Craignair Inn

The Craignair Inn is situated on four acres of shorefront within the 3,500 odd miles of bays, peninsulas, inlets and headlands, which form a coastline unmatched anywhere for its beauty and coastal activity. Set on a granite ledge rising from the sea, and surrounded by flower gardens, Craignair was built in 1928 to house workers from the nearby quarries. Little has changed here since the turn of the century and you can still feel the mood of a once lively and and active working town. The boarding house was converted to an Inn in 1940.

Downstairs is an exceedingly warm and cheery parlor-library, a sunny dining room that looks out on the sea, and an old fashioned kitchen dominated by an antique cast-iron working stove. Upstairs, the bedrooms are furnished simply but comfortably with quilt covered beds, colorful wall coverings and hooked rugs on the floors. The three shared baths on each floor are conveniently located. The Vestry Annex has five bedrooms, all with private baths, and is furnished with antiques.

Craignair Inn is attractive to visitors seeking serenity, simplicity, privacy and natural beauty. Its location and atmosphere make it ideal for writers, artists and naturalists, as well as anyone looking for a change of pace. Some guests wish only to sit in the garden to relax and watch the activities of shorebirds, clammers and lobstermen. Others prefer exploring the coast, along the many miles of paths adjacent to the Inn, to find the spruce forests, clam flats, offshore islands, tidal pools and meadows, all abundant with wildflowers, birds and generally, seals. Still others prefer to take the short drive to Port Clyde, where the ferry leaves for Monhegan Island; or to Owls Head Lighthouse and State Park. Also, nearby Rockland and Camden offer such diversions as antiques, art galleries, museums, shops, concerts, tennis, golf, riding, sailing and festivals paying homage to seafood, blueberries, chicken and sailboats, as well as numerous country fairs. In the aftemoon, most guests head for the old granite quarry, a deep saltwater pool surrounded by spruce and birch, to swim in the warm water before dinner.

Our dining room is open from 6 to 9 p.m. six nights a week, and the cuisine is prepared to order using fresh local seafoods, meats, homemade sauces, breads, pastas and pastries. The dining room atmosphere, along with the view of the sea, will add to your dining pleasure.

During the colder months, one may hike, snowshoe, cross country ski or ice skate in the immediate area, or downhill ski at the Camden Snow Bowl, just a short drive away. And when the fog rolls in, the comfortable sitting room with its large library and crackling fire provides a pleasant refuge.

So come to enjoy our hospitality, good food and beautiful countryside, and when you do, you'll return again and again.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES:

• 21 rooms, 12 with private bath. 8 in the Vestry and 4 in the Inn, all newly renovated
• Ocean swimming
• Hiking on the Island (nature walk)
• Walking on rocks on shorefront
• Shopping in nearby towns along the coast
• Dining on local foods with international flair