Fairlea, a 40-acre working farm, is a good place for hikers who’ve worked up an appetite. Breakfasts are a treat, perhaps featuring bacon and eggs or fruit-filled crepes and such home-baked treats as muffins or apple tarts. Later, splurge on dinner at the Inn at Little Washington, a five-minute walk down the road.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a lovely sight beyond Fairlea’s fields, where sheep and cattle graze. The feel in the old stone farmhouse is comfortable and informal. Views abound, whether from the picture windows or a chair on the back deck. The three bedrooms are a good size; one has a canopy bed. Families are welcome in the suite, which has a kitchen and a fireplace.

Fairlea Farm, 540-675-3679; fairleafarm.com. Rates: $155 to $205 for a double room, plus 20 percent in October and May, including breakfast. Fifteen miles from Skyline Drive.

This article first appeared in the September 2005 issue of The Washingtonian.