Liberty Hill Farm

Review is for farm visit only as we didn’t stay: Such a charming, fun and informative dairy farm visit! Asia is friendly, knowledgeable and genuine. Cows are super happy and affable, and have more personality than I would have imagined. Learned a ton, got to feed baby cows, milked a cow, and spent a few hours in a beautiful corner of VT. Highly recommended!

Normally, our young family of 5 rents a house on Airbnb - but on a whim I looked up a farm stay and happened upon Liberty Hill Farm. Driving up to the farm I was struck by the fact that this was a REAL farm - not a faux tourist farm - but a real dairy farm. We bottle fed new baby calves, watched cows get milked, explored the hay loft, enjoyed figuring out the names of the hundreds of cows, raced some troublemaking goats, counted barn cats, learned about the ever evolving science and tech behind running a dairy farm (thank you David) and explored the edges of the nearby river. When we left the farm, there were countless hikes and nearby Middlebury to explore. But just being on the farm was the best. Beth’s only rules for our adventurous kids were 1) take your boots off before you come in; 2) don’t play in the manure pit and 3) don’t go in the bull pen. Our kids were in heaven and we sat back and just watched as they enjoyed not being micromanaged. Our kids watched in awe as a junior farm family member expertly navigated the loader. But - by far the best part - was the meals shared by Beth and Bob with us at their table. How quickly you adjust and enjoy having conversations with new friends around a table with hearty and bountiful food. If more tables were as welcoming and Beth and Bob’s the world would be a better place. We left with appreciation for the hard work and smarts that goes into all the dairy we enjoy and with a deep appreciation for finding such a wholesome connection with this generous and welcoming family. If you’re looking for a luxury retreat - maybe it’s not for you. But if you’re looking for comfortable lodging, great food, a learning experience and wholesome human connection - you won’t be disappointed. We will be back.

Our stay at Liberty Hill Farm will undoubtedly be a cherished memory of a lifetime for our little family! We all loved interacting with the adoring Holstein cows (it turns out "cows are just big cats," they love a good head scratch and will lick you back in appreciation... a moment that had us all in a fit of giggles!). We learned a lot about farms, cows and where our food comes from, too! Bob and his family are so knowledgeable; you can tell they have a great passion for their line of work. What made this entire experience even better was the bountiful and delicious homemade breakfast and dinner by Beth - she is an extraordinary cook (her hospitality is also extraordinary, and she made us feel at home from the moment we arrived). Not having to worry about meals meant we could all be present, enjoying each moment of the experience together as a family. Staying at Liberty Hill Farm was a really unique and sweet experience, we truly felt at peace. The farm is in a great location too; there is an assortment of family friendly activities, no matter the season, all within an hour drive away. We can't wait to return so we can continue our adventure at Liberty Hill Farm! Until then, take care of our favorite spotted dancer, Disco... we will see you soon Beth, Bob & family!

We went for the farm adventure (didn't stay overnight). We highly recommend the farm adventure! Getting to milk cows, bottle feed baby calves, and learning all about life on a dairy farm was the best experience!

This is a truly magical place, run by the most warm and wonderful people! My daughter, mother and I all went here for a weekend trip and from the first minute to the last, we had such an enjoyable stay! Beth and her family are so kind, wonderful and helpful, and the cows! We loved the cows...and cats...and goats. It is clear that they take very good care of their animals, as well as their guests. :) Every one of us had something different that was our favorite, but all three generations agreed it was the best place ever! From Beth's delicious and hearty meals, to being able to milk a cow (on my own personal bucket list for YEARS -it was everything I hoped it would be and more), to learning so much about farming and the history of the area, to the most beautiful scenery imaginable, we all just had the most amazing experience! As other reviewers have noted, this is not your typical hotel, you're staying in Beth's home, so you eat when breakfast and dinner are served (at 6pm and 8 am respectively), but lucky you that you get to eat what she is serving! Even my very picky 13 year old found much to enjoy at Beth's table! And yes, you share the bathrooms with the other guests, but with three full baths available in the house (one with a delightful bathtub), it wasn't an issue at all and we ended up mostly only using the one closest to our room, and the other guests used the one closest to theirs, thus feeling like we had our own bathrooms. And yes, wine is prohibited at the table, but that's due to Beth's allergy, and she has no problem with you drinking elsewhere before or after dinner (which we did). Again, this is her home, and you're eating at the table with Beth herself and the other guests, family style, which was truly wonderful and also such a wonderful part of our stay. Her stories and delicious food are also so much of what made this trip so special! I guess to sum it all up, we came as travelers and left as family, that's what it is like staying at this bucolic farm. I know we will be back (and really, I do know it, because before we left we actually booked our next trip for a weekend in October!). Thank you Beth, Lisa, Asia, Dave, and everyone else at Liberty Hill Farm who made our weekend such a memorable one. We can't wait to see our new family again soon!

