A cozy getaway offers historic European charm in North Carolina
MARGARET LITTMAN | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FEARRINGTON VILLAGE
Fearrington Village, home to the Fearrington House Inn, began in 1974 on an old dairy farm. I fact-checked that number several times to make sure I didn’t misunderstand. Parts of this lush, secluded village feel like they were built centuries earlier, with buildings and pathways thoughtfully connected to their surroundings.
That’s by design. Jenny and R.B. Fitch became enamored with the Relais & Châteaux network of restaurants and boutique hotels when traveling in Europe, and they wanted to bring that experience back home to North Carolina. Initially, they thought they would solely open a restaurant. When Relais & Châteaux told them they needed an inn too, they started building. Over the next four decades, their vision expanded. Now, Fearrington Village is a community, inspired by verdant English gardens and served with a side of Southern hospitality. Plus, Pittsboro, N.C. (near Chapel Hill) is a lot easier to get to than Great Britain.
Fearrington Village’s 1,200 acres now includes a village square with clothing and toy shops, an independent bookstore, a spa and salon, a post office, restaurants, bars and a wine shop. Around that village center are the inn, cottages and year-round homes. Numerous parks and greenspaces dot Fearrington Village (pronounced FAIR-ington, not FEAR-ington), including a cutting garden, a formal topiary knot garden and farmland. Gardens, parks and public spaces are dotted with sculptures, plus plenty of benches and umbrella-covered tables for sitting and lounging. Walking paths connect it all. Grabbing a book to read in one of the sunrooms overlooking a garden is a good use of time at Fearrington Village, where serenity is a signature value.
The Fearrington House Inn has 32 guest suites and rooms. And there are about 1,400 homes in the village. But even on a sold-out holiday weekend, with a wedding taking place on property, it didn’t feel crowded (although all the spa treatment rooms were certainly booked), with plenty of room to explore and pick the resort experience that speaks to you. I shopped, ate, walked, hung out in the communal sunroom with a new book, and even got a massage — without ever having to get behind the wheel of my car.
What’s Nearby
The Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) is less than 30 miles away and contains all the big-city charms of shopping, live music and entertainment, plus scores of restaurants. Downtown Pittsboro is just nine miles away, home to vintage shops, bakeries and a bookstore. There are five nearby golf courses.
But if you don’t want to get in your car for the entirety of your stay, there’s no reason to. Everything you need is on property.
What to Do
Grab a map of the village’s community walking routes to acclimate yourself to your surroundings. There are gravel and nature trails as well as sidewalk pathways. The perimeter trail covers four miles. The trails go by several parks, the cutting garden and pastures where chickens, goats and the famous Belted Galloway cows live.
Once you have the lay of the land, head to wine tastings, author talks at the bookstore, afternoon tea, or the spa and salon for some pampering. If retail therapy is your thing, the shops stock clothing brands, like Franco Ferrari and FLOOR, that can be tricky to find elsewhere. The swim and croquet club includes a pool open in warm-weather months, and bicycles are available if you want to explore on two wheels.
Where to Eat
The village has a number of restaurants, including the casual Belted Goat market and the Roost Beer Garden, where you may hear live music on a summer evening.
The Fearrington House Restaurant is Michelin-recommended, thanks to the vision of executive chef Paul Gagne, offering elevated evening menus. The vegetarian tasting menu offers seven courses, including a cheese course, desserts (like the restaurant’s signature chocolate soufflé) and innovative takes on seasonal, local produce and wine pairings.
The Fearrington House Bar is lively and offers a casual, but not boring, menu: They had me at “savory cheese doughnuts.” Extensive wine lists, with sommelier recommendations, are available in both the restaurant and the bar. Breakfast is included with every stay — try the oatmeal with Earl-Grey-tea-soaked raisins.
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Fearrington House Inn’s 32 rooms are spread throughout the village. Those in the inn are filled with natural light and offer easy access to the gardens and sunroom. Some of the suites have private outdoor areas and indoor seating areas. All rooms have Frette linens, Matouk blankets, firm mattresses, fresh flowers and heated towel racks to keep you toasty post shower (some rooms have jetted tubs too).
