Willand Pond
Willand Pond
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
2 reviews
Excellent
1
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Maurene_K
Dover, NH12,594 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
It’s very easy to drive right past Willand Pond without realizing what’s there and the recreational opportunities it holds.
Willand Pond is a 66-acre body of water located partly in Dover and partly in Somersworth. It is surrounded on one side by an easy walking trail on the west, north, and east sides. The rest of the shoreline is privately owned and has commercial and residential buildings.
The walking trail measures about 1.7 miles round-trip. There are two access points with parking lots. One is off Route 108 across from Strafford Farms Restaurant in Dover. The other is from the roadway directly across from the traffic lights at the Tri-City Plaza in Somersworth. The lot in Dover is larger and more visible from the road.
Parking and admission are free.
Activities here include fishing, ice fishing in the winter, walking, picnicking at several tables with benches, exercising at several fitness stations on the trail, and non-motor boating. Most park visitors walk, canoe, or kayak.
For those who fish, the pond is stocked with trout.
Motor boats are prohibited.
Hunting is forbidden.
At the fitness station called Spider Web, there is a low rope course. It’s on the Somersworth side.
There is an area with a footbridge in a marshy area with a small stream.
Dogs are allowed, but they must be leashed as the trail sees a lot of traffic in the better weather.
Walking the trail in spring and summer, one will see a number of pretty wild flowers trailside.
There are several info boards in the park. One tells the story of the park’s history back in the days of trolley cars in the early 1900’s. It was Central Park and later renamed Burgett Park. It was at the end of the line from Dover to Somersworth. There was a dance hall there and a row boat concession.
At the Somersworth entrance, there is an old red brick building that was once The Dover-Rochester-Somersworth Street Railway Trolley Car Repair Shop, then the Riverside garage for many years. Its history is connected to the park. Presently, it’s being refurbished and remodeled. It will become a State of New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet store.
On my most-recent visit, I walked about half the trail on the Dover side.
I rate Willand Pond at 4.75 for the water’s cleanliness, scenic views, the trail, and the park enhancements with the fitness stations.
If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.
Willand Pond is a 66-acre body of water located partly in Dover and partly in Somersworth. It is surrounded on one side by an easy walking trail on the west, north, and east sides. The rest of the shoreline is privately owned and has commercial and residential buildings.
The walking trail measures about 1.7 miles round-trip. There are two access points with parking lots. One is off Route 108 across from Strafford Farms Restaurant in Dover. The other is from the roadway directly across from the traffic lights at the Tri-City Plaza in Somersworth. The lot in Dover is larger and more visible from the road.
Parking and admission are free.
Activities here include fishing, ice fishing in the winter, walking, picnicking at several tables with benches, exercising at several fitness stations on the trail, and non-motor boating. Most park visitors walk, canoe, or kayak.
For those who fish, the pond is stocked with trout.
Motor boats are prohibited.
Hunting is forbidden.
At the fitness station called Spider Web, there is a low rope course. It’s on the Somersworth side.
There is an area with a footbridge in a marshy area with a small stream.
Dogs are allowed, but they must be leashed as the trail sees a lot of traffic in the better weather.
Walking the trail in spring and summer, one will see a number of pretty wild flowers trailside.
There are several info boards in the park. One tells the story of the park’s history back in the days of trolley cars in the early 1900’s. It was Central Park and later renamed Burgett Park. It was at the end of the line from Dover to Somersworth. There was a dance hall there and a row boat concession.
At the Somersworth entrance, there is an old red brick building that was once The Dover-Rochester-Somersworth Street Railway Trolley Car Repair Shop, then the Riverside garage for many years. Its history is connected to the park. Presently, it’s being refurbished and remodeled. It will become a State of New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet store.
On my most-recent visit, I walked about half the trail on the Dover side.
I rate Willand Pond at 4.75 for the water’s cleanliness, scenic views, the trail, and the park enhancements with the fitness stations.
If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.
Written 16 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oven-Boy
Dover, NH36 contributions
Feb 2020
A nice walking path around the pond, there are places to stop and exercise, read the history, enjoy the view. Lately it has been ice fisherpeople with their ice houses.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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