Under the Hemlocks – Boutique Retreat – UMass & Amherst College minutes away.

Escape to a private bijou guest suite under the hemlocks—a refined, scent-sensitive retreat, small and elegant by design.

Enjoy a deep clawfoot soaking tub, private courtyards with bistro dining and fire pit, plus a unique off-grid screened garden sanctuary—the Writer's Retreat.

Under the Hemlocks invites you to slow down, unplug and rediscover the simple pleasures—morning birdsong, evenings by the fire, a long soak.

ALL WITHIN MINUTES OF:
Amherst Center • Amherst College • UMass Amherst • Emily Dickinson Museum

AN EASY DRIVE TO:
Smith College • Mount Holyoke College • Deerfield Academy • The MacDuffie School • Williston Northampton School


UNDER THE HEMLOCKS AT A GLANCE

🌿 PRIVATE RETREAT: Completely private boutique bijou studio (small and elegant) • No shared spaces • Maximum 2 guests

🌿 SCENT-SENSITIVE: Scent-sensitive • Allergy-conscious

🌿 CHECK-OUT: No chore list • Simply turn off lights & A/C • Secure the suite

🌿 BATH: Deep clawfoot soaking tub • Rain shower

🌿 PRIVATE COURTYARDS: Dining • Seating • Fire pit • Propane grill with side burner • Outdoor kitchen prep station with sink • Weather-dependent

🌿 GARDEN SANCTUARY — Known as the WRITER'S RETREAT: Screened • Off-grid • Fireplace • Writing • Reading • Relaxing • Birdwatching • No A/C or insulation; temperature reflects outdoor weather.

🌿 LOCATION: Minutes from Amherst Center • Amherst College • UMass Amherst • Emily Dickinson Museum

🌿 EASY DRIVE: Smith College • Mount Holyoke College • Deerfield Academy • The Williston Northampton School • The MacDuffie School

🌿 LAYOUT: Open plan • Queen bed • Living area/optional second bed • Kitchenette • Separate bathroom

🌿 SECOND BED: Optional • $40 setup fee • Request when booking • Maximum occupancy remains 2

🌿 KITCHENETTE: Very well-equipped

🌿 AIR CONDITIONING: Air-conditioned

🌿 PARKING: Private entrance • Dedicated parking

🌿 WI-FI: High-speed • Indoors and outdoors

🌿 ENTERTAINMENT: Intentionally television-free

🌿 QR CODES: Quick instructions for amenities throughout the suite

🌿 GUESTS: Registered guests only

🌿 NO ANIMALS: Due to territorial resident dog


THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED
for stays like these:

Couples • Quiet escapes • Anniversaries • Romantic occasions • Birthdays • Special celebrations

Visitors to Amherst • The Pioneer Valley • Surrounding colleges and schools • Emily Dickinson Museum

Peaceful stays • Rest • Restore • Recharge

Remote work • Business stays • Professionals

Writers • Readers • Artists • Creative minds

Best friends • Siblings • Loved ones • Meaningful time together

Concerts • Festivals • Live performances

Hiking • Walking • Birdwatching • Nature

Fall foliage • Leaf peeping • New England autumns

Thoughtful design • Boutique accommodation • Meaningful details


GUEST SERVICES

Thoughtful services and added conveniences are available to help make your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

🌿 CELEBRATION PACKAGES: Celebrating a birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, honeymoon, or another special occasion? Boutique celebration packages are available for an additional charge. Please contact me before your arrival for details.

🌿 FOREST BATHING EXPERIENCES: Interested in experiencing guided forest bathing during your stay? I'm happy to provide information for Todd Lynch, who offers immersive forest bathing experiences in the area. Arrangements are made directly with the guide.

🌿 MID-STAY REFRESH: For guests enjoying a longer stay, I'm happy to stop by mid-stay if needed to refresh towels, change bed linens, or empty the dishwasher overflow reservoir. To respect your privacy, these services are normally provided while you're in the guest suite.

🌿 LUGGAGE STORAGE: Arriving early or leaving later in the day? Secure luggage storage may be available by prior arrangement.

🌿 RELAXED CHECK-OUT: There are no lengthy check-out chores. Simply turn off the lights, switch off the air conditioning (if in use), close the windows, lock up the suite, and enjoy the rest of your day.

If you have a moment, it's always appreciated if you could place used towels in the laundry baskets, pop any used dishes into the bus caddy in the closet, and send me a quick message to let me know you've checked out.

