I visited Hollyhedge in New Hope, PA to attend a friend’s wedding. The property is not only a bed and breakfast but also a wedding venue. Before this trip, I had never been to Pennsylvania or stayed at a bed and breakfast. It is safe to say that this is the b & b that inspired this blog and my stay at subsequent locations. 

The wedding and trip took place in January; coincidently, I had three other big life events happening within the same month. I had a night to sleep between heading to Hollyhedge and getting off a week-long hosting event. I didn’t have time to research the location, the estate, or the amenities, and I didn’t even know how I was getting from the airport to the b & b until I landed. This is how out of sorts I was when I arrived. I didn’t even know it was a bed and breakfast. I know, I know, how embarrassing… but sometimes that’s life; sometimes you just have to lean into the schedule and trust that things will pan out. 

As this was a friend’s wedding, I didn’t have much planned for my stay. I brought my writing computer to get some writing done and stay on top of emails, but other than that, I didn’t come with any plans. I figured I’d either be swamped with wedding events or relax and write in peace. Either way, I knew I was covered.

I arrived later in the day. I was lucky to catch a ride with another guest, and there was a little trouble understanding where to park, but our arrival was picturesque. The inn is an 18th-century manor that sits on a beautiful hill. Our room keys were left for us. I love contact-less check-in. Usually after travel, the last thing you want is to run into someone and act as if you haven’t been sweating on a plane for hours and sitting amongst other travelers in the airport. 

I took my bag up the small staircase; my room was the first one to the left. I stayed in Room 1, in the main house. I chose it because it was a smaller (perfect for one person) and it looked super sweet. I had a nicely sized closet and small armoire. There was built-in shelving where I unpacked my things, and the bathroom was big enough for one person. 

The only downside to that room was that it was located next to the stairs, and you could hear anytime someone used the staircase. Luckily, me and one other guest were the only people staying in the house for most of the trip. Then, the night of the wedding, it was only the wedding guests, so it was less of a bother. 

Hollyhedge had some unique features. There was a lot of property to walk through and enjoy, many little hills and streams to look at and wander by. There were goats and even a pig named Oreo who I fell in love with. I never ran out of things to look at on the property, and the quiet serenity made it a lovely place to relax. 

I didn’t bring my work set-up (my larger laptop and maybe a label printer) with me to Hollyhedge, however, the room I had picked wouldn’t have been suitable for that. There were other rooms that would better suit those needs if they had been a concern for me, but they weren’t. 

Near Hollyhedge is a cute little walkable area (Main St.) with plenty of restaurants and coffee shops (we had a wonderful dinner at Under the Moon Cafe). While it may not be advisable to walk there from Hollyhedge (it would take about an hour), if you have a car, it is a wonderful area to spend a day. I visited during winter, and they still had all the beautiful Christmas lights up. 

Now, breakfast made me fall in love with b & bs after this trip. Before coming to Hollyhedge, I had been hosting a large party for a week. Worrying about schedules and food, who has their coffee, and who needs what. Being able to sit, stop, and have someone else worry about me having my coffee was very relaxing and incredibly needed. Breakfasts were served with various juices, teas, and coffees. There were several hot breakfast options to choose from with enough interchangeability that you could really get exactly what you wanted. There was even a vegan wedding guest that they did their best to accommodate. 

Review

 Cleanliness:

I never once questioned the cleanliness of the property. 

Safety:

It is a very quiet area that is just out of reach enough that I never worried about someone walking onto the property who shouldn’t be there. 

Area:

This was a hard one for me. While it is a beautiful property in a gorgeous area, and if you have a car, you can find some charming towns to walk through, I would not recommend coming here without a car. Which a lot of wedding guests may struggle with. I ended up paying $200 for a ride to get to the airport, and that was through Lyft because Uber had no drivers available. Of course, this is not Hollyhedge’s problem or fault, but for travelers, it feels very important to note. 

Atmosphere:

The land is picturesque, the nearby town is very Hallmark, and the house is beautifully taken care of. It has a rustic/farm type vibe that was very warm and cozy. The rooms could use some minor updating. 

Breakfast:

I enjoyed the breakfast options! It was a nice hot breakfast. Yogurts were available, a pastry, and then typically a few hot options. I found it perfectly adequate and I even changed my flight out so I could make sure to sit down for one last meal. 

Sleep:

Hearing people on the staircase woke me up a few times. It was also very warm in the house. I was able to use a window unit to help with this. 

Hospitality:

The staff was very nice and kind. While I didn’t really interact with them often, so everything during the stay was fine, and I had no reason to ask for anything, anytime we did chat, they were very warm and lovely. 

Would I come back? Yes… but only if I had a car available to me. 

Would I choose my same room? If I was with a large party that may need the bigger rooms more than I do? Yes. If not, I would probably aim for a room not so close to the stairs. 

…and most importantly…is it haunted?

A few of the guests, including the Bride, questioned if the b & b was haunted. The bride said she heard footsteps above the bridal suite when it appeared no one was in the room above that building. A few other guests said they felt there were spirits in the house. As a spiritually sensitive person, I didn’t pick up on anything. While doing research, I was unable to find any anecdotes claiming the property to be haunted. So I guess on this one, we’ll have to go… maybe?