Birch Hill

Surrounded by nature and your friends

You may be surprised that our beautiful 29 wooded acres are just 15 minutes from downtown Manchester, but at Birch Hill, we have the best of both worlds. We are located on a quiet hillside, complete with gardening beds and walking trails, just up the hill from a golf course and river, yet you are less than 15 minutes from the Currier, the Palace Theatre and all the dining venues of downtown Manchester.

Birch Hill is located just a half mile down the hill from The Nature Conservancy’s 642 acre Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve, home to over 40 rare plants and trees. Some trees are over 450 years old. There are 1.8 miles of trails which include three loop trails through the cedar swamp, white pine and red oak woodlands, and giant rhododendron thickets. The trails along Millstone Brook are a great place to see wetland birds like great blue herons and common yellowthroat warblers and wildlife like deer, mink, and beaver.

Fitness classes, gardening and nature just outside your door

Living at Birch Hill, you are steps away from your friends. Now you don’t have to worry about driving at night or in bad weather if you want to meet a friend for dinner – it’s right downstairs! With our brand new fitness center, it’s easy to try a new tai chi or yoga class, or start strength training, supervised by an instructor. If you have an interest in gardening, plant your own flowers or veggies in our raised garden bed; or build a bird house in our woodshop.

Your dog will love walking our wooded trails, and you can bird watch in the many spots around campus. You will want to make time for the resident-run cocktail lounge which is open two nights a week, and even try your hand at being a bartender – it’s fun! Take our shuttle to the nearby Y for a few laps in the pool, or to join an aquacize class. Start a book discussion in our new book sunroom, or play your violin with others in our music room. There is a wide variety of painting classes, book groups, and lectures that take place in our new multipurpose room, and trips of all types off campus.