Farandnear was the summer home of the Banks family for several generations, with Arthur Banks—an accomplished political scientist and professor—its most recent resident. Banks’s grandfather, Charles Goodspeed, named the property because, at 50 miles from his home in Wollaston, it was “far” enough to require a two-day journey by horse to reach, but “near” enough to be a vacation home. The park-like grounds at Farandnear are perfect for playing, picnicking, relaxing, and more.

Along its easy wooded trails, you’ll find fields of wildflowers, an arboretum full of more than 80 cool conifer trees, the remnants of an old cranberry bog, and Paradise, a 10-acre parcel where huge hemlocks grow. Keep your ears open throughout your journey: you’ll hear lots of birds calling, including black-capped chickadees, catbirds, and barred owls.

Stop at the pavilion to explore the nature wall where you’ll find elements from the surrounding woods and gardens on display. The rolling lawns at Farandnear are perfect for picnicking, relaxing, and more.

FREE to all. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset.

Center Road, Shirley, MA 01464
Telephone: 978.840.4446
E-mail: information@thetrustees.org

Get directions on Google Maps.

From Points East
From I-495 S take exit 78B to merge onto MA-2 W toward Leominster. Take exit 105 toward Shirley Road/Shirley. Merge onto Fort Pond Road (0.1 mi). Turn left onto Shirley Road (0.9 mi) and continue onto Lancaster Road (1.2 mi). Take a slight left onto Center Road (1.6 mi) and parking for Farandnear will be on your left.

From Points West
From MA-2 E take exit 105 toward Shirley Road. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Shirley Road/Shirley/Ayer and merge onto Shirley Road (1.0 mi). Continue onto Lancaster Road (1.2 mi). Take a slight left onto Center Road (1.6 mi) and parking for Farandnear will be on your left.

The property has a pavilion and fire pit that are first-come, first-served, but if you’d like to reserve for a larger group, please contact fruitlands@thetrustees.org. Farandnear has seasonal bathrooms.

Enjoy your wedding, rehearsal dinner, special occasion, or corporate event with the Bull Run Restaurant on the beautiful grounds of Farandnear.

For more information and bookings, please visit https://www.bullrunrestaurant.com/farandnear

There is a trail map posted on a kiosk in the parking area.

We recommend that you take a photo of the map on your phone so you can refer to it during your visit, or download a trail map here, before you head out.

Trail Note: Distance from the parking to the blue trail is .03miles and distance between the blue trail and yellow trail is .073 miles. Blue trail total is .75 miles, and yellow trail is 1 mile.

• Hunting is not permitted at this reservation. Learn more about hunting on Trustees properties.
• Dogs must be leashed at all times
• Disturbing, removing, defacing, cutting or otherwise causing damage to vegetation or any natural feature, sign, poster, barrier, building, or other property in the reservation
• All fires—expect in the pavilion’s fire pit—are prohibited
• Camping is prohibited
• Mountain biking is prohibited
• The reservation is open from sunrise to sunset
• Horseback riding is prohibited
• PHOTOGRAPHY: We ask that photographers or their clients become Contributing Level Members before conducting portrait sessions at this property. Click here for more information, and to request permission for any portrait sessions. The Trustees of Reservations reserves the right, and may give permission to its designated photographers and videographers, or to outside media, to photograph or video visitors and program participants at all its facilities and properties.