root of it.
Since my adventure was closing in on midday and the clouds were parting, I had lost some opportunity to make large, sweeping shots due to lighting. I took time to capture details and little views that caught my eye instead. Pictured below are a cluster of red mailboxes, large expanses of undisturbed snow which offset fences and brittle Queen Anne’s Lace.
I was met by friendly townspeople as I traveled the countryside. The dirt roads, farmland, and streams make for many countless things to see here to get your dose of New England charm.
One of my favorite photographers is Richard W. Brown, who lives in Peacham and has photographed Vermont’s farmland, lifestyle and culture for more than 40 years. My favorite books of his include A Vermont Christmas, Soul of Vermont, and Last of the Hill Farms. It’s easy to see how this region might have influenced him and inspired his work. Look for these titles in your local bookstore if you love to gawk at Vermont life the way I do. The Norwich Bookstore carries a few.
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