With summer quickly approaching and temperatures starting to rise, many people look to nature for a source of inspiration and escape. Freshman Hannah Hoch states, “My favorite place to go on a walk or hike is Quincy Quarry. It is a beautiful place filled with art and nature. Going on walks is very beneficial because it gives me a chance to relax and take a break from stress.”
Similar to what Hannah said, walking through an uncrowded area, with some music or listening to the sounds of nature, is a calm time for many. Especially with the stressful lives of students, it is important to have moments of relaxation where the only focus is on trying to clear your mind
Usually, interesting walking paths are found through word of mouth or lengthy internet searches that may not check all of the boxes. Hopefully, this article will be an easier and quicker way to find walking paths in the Hingham area. All of the distances and times of travel use Hingham High School (17 Union Street, Hingham) as a benchmark.
Norwell Pathway (Middle School Area):
Location: 328 Main St, Norwell
Distance: 6.7-6.9 miles (depending on route)
Time: 16 mins (car) and 37 mins (bike)
Hours: Day specific (sunrise to sunset)
Price: Free
Span: 3.5 miles
The Norwell Pathway is a long, continuous path going through and around parks, schools, and farms. One place to start the path is behind Norwell Middle School. To the left is a vast field, bordered by a paved path, which eventually leads to wooden platform-like structures (see photo above), clearing a path through the woods. On either side are trees as far as the eye can see and the occasional flowing creek that will urge the pedestrian to stop and listen for a while. When the woods come to a sudden halt, it leads to another paved way that hugs the road all the way to a small playground.
If you choose to go to the right, you are met with a similar looking wooden structure that seems to be endless. The lush forest and occasional openings in the trees could lead to unexpected interactions with wildlife like birds or squirrels. If a break is ever needed, there are multiple benches, a plethora of tall rocks, and even a stump, in the start/middle of the path on the right, that is worn down and resembles two seats. The pathway goes on for a few more miles, and if anyone has enough time, walking the whole thing could be a tranquil experience.
Triphammer (Pond Route):
Location: 21 Triphammer Rd, Hingham
Distance: 1.1-1.3 miles (depending on route)
Time: 3 mins (car) and 5 mins (bike)
Hours: Day specific (sunrise to sunset)
Price: Free
Span: 3.5-4.7 miles
Triphammer is definitely a path for someone who likes having a somewhat set trail but doesn’t favor paved ones. One of the main routes is around the large pond; it is interesting to watch in any season, whether the sun shines brightly off it in the summer and spring, the dull but mesmerizing orange leaves fall in autumn, or the thick sheet of ice on the frozen-over pond is prominent in the winter.
Unless a pair of white shoes is accidentally worn or if it rained the day before, hiking through the woods, with leaves littering the ground and roots making the terrain a little unlevel but not enough to make it uncomfortable, can become an exploration and a time for appreciation of nature. Walking alone creates a serene environment, and walking with others can have people fueling each other’s curiosity and admiration for the natural scenes.
World’s End:
Location: 150 Martin’s Lane, Hingham
Distance: 2.8-2.9 miles (depending on route)
Time: 10 mins (car) and 16 mins (bike)
Hours: 8 am to sunset
Price: $15 if driving/$5 if walking (non-member status)
Span: 4.1 miles (entire route)
World’s End is a twisting collection of paths leading to fields, bodies of water, and a point that is one of the highest in Hingham, overlooking many buildings and boats. There are paths that go up steep hills, through large collections of trees, and lead people to very interesting sites. There is a large bridge that overlooks a river and a path that leads to a beach on the edge of the water. If a path through nature doesn’t sound ideal, watching the water from the soft sand could be ideal. One point of interest could be the amount and diversity of wildlife that bloom in the summer and spring. Surrounded by flowing grass and vibrant flowers instead of concrete walls and metal vehicles makes the path seem like a different world.
On June 20, an event is being held at World’s End for the Summer Solstice. Many people, Hingham residents and not, gather in a large clearing and talk until the sun goes down. There are many food trucks and stands that supply food and drink throughout the evening, and also games being played that could lead to meeting and having fun with others during the sunset. A fair warning is that the price of entry is hiked up during the solstice, it rises to $52 for members of the Trustees and $65 for non-members. Also, the registration is online, and they do not sell tickets at World’s End during the event. Despite the price and whether or not someone finds it interesting or enticing, it is a friendly celebration that would be nice to experience at least once.
Bear Cove (Lynch Fields):
Location: 226 Beal Street, Hingham
Distance: 3.5-3.7 (depending on route)
Time: 10 mins (car) and 20 mins (bike)
Hours: Day specific (sunrise to sunset)
Price: Free
Span: 6.3 miles (entire route)
In Hingham, Bear Cove is a commonly known walking path that always guarantees a few pedestrians at most hours of the day. While there is also another connection to the path near the South Shore Model Railway Club & Museum (the road is across from the West Hingham Train Station, the one by Lynch Field could be seen as easier to navigate to or find on your own. There are multiple paths to choose from the moment you set foot on the path.
One in the woods, one bordering the water from the woods, and another bordering the water from the beach. On the path in the woods, many detours could be made to have an off-path trail and guarantee an exploration of the woods. On the path near the beach, you can see benches, some signs, and the boats from the Hingham High School crew team. Like many other of these paths, wildlife is common if someone looks closely and quietly enough. There are a few signs scattered along the path about the animals and birds that could be encountered. It is a beautiful park for walking, biking, running, or any other activity outside. Even sitting or skipping rocks by the beach leads to a nice and calming view.
Castle Island:
Location: 131 Ricciuti Drive, Quincy,
Distance: 20.1-21.8 miles (depending on route)
Time: 33 mins (car) and 109 mins (bike)
Hours: Day specific (sunrise to sunset)
Price: Free
Span: 1.9 miles
Castle Island is a well-known and popular attraction, and for good reason. It is an open, paved path around and surrounded by water. Seeing the landscape appear quite small on the other side is when the vastness of the water can be truly seen. There are two main areas to walk, around the water and around/in the fort. The paths around the water hold many people, from young children who could be on their first walk and older people who could have been walking there since 1928, when the island got connected to Boston via a small strip of land. Before or once done walking, sitting at the beach could be another calming activity.
The star shaped, granite giant, called Fort Independence, is a large attraction in the Boston area. Free tours, lasting about half an hour, are available for anyone wondering about more of the in-depth history while walking through it. Walking around the fort can bring pleasures of its own. There is a small playground, many boats, airplanes heading away or to Logan Airport, and an occasional kite soaring high in the air. After walking, there is a restaurant for food and usually a few food trucks selling ice cream or shaved ice to battle the promised summer heat.
Conclusion:
To conclude, both these and others are paths worth many’s time and will most likely bring a sense of calm. Another frequent walker, Caroline Blatchley, says, “I usually walk at Turkey Hill, but sometimes I walk downtown or at the beach and I do think it’s beneficial because it gives people the option to exercise or explore alone or with friends”.
Going on walks can change depending on so many different factors. Whether it is what is being seen, what is being listened to, if someone is walking with friends, the time of day, the person’s mood, the season or even the way the light shines on the path, it is close to impossible to have the exact same walk on multiple occasions. There are many other ways to get exercise, but walking can be argued to be one of the easiest and most accessible. Next time you have as little as ten or fifteen minutes, take a walk. You could walk around the neighborhood, on a path, or somewhere deep in the forest; it really doesn’t matter, it is the thoughts and emotions that come with experience that do.