This was our first time at Liberty Hill Farm and it was wonderful! We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and were warmly welcomed and shown to our room. It had a lovely queen-sized bed and large wardrobe, along with a love seat and plenty of pillows. Our room looked out on the front yard with a view of several calf huts and calves no more than 4 weeks old. Our stay included two delicious dinners and breakfasts served family style. It was my birthday weekend and the proprietor, Beth, made my favorite birthday cake, spice cake with homemade vanilla ice cream. If this wasn't enough, she and her assistant, Lisa, sang an enthusiastic Happy Birthday song, I blew out the candle on my piece and said a grateful prayer of thanksgiving for the "best birthday ever!"

We thoroughly enjoyed our recent two night stay at Liberty Hill Farm! Beth and Bob and their family were gracious hosts and generously answered so many questions about their dairy farm. The food was filling and delicious, and the rooms were very comfortable. Asia’s tour of the farm was fabulous, and we loved getting to milk and feed the cows. This long-awaited trip exceeded our expectations and we hope to go back.

This was a great place to stay for my family (two adults, two 13yr olds). The farm is fairly remote - but isnt that part of the reason to go? It still had WiFi and was close to lots of things to do (maple syrup farms, AT hiking trails, etc). Everyone was so nice - Beth, Bob, Asha, Lisa. The accommodations were good. We are not foodies, but the food was really good (my picky son said one dinner was the best meal he ever had). The fact you are served breakfast and dinner was super convenient. And we got to help feed the dairy cows and calves in the morning and evening, milk a cow on a tour, give hay to the cows, pet baby goats, etc - again some of the reasons to stay here. All you had to do was ask and be willing to be patient until it was time. Sharing the bathroom with the one shower was a very minor inconvenience. Overall, it was a great Vermont experience.

Best experience ever. Signed up for a farm tour that cost only $20 which was worth the money. Asia, our host was spectacular. She provided historical info, explained everything, and insured we had the best time. I fed a bottle to a calf, I held a baby goat, I milked a cow with my bare hands and I got to watch a cow give birth to a calf! So awesome.

If you are looking for an authentic farm experience with extra helpings of wonderfully entertaining conversation at the table, delicious food and a thoroughly delightful family who can tell you all about the amazing history of Vermont, this is your place. I've been coming up to Vermont, to a cabin just down the road from the farm, nearly my entire life, and I never knew half of what Beth and Bob and Asha told me about the different eras of Vermont's growth and about raising Holsteins. You can take the tour or simply help out with feeding the calves, or both. If you have children, this is absolutely the place for you. You've never seen healthier, happier children than Beth and Bob's grandkids, and they will recruit your kids into whatever they're up to before you can turn around. Liberty HIll Farm provided one of the happiest stays I've ever had anywhere. Thank you, Beth and Bob and your entire, wonderful family.

Such an adorable bed & breakfast! Beth is such a sweet lady among all the workers here. It's a very welcoming space. Also keep in mind you are In someone's home and need to be respectful and thankful they are opening their home for you. The negative reviews made no sense because this is a bed and breakfast not a "full day activity center" if you want a personal tour you need to book through their experience on Airbnb activities.

