Historic 1850s Home in Mountains Near Lexington

Nestled at the foot of Rockbridge County's landmark Jump Mountain only 14 miles from historic Lexington, this charming, comfy 1857 family farmhouse is ideal for those seeking both tranquillity and a base from which to explore the numerous tourism attractions of the region. It also provides insight into the heritage of the Scots-Irish Walker family who first settled here in 1735–their current sixth generation descendants proudly display a deed signed by Thomas Jefferson when governor of Virginia. The space As Walkerlands offers four spacious bedrooms – one on the ground floor with an en suite shower and nearby bathroom, the other three plus a full bathroom on the floor above – as well as a sitting room, family room, dining room and fully-equipped, eat-in kitchen it is ideal for families or groups of friends. And then there are the outdoor amenities of this 550-acre farm combining woodland and pastureland: two porches with comfortable seating and hammocks, a brick patio complete with a umbrella-shaded picnic table and chairs, splendid views of the Appalachian mountains and green pastures filled with grazing cattle plus a quiet country road, dead-ending in a beautiful woodland at one end and leading at the other end to Walker-s Creek overlooked by the picturesque log cabin Walkerlands' owner author and travel writer Mary Moore Mason restored several years ago. Guest access Getting there: Take scenic Route 39 from Lexington to the small village of Rockbridge Baths (linger for a bouncy wander across the Maury River's landmark hanging bridge). Turn right onto Route 602 (Walkers Creek Road) and continue until you cross the creek at the base of the hilltop log cabin. Take gravelled Jump Mountain Road to its left and you'll soon see a big white house crowning the hill to your right. Head up the driveway and you're at Walkerlands. It is also accessed via other routes from Interstates 81 and 64. Other things to note Getting around: Within a half hour's drive you can be in Lexington, home to two universities,Washington & Lee and Virginia Military Institute, a charming downtown featuring numerous gift shops, arts and crafts galleries, a range of tempting restaurants, grocery stores, a movie theater and several Civil War-related tourist attractions. Take a horse-drawn carriage tour, drop by the Wednesday Farmers Market and enjoy seasonal concerts at Lime Kiln or Boxerwood Nature Center. Route 11 to the south leads to spectacular Natural Bridge, its namesake zoo and the family-friendly Virginia Safari Park. And to the north it leads to Hull's Drive-In, America's only non-profit, community-run drive-in movie theater; Fairfield, site of several quaint shops; and Staunton where you will find the birthplace museum of President Woodrow Wilson, the Frontier Culture Museum, live theater in the American Shakespeare Center, based in the only authentic reproduction of the Bard's London Blackfriars Theatre; and delightful shop-lined Beverly Street. Further afield are the Blue Ridge Parkway, awesome Luray Caverns and the Appalachian hiking trail. Scenic country roads lead from Walkerlands to lovely Goshen Pass where the Maury River offers swimming holes, tubing and riverside picnic spots, Warm Springs with its historic bath houses, Hot Springs' elegant Homested resort, Rockbridge Vineyard, quaint Brownsburg with its own local history museum and landmark, water-powered Wade's Mill still grinding out buckwheat flour.