With crystal-clear water unpolluted by development, and light boat traffic on most days, Philpott is perfect for kayaks and canoes. The marina is an easy drive down with plenty of parking, or a steep hike for the adventurous.
Hiking
Directly across Twin Ridge Marina Road, you’ll find the trailhead to the Laurel Ridge Trail. Hike to Salthouse Branch Park and connect to the Dogwood Glen Trail to tromp all the way to Fairystone State Park. In all, nearly 9 miles of hiking in a magical fairy forest starts at the cottage.
The cottage is surrounded by 19 acres of our own forest, and 6400 acres of Army Corps of Engineers land to explore. Franklin County, VA was bootlegging country for generations, so look for the remnants of old moonshine stills along the creeks! (There’s one right down the hill by the creek behind the house.)
You can also hike a quarter-mile to the water through our backwoods down an old Army road (no cars).
Out and About
The nearest towns are Bassett, Martinsville, and Rocky Mount. Fairystone State Park and the Philpott Dam are just 20-30 minutes away.
The cottage is near several stops on the Crooked Road, Virginia's old time and bluegrass Heritage Music Trail. The Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum, the Floyd Country Store, and the legendary Rocky Mount Dairy Queen - the only Dairy Queen with a regular bluegrass jam - are just a short drive through some magnificent mountain roads. The city of Roanoke is an hour away up highway 220 for restaurants, events, and urban amenities.