I drove from Pittsburgh PA to Vermont to pick up my daughter from UVM for the summer. On our way home we stayed for an incredible two nights. Beth's cooking and hospitality was incredible. The entire family made us feel very welcome. We met some great people who were visiting as well. After breakfast Asha (sp?) took us on a farm tour. We learned so much. The love of the animals is beautiful to see. We saw beautiful babies and milked a cow too. I cannot recommend Liberty Hill Farm enough. We are very much looking forward to more visits.

Unwelcoming. The picturesque winter portrait of Liberty Hill Farm is suggestive of alluring warm cozy memories: reading by fireside after a day of cold weather activities, participating in out-of-the-ordinary farm chores, and connecting with strangers in a quaint B&B atmosphere. Sadly, the reality is far more awkward and uncomfortable. While the home-cooked meals are hearty and satisfying, the conversation at the table often arrives at the fact that the farm is reliant on guests for financial stability. While this fact may be true, it's not the sort of thing that one generally needs to hear while settling in. Despite advance assurances to the contrary, there was no support from Beth to recommend or coordinate local activities - save shopping at the local bookstore. (Thankfully, we had done some research and planned ahead.) This was of particular concern for us since we were visiting during a "dormant" time of the year - the last week of December - and, while we didn't expect much from rural Vermont at this time, we wanted our trip from California to be as engaging and informative as possible. Even farm-related opportunities were remarkably unavailable. Beth would openly invite guests to milk cows or possibly witness a live birth, but wouldn't follow through with the workers in the barn to ensure that these opportunities weren't missed. They were. It was also hard for us to relax in the home. On numerous occasions, my wife and I were told to not allow our 6 and 8 year-old children to "play on" (merely operate) the recliners in the living room. On a separate occasion, we accidentally left a (thermostat-influencing) bedroom door open and got talked down to about it. Thinking about buying a bottle of wine in town to casually enjoy during or after dinner? Don't let Beth see this contraband; with no warning at all, Lisa stopped us with a short word before we reached the kitchen with the bottle. A few other house rules were also delivered in an equally condescending way - to both kids and adults alike - in a way that Beth openly excuses as a "grandmotherly" but serves to create a massive feeling of unwelcome. Had any of these rules been disclosed to us before our visit, we would've thought nothing of it. The best part of our stay here was actually the brief connection we made with a lovely French family that was also staying in the house concurrently. In a COVID-sensitive time, though, we wish we would have known we'd be sharing the house with more than one family; it might well have influenced our plans. In the end, confident in our vaccinations and health, we all agreed to be maskless indoors. While this omission may have been an oversight, it was irresponsible for Beth to let this be a surprise to us upon arrival. Sadly, Liberty Hill Farm doesn't live up to its potential. We expected a friendlier establishment with a more integrated farm experience. (Frustratingly, it seems that a few other reviewers received this package, but we didn't.) There are some plusses to this destination, but since we never felt truly welcome, it's hard to give it a high rating. From experience, I know that there are more genuine and fulfilling B&B accommodations elsewhere in New England.

This review is for the Liberty Hill Farm tour. We booked it via Airbnb after our neighbor in Rochester told us about this farm. This is a cow farm but also a BnB. The tour was about 1.5 hours long . My husband, my 4 year old and I took the tour with about 6 other people. While it is a small farm, it was very engaging and we got to interact a lot with the cows & calves and the friendly cats. When we first got there, the cats greeted us (which btw my daughter shrieked with joy). First was the tour of the cows and Asia, our guide, was very engaging. We petted the cows and the cats/kittens while we were there. We got to ask a lot of questions and Asia was very honest about surviving as a cow farm and how things have changed over the years. It was very interesting to learn about the process. We then got to go see the calves who were the cutest things and fed them with a huge milk bottle. Even though it was drizzling, we wore rain coats and it wasn't that bad at all as we spent most of the time undercover. NOTE: Dress for mess - Bring shoes you don't mind getting muddy. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. No public restrooms.