🌿 EARLY CHECK-IN & LATE CHECK-OUT: Standard check-in is 3:00 p.m. and checkout is 10:00 a.m. From time to time, I may be able to offer a 2:00 p.m. check-in or 11:00 a.m. checkout, but availability cannot be confirmed until the evening before your arrival or departure. As I accept same-day bookings, I'm unable to guarantee an earlier check-in unless the previous night has also been reserved.


A CLOSER LOOK
At Under the Hemlocks

SLEEPING & COMFORT
Enjoy a restful night's sleep in a queen bed with premium linens, blackout blinds, air conditioning, heating, a sound machine, an adjustable fan with a built-in air purifier, and thoughtfully selected comforts throughout.

An optional small double bed is available for two guests travelling together who prefer separate beds ($40 setup fee). Under the Hemlocks is an open-plan studio. The optional second bed is set up in the living area, sharing the same room as the queen bed. The maximum occupancy of the guest suite is 2 guests.

THE BATH
Relax in the deep clawfoot soaking tub with a rain shower overhead. Fragrance-free amenities, robes, oversized towels, bath salts, bubble bath, and thoughtful extras create a spa-like experience. Please note that the shower is over the clawfoot tub and requires a higher step to enter.

KITCHENETTE & DINING
The well-equipped kitchenette includes a fridge, freezer, air fryer, microwave, rice cooker, dishwasher, cookware, quality kitchen tools, and everything needed to prepare meals during your stay. Premium coffee, tea, and cooking essentials are provided, while the transformer table easily converts from coffee table to dining or workspace.

OUTDOOR LIVING
The suite extends into two completely private courtyards featuring outdoor dining, comfortable seating, a propane fire feature, gardens, a secluded double chaise lounge, and a seasonal outdoor prep kitchen with sink, running water, grill and side burner.

GARDEN SANCTUARY — THE WRITER'S RETREAT
Follow the garden path to a screened, off-grid garden sanctuary known as the Writer's Retreat—a unique space created for writing, reading, sketching, birdwatching, or simply slowing down. A gel-fuel fireplace, battery-operated coffee pod station, books, writing desk, and woodland views make it one of the property's most distinctive features.

Please note: The Writer's Retreat is screened and intentionally uninsulated. Temperatures inside reflect the weather outdoors.

WORK, WELLNESS & NATURE
Whether you're working remotely or taking time to recharge, high-speed Wi-Fi, a flexible workspace, nearby hiking trails, forest bathing opportunities, and peaceful outdoor spaces make it easy to balance productivity with relaxation.

THOUGHTFUL DETAILS
From fragrance-free products and HEPA air filtration to QR codes throughout the suite and carefully selected amenities, every detail has been thoughtfully chosen to help support the rhythm of your day and make your stay as comfortable, practical, and relaxing as possible.

NO ANIMALS
Under the Hemlocks is unable to accommodate animals. A resident dog lives on the property and is naturally territorial toward unfamiliar animals entering her home environment. This policy is in place to help ensure the safety and well-being of all animals involved.

Thank you for your understanding.


HOUSE RULES & GUEST AGREEMENT
By booking, you agree to the following:

GUESTS: Only registered guests listed on the reservation may stay overnight. The primary booking guest must remain on the property for the duration of the reservation.

ID & PROFILE: A current profile photo is required. I reserve the right to request photo ID from anyone on the property during your stay.

SMOKE-FREE PROPERTY: Smoking or vaping of any kind is not permitted anywhere on the property. A $150 restoration fee applies if evidence of smoking is found.

NO ANIMALS: Under the Hemlocks cannot accommodate animals due to a resident dog's reactive behaviour toward other animals.

PROPERTY CARE: Open-flame candles, incense, and fresh flower petals are not permitted. Flameless candles are provided.

PROVISIONS: Complimentary tea and coffee are provided. Guests assume all responsibility for checking ingredients and allergens before consuming any food or beverages on the property.

CANCELLATIONS: Reservations are subject to the cancellation policy in effect at the time of booking.

DAMAGES: Guests are responsible for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear.

LIABILITY WAIVER – FIRE FEATURES, PROPERTY & AMENITIES
Guests assume all risk associated with the use of fireplaces, fire pits, grills, decks, pathways, bathtubs, and outdoor spaces.

By booking, guests release the host from claims, injuries, damages, or losses arising from the use of the property or its amenities, including outdoor conditions, weather, wildlife, slippery surfaces, uneven ground, or fire-related features.