The Beautiful New Hampshire Town That’s Surrounded By Water On All Sides
New Hampshire is home to more than 200 cities and towns, many of which are both incredibly charming and picturesque. Only a few of those communities, however, are coastal. After all, New Hampshire has the shortest coastline of all American states that touch either the ocean with a mere 13 miles of the state meeting up with the Atlantic Ocean. Hiding amongst the most well-known coastal cities of Seabrook, Hampton, Rye, and Portsmouth is an incredibly charming coastal community surrounded on all side by water. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?
Surrounded by water on all sides, New Castle, New Hampshire is not only comprised entirely of small islands, but it’s also one of the state’s most charming small towns.
The main island upon which the town sits is the largest of those at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. New Castle was settled in 1623 and chartered in 1679 as a parish of Portsmouth. It wasn’t until 1693 that the town was named New Castle and incorporated.
Today, this lovely little island community consists of a single main island as well as several other small islands covering approximately 500 acres and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Piscataqua River.
But that doesn’t mean it’s boring: within the town’s borders, you will find the Fort Constitution Historic Site, the Fort Stark Historic Site, a small Coast Guard station, the historic Wentworth by the sea hotel, and the New Castle Common, a 31-acre recreation area on the Atlantic.
While relaxing in this tiny town, you won’t want to miss your chance to visit the Portsmouth Harbor Light. Established in 1771, this historic lighthouse still guides the way for boat traffic coming in and out of the harbor.
This tiny coastal town surrounded on all sides by water is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Natural beauty, plenty of charm, and a history lesson or two await.
When was the last time you spent the day in New Castle? Share your experience with us in the comments below, as well as your favorite coastal destination in New Hampshire.
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With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