Love it! Welcoming family-run farm and inn. Great food and hospitality. Plenty to do in the farm and the area year round. We keep coming back

Amazing experience. We milked cows, played with kittens, and enjoyed the beautiful lanscape. Highly recommend.

We cannot express how much we loved this farm!! Beth and Bob were our hosts! Beth definitely made us feel sooo welcomed and valued. She went above and beyond as a host. She gave us a short tour of her home, cooked dinner and breakfast for us (brisket, baked zuchini with corn and cheese, tomato corn salad, freshly baked cheese rolls, etc), i mean, it was so homey that we couldnt even fathom!! Its different everyday so it just depends. For example, we told Beth we wanted to go berry picking and she CALLED Sunshine Valley Organic farm for us to see if its opened, then told us that she picked the farm's raspberries for tomorrow's dinner. That's awesome. We actually regret not staying for another night at Vermont because we loved her food so much! Then, there's the milking of cows and bottle feeding the calves. David, their son, was so nice and patient with us!! And his son Leo is so cute too!! Oh oh oh!! Then there's also no light pollution there so you can walk out and see the Milky Way instantly as soon as it turned dark. Idk when it happens but we went during Sept and we saw it beautifully. Ill attach a picture! Oh yeah! If you love cats, there are so many cute kittens and cats there!! They are just adorable!! We esp liked the cat Midnight. He flops right in front of you and wants to be petted!!! Finally, the home was very...obviously older, but very clean, spacious, and has a lovely vibe about it! You have to take off your shoes which we found to be excellent because theres def dirt out in the farm! One thing we would recommend is that because it is a dairy farm, we wish we got to try some of their cow's milk after of course, it's safe to drink! That would be an awesome experience!! Other than that, Beth, Bob, Lisa, and David really made us regret not staying in Vermont just a bit longer!! Thank you for everything!!!

Just back from the Kennett's farm, and realized that it has been 26 years that I've been coming at least once a year. I'm not the only one, as two other guests were also repeat guests, one guy had come as a child and was now bringing his own children. This is a REAL dairy farm, a serious operation, part of the Cabot Cheese co-op, in which the Kennett's are active members. They are known for their high standards of operation with the animals. Yes, it does smell like a farm, sweet to my nose at this point. Yes, there's lots of farm activity buzzing around, and the family enjoys answering your questions about anything. Children love to explore and help out, and adults are just as curious and engaged. You are encouraged to try your hand at milking, or bottle feeding the new calves, or bring in the eggs from the chickens. You can also loaf on the long porch and just watch. Take a walk through the fields to a swimming hole on the White River. It is a business, a though one, but it is not a cold commercial outfit, but run by a warm family who truly care. The inn itself is simple, rooms designed very simply but inviting and comfortable. There are several public rooms with piano, lots of good books, tv, and (of course) WiFi. Guests come from all over the planet, always interesting people at the dinner table. Breakfast and dinner come with the room, and do bring your appetite. Meals are served family style at a. long table that remind me of a Thanksgiving table, so many different offerings. Breakfast offered scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, a baked oatmeal dish with fruit, a coffee cake, fresh yogurt, fresh chunks of fruit salad, juices, coffee/tea/milk, and of course local maple syrup. Dinner likewise, always a main protein dish, often a roast, with a half dozen side dishes of several veggies, homemade rolls, salad, etc -- you'll want to try them all, but save room for homemade desserts. No shortage of things to do in the area, whether nature hikes, art galleries and museums, incredible scenic roads, Ben & Jerry's tour, Teddy Bear Factory tours, -- Beth has lots of suggestions, with new ideas coming from other guests at the dinner table. It ain't fancy. It's casual and warm-spirited, stunning natural beauty. It's very real. The Kennett family are the best kind of farmers. I'll be back!

This was not what we expected based on the what we had read about it online, but it was a nice and welcoming place. We were there for one night and the food and rooms felt closer to two-star food considering the price we paid to be there, but everyone out on the farm was friendly and welcoming and talked to us all about the dairy industry. Beth taught us a lot about the dairy process and the way prices are controlled nationally - she's involved politically with the dairy lobby, I think. She was very open about the fact that the B&B business is there to subsidize her farm costs, since many farms lose money on dairy production. We were the only people there without children, which is probably why we felt it was overvalued. I imagine that if you are there with children for a long weekend, it is a 5 star place. There is lots of room to run around unsupervised and everyone who works there is wonderful with the children.

Everything about our stay was special. It feels like authentic farm living, which is what we wanted. We loved petting the calves, seeing the milking process, and visiting the chicken. Beth is a wonderful host and cook who made delicious breakfast, dinner, and dessert (amazing!!) every single day for all of us. The kids who were visiting got to ask many questions about the farming process in America, and Beth was excellent at teaching them how it all works. You will meet many wonderful travelers and share meals with them. Embrace and enjoy the experience.

We loved our stay at Liberty Hill Farm. Beth and her hardworking family are a warm and welcoming bunch. We spent two days at the farm but wish we could have stayed longer. Beth cooked amazing meals and we always left the table full and satisfied. All of the meals included a lot of different kinds of food, and yes, gasp, protein. No one force feeds any meat down your throat if you choose not to eat it or anything else. We loved meeting and talking with the other guests. Our son affectionately referred to them as our "farm family". It really did feel that way throughout our stay. Beth went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed and that our room could comfortably accommodate our small family of four. Yes, it is a WORKING farm, they run a business and work very hard in doing so. It was quite interesting to not only feed calves and milk the cows but to also learn about the daily operations, how their business sustains, how they manage their herd, how the animals are cared for, including why they do certain things, like separating the calf from its mother. Yes, there are good reasons for this practice. My wife and I were both curious and a little concerned about this when we first arrived, but after talking with Beth and learning why things are done the way they are, we came to completely understand. They take great care of their cows. Yes, the cows go out to pasture and roam around! Also, and this may come as a shock to some, that sometimes the farm produces less than pleasant odors! Yes, it's true! Get over the occasional waft of manure and this just might be one of the most pleasant places you'll ever visit. I should also mention that the location is stunning and the river that runs through the farm also adds to the whole picture. We just left Liberty Hill and are already talking about visiting again. Do bother going there!

We spent two nights at Liberty Hill Farm during "leaf season" in 2018. The hosts, Beth, Cheryl, and Bob were so friendly, engaging, and helpful with sights to see and directions to get places. The meals were lovely; home cooked comfort foods eaten at a large table with lively interaction and conversation from all visitors and hosts. The food was plentiful and the hosts were very attentive to everyone's needs. We felt like "part of the family" as the hosts included everyone in the daily activities of the working farm, even meeting the grandchildren. We will definitely recommend to others. It is not luxurious but is an actual working farm and the house is over 100 years old. It was very real and authentic and we learned a lot about the diary industry from asking questions.

We were at Liberty Hill Farm during summer of last year. The pictures on the website - well, what can I say? Pictures can speak a million words, but they can also be utterly deceiving. We went with an expectation of a nice little farm, and quiet farm stay. For one, the farmhouse had too many people staying at the same time. Very commercialized. Next, the only free roaming animals were the pet cats and a few chickens here and there. We are not expecting the sweet smell of roses in a farm, but when you keep the windows open (they don't have AC), especially the first floor rooms in the farm house, it smells very bad. It is NOT vegetarian friendly either, even though they mention that they are. We were also shocked to realize that as soon as a calf is born, he/she is removed from the mother immediately, and the cow is NEVER allowed to feed her own young. They milk the cows, and then feed the babies with bottles, and the guests that stay are graciously allowed to feed the calves! The babies never meet their mommies. It's a very commercial place. Is it beautiful? Of course. But any Vermont farm nestled between the mountains is. Don't bother going there.

We were at the farm in June 2015 and it was fantastic. While it is described as a bed and breakfast they have both breakfast and dinner. Both of these meals were excellent . It gives you a realistic farm experience if that is what you are looking for. If you are not looking for the farm experience it is still a great place to sit on the porch or in the parlor . Beth and her husband go out of their way to make your stay a wonderful experience.